Good God this piece is infuriating, about the Salt Lake City DA using gang enhancements to threaten ppl who protested his office with potentially life in prison. At least two big lessons here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/utah-woman-madalena-mcneil-faces-life-in-prison-after-allegedly-buying-red-protest-paint

First, this is what happens when legislators write sloppy open-ended statutes.

Was the gang law intended for this? No. Does it fit the facts? Yep.

Happens a lot. Most “anti-terror” wiretaps under the Patriot Act are for routine drug cases.

If you write it, they will charge it.

Second, here’s the kicker.

Gill, the man saying no one will actually go to prison here, is the DA FILING THESE CHARGES.

This is all abt coercing a plea. It’s not a sincere charge. It’s pure threat and abuse.

As is so often the case. You really want to roll those dice?

Finally, this nice little bit was horrific. The cap for homicide in Europe is often on the order of 10-12 years, 20 tops in exteme cases.

This brute in MI thinks a decade is a SLAP ON THE WRIST for... protests. Likely w only harm to property.

Such contempt for life.