Two anti-police rioters who participated in a Black Lives Matter protest-turned-riot last summer are expected to be hit with prison sentences of about two years for their participation in the city destruction, including setting fire to two vehicles belonging to the city and state.
Rioters MacKenzie Drechsler and Shakell Sanks admitted on Monday to “their roles in the events that unfolded after a George Floyd/Black Lives Matter rally and march devolved into chaos outside of the Public Safety Building on Exchange Boulevard” in Rochester, New York, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.
One of the destroyed vehicles, a Ford Focus, belonged to the city of Rochester’s Family Crisis Intervention Team and was marked as such. The other vehicle belonged to the New York state attorney general’s Office.
In addition to arson, Drechsler admitted to looting and committing property damage throughout the city, the D&C noted.
The criminals’ are expected to be hit with about two-year sentences, though the judge can lower or add to the 24-33 month prison sentence range: “Dreschler’s sentencing range is 24 to 30 months,” the D&C report said. “But a federal judge is not beholden to the agreement and can sentence her to a prison term shorter or longer than the plea agreement. Sanks agreed to a term in prison of 27 to 33 months.”
Their sentences will be handed down in August.
Dreschler is being held without bail since she’s considered “a danger to the community based on her conduct during the violent protests,” said a press release from U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr.
“Rioting, the setting of fires, and the destruction of property, however, are not constitutionally protected activities,” the press release added. “They are crimes. The proceedings before Judge Larimer should serve as a reminder to those who commit crimes that when you do so you may ultimately forfeit your most precious constitutional right — your right to liberty.”
The rioting in Rochester last May was not an isolated incident. In September, the city was again destroyed by Black Lives Matter and anti-police rioters protesting the death of Daniel Prude.
This is an excerpt from The Daily Wire.
