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Two indictments were returned yesterday in federal court in Central Islip, New York, charging Samantha Shader, and co-defendants Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman in connection with their alleged attempts to use improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as “Molotov Cocktails,” to damage and destroy New York City Police Department vehicles during protests this past month.
The seven-count indictments each charge the defendants with the use of explosives, arson, use of explosives to commit a felony, arson conspiracy, use of a destructive device, civil disorder, and making or possessing a destructive device.
I don't know if they have been or will be charged in state court (might be double jeopardy entanglements), but I did learn that NY (state) law has a special section (150.20) for arson with a Molotov cocktail. And it's an A-I felony.
Langenator wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:33 pmbut I did learn that NY (state) law has a special section (150.20) for arson with a Molotov cocktail. And it's an A-I felony.
Yup, i remember that from a HS civics class. They're about to have their shit pushed in.
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Describing what HTRN does as "antics" is like describing the wreck of the Titanic as "a minor boating incident" ~ First Shirt
Texas doesn't have anything like it in the penal code. I'm pretty sure they're included under 46.05, Prohibited Weapons, since the definition of 'explosive device' includes incendiaries.
I think, in TX law, and its been a long time since I worried about criminal statutes, they'd be far more concerned about the arson charge. (I want to say, it would count as an "occupied" building, even if it didn't have people in it, as it wasn't abandoned... But that's a very fuzzy memory.)
Under TX PC, the arson of a vehicle would only be a 2nd degree felony, so 2-20 years, unless a person was injured or killed.
I assume NY created the special section of the law for arson with a Molotov, and made it an A-1 felony, based on specific incidents, and possibly specifically because such things most often happen in the context of a riot or civil disturbance. It would be interesting to see the legislative history behind that specific section of the NY law.