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Ind. man sentenced in cross burning

INDIANAPOLIS, June 15 (UPI) -- An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a July 2000 cross burning, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

Jerry Dean Landis pleaded guilty April 14 to participating in the July 1, 2000, cross burning in the front yard of a black family's home in Indianapolis. Landis admitted he and his associates wanted to "send a message" to the family.

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The Justice Department said it would continue to vigorously prosecute bias-motivated crimes, including cross burnings. Since 2001, the department said it has prosecuted 29 cross burning cases, filing criminal civil rights charges against 46 defendants.

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