Jose Padilla Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison

Jose Padilla has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for “supporting terrorism”. You may remember that he was originally charged with planning a “dirty bomb” attack, which sounded scarier than it actually was, but it doesn’t matter anyway, because those charges were dropped. Here are some details from the New York Times (subscription required):

Prosecutors, who long ago dropped the ”dirty bomb” claim that made Padilla infamous, had sought life sentences for Padilla and two co-defendants, but a federal judge said authorities never even proved Padilla was a terrorist.

”There is no evidence that these defendants personally maimed, kidnapped or killed anyone in the United States or elsewhere,” U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke said. ”There was never a plot to overthrow the United States government.”

Cooke took into account the harsh, isolated conditions Padilla faced during the 3 1/2 years he was held in a brig, without charge, as an enemy combatant after his 2002 arrest.

He can at least take comfort in knowing that he will be in the relatively gentle atmosphere of a federal prison.

Cooke didn’t mention specifics, but concluded Padilla suffered ”harsh treatment” and ”extreme environmental stresses” while at the brig. She did not give him direct credit for the time served but did use it as one rationale for a lower sentence.

See previous posts for more information about Padilla’s case.

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~ by lolarusa on January 23, 2008.