Tuesday, August 19th 2014, 11:28 am
A judge has ordered the co-founder of the Sooner Tea Party, who is convicted of felony blackmail and computer crimes, to pay a $1,000 fine.
Al Gerhart was sentenced Tuesday in Oklahoma County District Court. Gerhart faced up to five years in prison on each count, but the 12-member jury that convicted him in May recommended that he not serve any prison time and pay a $1,000 fine.
Tuesday afternoon, Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott upheld the jury's recommendation. Gerhart will pay a $1,000 fine for the blackmail count, and will not pay a fine for the violation of computer act count.
Gerhart was accused of sending a politically charged email to a state senator who testified he felt threatened by its tone. The March 2013 email warned Sen. Cliff Branan that if he didn't take up a bill favored by Gerhart's political group, that Gerhart would make sure he regretted that decision.
Defense attorneys argued the email was political speech protected by the First Amendment.
August 19th, 2014
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