3 sentenced in racial beatings that led to black man's death

Source: Associated Press

3 sentenced in racial beatings that led to black man's death
By JEFF AMY, Associated Press | February 25, 2015 | Updated: February 25, 2015 6:03pm

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Three more young white men, all part of a group that repeatedly searched Mississippi's capital city for black people to attack, have been sentenced to federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves on Wednesday sentenced 25-year-old William Kirk Montgomery to 19 ½ years for his role in the attacks in the spring of 2011 that climaxed with the death of 47-year-old auto plant worker James Craig Anderson. Two other men who were part of earlier outings but not present that night — 22-year-old Joseph Paul Dominick and 23-year-old Jonathan Kyle Gaskamp — got four-year sentences.

The three men, like the seven other defendants in the case, had pleaded guilty earlier.

Anderson's death came on the last of a series of forays to what the group called "Jafrica" — a combination of Jackson and Africa — to assault black people. It ended in a hotel parking lot where the group spotted Anderson, who appeared to be intoxicated. Montgomery and six others were present as John Aaron Rice and Deryl Paul Dedmon beat Anderson. As Dedmon left in his truck, he ran over Anderson, inflicting fatal injuries.

The actions were captured on a hotel surveillance camera, drawing widespread national attention.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/3-sentenced-in-racial-beatings-that-led-to-black-6101680.php