As of 11:00 a.m. this morning, the TV monitor in the Champaign
County Court showed an 11:00 a.m. hearing for Max Kristy, charged with a Class
3 felony for vandalizing an 8-foot tall menorah at a local Jewish Center. The
case was never called. That’s because it was quietly settled at the last
minute. Apparently, Kristy pleaded down to a misdemeanor, with 25 hours of
community service. The case is closed, but these questions are now open. 1. Was
Kristy overcharged with a felony? He was known to be a first-time
offender, and 20 years-old. 2. If he was charged properly, why did the case
settle so much in Kristy’s favor? Why not more service? Why not a short,
suspended sentence, with no time served but a stronger record? Why not an
apology to the Jewish Center? 3. Why were members of the
Jewish Center not consulted for their view, as is often the case where there
are victims in non-violent offenses? 4. Why is the truth suppressed in this
case? Kristy said he was drunk at 6:00 a.m. and was simply giving a Jewish
friend an 8-foot tall menorah for a gift. Why
wasn’t his version of the facts put to a cross examination, just for the sake
of exposing this implausible story? 5. Why is vandalism of a religious symbol
treated like it's vandalism to a street corner stop sign? Was this a crime
against an 8-foot tall piece of metal, or did it have symbolic significance? We’ll
never know. The menorah in this picture sheds light. The settlement in this case casts a shadow.
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