One of two white men charged with desecrating the grave of a black man who was dragged to his death behind a pickup truck pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal mischief. Joshua Lee Talley, 19, was sentenced by a state judge to five months in jail and 10 years probation.
James Byrd Jr. was dragged to his death by three white men in 1998. In May, racial slurs and profanities were found etched into a steel plate covering part of the vault of his grave, and his headstone had been toppled. Talley pleaded guilty to desecrating the grave out of racial prejudice, prosecutor Tom Chambers said. Talley also was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution, perform community service and take part in a cultural awareness program. Talley will have to spend one more month in jail because he's been locked up for the past four. Tally apologized to Byrd's mother in a letter, Chambers said.
Several tips led police to arrest Talley and John M. Fowler, 19. Each was charged with one criminal mischief charge related to the desecration and seven unrelated theft, burglary and criminal mischief charges. Talley's plea means he will not face trial on the unrelated charges. He could have faced up to 10 years in prison. Fowler, free on bond, faces trial for desecrating Byrd's grave as well as the other charges, Chambers said.
| Only thing lacking in Talley's plea-bargin is a good whuppin'. |
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