One Big Assed Mistake America
2012-12-02 02:49:19 UTC
NEW ORLEANS An Alabama man on Thursday began serving a two-
year prison sentence for an obscene act against an unconscious
LSU fan in a Bourbon Street restaurant after the BCS national
title game in January, a videotaped incident that went viral on
the Internet.
Orleans Parish Criminal District Judge Karen Herman chastised
Brian H. Downing, of Smiths Station, Ala., before she formally
sentenced him to the terms of a plea deal with New Orleans
prosecutors.
Herman called him a bully who has permanently damaged someone's
life.
"You have put aside someone's dignity," she said. "(He) didn't
have the option to say, `No,' and tell you to stop."
Downing declined to say anything before he was sentenced and
taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing.
He pleaded guilty in October to two counts of obscenity.
Prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of sexual battery, which is
punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Downing may be eligible to serve less than half of his two-year
sentence. One of his attorneys has estimated Downing would serve
a minimum of nine months.
The judge told Downing he "chose wisely" by cutting a plea deal,
which also allows him to avoid having to register as a sex
offender. The judge recommended that he be allowed to
participate in a boot camp program run by prison officials.
The LSU fan, who has sued Downing, didn't attend the sentencing
hearing. However, a spokesman for District Attorney Leon
Cannizzaro has said prosecutors consulted with him before
agreeing on the plea deal.
The incident took place last January after Alabama defeated LSU
at the Superdome to claim the BCS title. A video that went viral
on the Internet showed Downing expose his genitals and perform a
simulated sex act on the unconscious man at the restaurant in
front of a crowd of other Alabama fans.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/29/alabama-fan-gets-2-years-in-
prison-for-obscenity-during-bcs-celebration/?intcmp=obinsite
year prison sentence for an obscene act against an unconscious
LSU fan in a Bourbon Street restaurant after the BCS national
title game in January, a videotaped incident that went viral on
the Internet.
Orleans Parish Criminal District Judge Karen Herman chastised
Brian H. Downing, of Smiths Station, Ala., before she formally
sentenced him to the terms of a plea deal with New Orleans
prosecutors.
Herman called him a bully who has permanently damaged someone's
life.
"You have put aside someone's dignity," she said. "(He) didn't
have the option to say, `No,' and tell you to stop."
Downing declined to say anything before he was sentenced and
taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing.
He pleaded guilty in October to two counts of obscenity.
Prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of sexual battery, which is
punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Downing may be eligible to serve less than half of his two-year
sentence. One of his attorneys has estimated Downing would serve
a minimum of nine months.
The judge told Downing he "chose wisely" by cutting a plea deal,
which also allows him to avoid having to register as a sex
offender. The judge recommended that he be allowed to
participate in a boot camp program run by prison officials.
The LSU fan, who has sued Downing, didn't attend the sentencing
hearing. However, a spokesman for District Attorney Leon
Cannizzaro has said prosecutors consulted with him before
agreeing on the plea deal.
The incident took place last January after Alabama defeated LSU
at the Superdome to claim the BCS title. A video that went viral
on the Internet showed Downing expose his genitals and perform a
simulated sex act on the unconscious man at the restaurant in
front of a crowd of other Alabama fans.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/29/alabama-fan-gets-2-years-in-
prison-for-obscenity-during-bcs-celebration/?intcmp=obinsite