Police Investigate Possible Hate Crime in Orange County
Los Angeles, CA- Law enforcement is investigating a possible hate crime after several acid bombs were left outside the home of an African- American woman’s home in Rossmoor.
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/04/local/la-me-1205-acid-bombs-20121205
The woman called police around 7 a.m. Sunday morning stating she found plastic bottles containing a blue liquid near her home. One of the acid bombs—small explosives made out of common household chemicals—went off while she was on the phone with authorities, The Los Angeles Times reported.
The bomb squad was dispatched to the home on Mainway Drive where they found several explosives scattered on the lawn and one placed in a tree. All of the bombs were deactivated.
Though the explosives were small, they have enough power to rip apart a person’s hand when held and can pierce eardrums.
The woman, who remained unidentified, told KTLA-TV that she believed the crime was racially motivated. But Kent McBride, Investigator for the Orange County bomb squad told the Los Angeles Times “there was no evidence” that this was a hate crime, since there was no graffiti or “the obvious intent to harm or terrify.”
Even if this particular incident may have not been racially motivated, California has a hate crime problem. In 2011, California had the highest hate crime rate in the country.
Being charged with a hate crime can result in additional jail time for those accused. If personal injury results from a biased crime or it involves firearms and explosives it can carry a penalty of an additional 10 years in prison. A person can get life or the death penalty if it involves kidnapping, sexual assault, or murder.
Serious offenses require superior legal expertise. Alleged criminal offenders need an attorney who has focused their practice criminal defense. Renowned Los Angeles attorney Robert M. Bernstein will provide the very best defense and be there for their clients during every stage of the legal process.
