Terrorism charges have been dropped against eight defendants accused of conspiracy to commit riot and property damage during the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul.
The Ramsey County attorney's office said this morning that it would file amended complaints in the cases of the men and women known as the "RNC 8." The charges of conspiracy to commit riot and conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property will remain, but other charges of conspiracy to commit riot and conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property "in furtherance of terrorism" will be dismissed.
"We believe the terrorism charges would have been a distraction at trial," said Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner. "Dismissing those charges will help us focus on the core illegal conduct that occurred."
The terrorism law was enacted in 2002 by the state Legislature. It provides longer sentences for felony crimes that involve premeditation and violence to persons or property and which are intended, among other things, to intimidate the public and disrupt the right of lawful assembly, the county attorney said.
In this case, however, the state's sentencing guidelines provide for stayed prison sentences with jail time, fines and other sanctions as possible conditions of probation. The eight defendants would not face longer prison sentences if convicted under the terrorism sentencing enhancement.
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