A Georgia couple was sentenced to prison after shouting racial slurs, waving Confederate flags and making armed threats at an eight-year-old’s birthday party in 2015.
- Jose “Joe” Torres was sentenced to 20 years, serving 13.
- Kayla Norton was sentenced to 15 years, serving 6.
- The couple were the last of 15 people who were charged in the disruption of the child’s birthday.
In 2015, Torres and Norton stormed an eight-year-old boy’s birthday party.
They waved Confederate flags, racially abused the guests, and threatened to kill them. According to the Independent, prosecutors explained that one of them had even pointed a weapon at the party-goers. Jose “Joe” Torres and Kayla Norton were sentenced to 35 years between them. More specifically, Torres was sentenced to 20 years, with 13 years in prison, and Norton was sentenced to 15, serving 6. CNN reported that Torres was convicted on “three counts of aggravated assault, one count of making terroristic threats and one count of violating of Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.” Furthermore, Norton was convinced on one count of making terroristic threats and one count of violation of the Street Gang Act.
Douglas County District Attorney Brian Fortner said in a statement:
This is behaviour that even supporters of the confederate battle flag can agree is criminal and shouldn’t be allowed.
Crying in court, Kayla Norton said:
I do accept responsibility for what I’ve done. What happened to you is absolutely awful. From mother to mother, I cannot imagine having to explain what that word means. The worst decision I’ve ever made in my life was to not walk away when I had the chance.
In response to this, party-goer Hyesha Bryant claimed that she forgave the couple. Moreover, she said:
I never thought this would be something I’d have to endure in 2017. As adults and parents, we have to instil in our children the values of right and wrong. That moment you had to choose to leave, you stayed.
