POLICE STATE / MILITARY - LOOKING GLASS NEWS | |
Tenn. Teen Jailed for Burning U.S. Flag |
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from Associated Press
Entered into the database on Saturday, July 16th, 2005 @ 20:53:19 MST |
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MARYVILLE, Tenn. - A teenager was jailed for nine days after being accused
of burning an American flag on the Fourth of July, and he faces trial next month While the case could test a state statute against flag burning — an act
the U.S. Supreme Court says is protected under the First Amendment — prosecutors
said Andrew Elisha Staley has yet to argue that he was exercising free speech
rights. "Bottom line is, the kid got drunk," said Lisa Lee, his mother. "He's
never been in trouble before." Staley, 18, is accused of taking the flag from a residence and setting it on
fire. His father said the teenager "has no reason for anger against the
United States" and could easily have ignited a garbage can instead of a
flag. "He was brought up in church, and he knows right from wrong," Doc
Staley said. Doc Staley said his son has been "floundering around" since dropping
out of high school. "This is where the drinking came in. And he's not very
good at it," the father said. The teenager was released from jail Thursday on his own recognizance while
he awaits his Aug. 2 trial on charges of desecrating a venerated object, underage
drinking, littering, evading arrest, burning personal property and theft. The Tennessee flag-burning statute makes the crime a misdemeanor, punishable
by less than a year in jail and up to $2,500 fine. |