Current Events > Man who sped his car through crowd of BLM protesters will avoid prison, fines

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https://bit.ly/2Xnqekf

A white man who deliberately sped his car through a crowd of racial injustice protesters in Iowa City, striking several, will avoid prison and have the incident erased from his record if he stays out of trouble for three years.
A judge last month granted a deferred judgment for Michael Ray Stepanek, 45, who told police he drove his Toyota Camry through the crowd in August because the protesters needed an attitude adjustment.
The sentence means a felony charge of willful injury resulting in bodily injury against Stepanek will be dismissed and expunged as long as he does not commit a crime during a three-year term of probation. Judge Paul Miller also suspended a $1,025 civil fine.
Offenders who commit forcible felonies are not eligible for deferred judgments, but the charge to which Stepanek pleaded is not considered one under Iowa law. He was also eligible for the break because he did not have a criminal history.
Stepaneks attorney, John Bruzek, said his client was influenced by social media and political rhetoric characterizing the protesters as dangerous criminals. Stepanek initially believed he was legally justified but has come to see he was wrong and apologized, Bruzek said.
Michael understands how his conduct could have resulted in a much more serious and harmful situation, he said.
The Johnson County Attorneys Office, which agreed to Stepaneks plea deal, could face accusations of double standards as it continues to pursue charges against some Black Lives Matter protesters involved in the demonstrations last summer.
Prosecutors continue to pursue 15 counts, including nine felonies, against a protest leader charged with shining a laser beam light in police officers eyes in August.
A 20-year-old Black protester who carried an assault rifle through an Iowa City crowd in June has been indicted on a federal charge of illegally possessing a gun while using marijuana. The man, who faces up to 10 years in prison, had already been prosecuted by Johnson County on related charges after the gun was found during a traffic stop following the protest.
Separately, in Des Moines, prosecutors are pursuing felony leak charges against two protesters accused of stealing an intelligence bulletin from an officer and giving it to a television reporter.
Stepaneks violence came during a downtown Iowa City protest organized by the Iowa Freedom Riders, whose members have been pushing for changes to policing for months. Police fired tear gas on them in June, outraging city leaders.
Police say Stepanek became enraged when he was stopped behind other vehicles after protesters blocked an intersection. He honked his horn then made a U-turn, squealing his tires to turn around.
Then, he shut off his lights, drove around the block, and turned onto a downtown street where there were no vehicles between him and the protesters, police say. Video shows his car striking multiple protesters, dragging one on his hood, before speeding off.
A 21-year-old protest organizer said she had a sore leg after she was mowed down and that the incident opened her eyes to the hatred of people in this community.

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no goddamn justice :(.
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And people wonder why black people are angry and want to burn down the institution that supports this disgusting s***

Un fucking real, that was attempted murder

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Sounds about white

Only way to properly punish these people is obviously of the vigilante sort. Cant rely on this trash ass corrupt system that protects these people who want us dead for simply being alive lmao

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The guy even admitted it was attempted murder and still doesn't get punished.

Wtf

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when the legal system has failed to uphold justice, what are the people to do?

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The excuse is that he was whipped into a frenzy by social media? Wtf bullshit is that? He even left the situation and came back specifically to hurt people. Fuck that piece of shit and that judge.

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y'know, I can't think of a better time than right now to show leniency to extremist right wing political violence

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Frolex posted...

y'know, I can't think of a better time than right now to show leniency to extremist right wing political violence

maybe its by design.

they want BLM to riot again to take attention from the domestic terrorists who tried to take the capitol

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Vigilantism becomes more and more of a valid form of action each day.

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Kinda off topic kinda on topic: whatever happened to the black guy that ran over 2 white girls at a blm protest?

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disgusting. he really said they needed an attitude adjustment??

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What the fucking fuck is wrong with this judicial system

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White privledge everyday

What the hell.

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WOW

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That is un-fucking-real. That judge needs to be off the bench immediately.

The judge was later found to be wearing a KKK robe under his judicial gown, for the convenience of attending rallies after work.

N o s u c h t h I n g a s I n s t I t I n o a l r a c I s m

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this is worse than I thought it would be

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But I was told racism is dead

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One thing they don't tell you is victims have to agree or disagree with plea deals. *Mind blown*

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Protesters are worse than attempted murderers there apparently.
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Shouldn't have swarmed his car wtf

The justice system is rigged against the people, in support of fascists.

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This is an actually justifiable reason for a protest on Capitol Hill.

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For those claiming this isnt fair, you must have missed this part.

Stepanek initially believed he was legally justified but has come to see he was wrong and apologized

What more could you possibly want?

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The Popo posted...

For those claiming this isnt fair, you must have missed this part.

What more could you possibly want?

https://youtu.be/m_nbG4HORig

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White privilege strikes again

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It's stupid as fuck that he was offered a plea deal for this

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