California Man Indicted in Cross Burning
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A man was indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights charges Thursday for allegedly scrawling racist slogans and burning a cross at a black family's home.
Christopher D. Easley, 22, was accused of conspiracy to violate civil rights, interference with housing rights and use of fire to commit a felony.
Easley and a 16-year-old boy allegedly left several pieces of wood at the home in Anderson last month scrawled with a racial slur, the letters ``SS'' and several swastikas. On Jan. 2 they allegedly set fire to an eight-foot wooden cross on the front lawn.
Easley was being held in the Shasta County jail. The 16-year-old was arrested earlier but then released to his family.
If convicted, Easley could be sentenced to 20 years or more in prison and fined up to $250,000.
Anderson is about 140 miles northwest of Sacramento.