Video: Second Statue Vandal Headed To Prison
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A former University of Mississippi student who admitted helping place a noose on a statue of a civil rights activist is going to prison.
A federal judge Thursday in Oxford sentenced Graeme Phillip Harris to six months in prison beginning Jan. 4, and 12 months’ supervised release. Harris’ lawyer argued he didn’t deserve jail time.
Harris pleaded guilty in June to a misdemeanor charge of using a threat of force to intimidate African-American students and employees. Prosecutors say he and two other former students placed a noose on the statue of James Meredith, a black man who integrated Ole Miss amid rioting in 1962. Following the sentencing le Miss released the following statement
“We greatly appreciate the assistance of the FBI and the U. S. Attorney’s Office in bringing this case to closure. The working relationship between the university and federal authorities very clearly affirms that offensive and illegal acts of this nature will not be tolerated on our campus,” said Brandi Hephner Labanc, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Mississippi.
A second man, Austin Reed Edenfield, had been scheduled to plead guilty Wednesday. That hearing was postponed. The third former student has not been charged.
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