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A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 29 november 2017

Psychiatric help, then prison for Jewish center bomb plotter

By CURT ANDERSON “I lost my mind. I lashed back at the Jews” and that
AP Legal Affairs Writer out,” he said. “It’s a war man, and it’s
MIAMI (AP) — A Florida Under the agreement, if like, it’s time to strike back
man will be hospitalized in Medina completes hospi- here in America.”
federal custody for psychi- tal treatment successfully, “When I am doing this, I
atric treatment and likely he would return to court feel that I’m doing it for a
serve 25 years in prison for and have the 25-year sen- good cause for Allah,” Me-
plotting to bomb a syna- tence formally imposed, dina said.
gogue and Jewish school Scola said. It’s possible he It was the informant who
center during Passover last could still get the maxi- suggested switching to a
year, a judge ruled Tues- mum life sentence, but the bomb plot, which the FBI
day. judge said he favors the agents could more easily
James Medina, 41, plead- shorter prison term. His time control, investigators previ-
ed guilty this year to a re- in the hospital would count ously testified. At the time,
ligious hate crime and at- toward the total sentence. Medina was living with two
tempting to use a weapon “It makes clear what the other men in Hollywood,
of mass destruction, which intention of this court is on Florida, and one of them
was actually a fake bomb this date,” the judge said. possessed an AK-47 rifle,
provided by an FBI infor- “This is a very, very serious according to the FBI.
mant. He could have re- offense. Investigators also said Me-
ceived life in prison, but There has to be a signifi- dina wanted to create
prosecutors and Medina’s This 2014 arrest photo made available by Miami-Dade Correc- cant sentence.” a leaflet to be left at the
attorney worked out an tions and Rehabilitation Department, shows James Medina. On According to the FBI, Me- scene in which he would
agreement that was ac- Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, a judge ordered Medina to be hospital- dina initially envisioned us- claim the attack was
cepted by U.S. District ized in federal custody for psychiatric treatment and likely serve ing AK-47-style weapons to traced to Islamic State.
Judge Robert Scola. 25 years in prison for plotting to bomb a synagogue and Jewish shoot up the Jewish center, There’s no evidence the
Defense lawyer Hector school center during Passover last year. which has about 800 con- group was actually linked
Dopico said at a hearing (Miami-Dade C&R via AP) gregant families. Several to Medina, but he told the
that serious mental illness, in a Muslim convert, claimed cause for the criminality,” conversations about the informant that the leaflet
addition to brain damage allegiance to the Islamic Dopico said. plot were recorded by an would “make it look like it’s
from a 2007 car accident, State extremist group and In brief remarks to the informant, identified only ISIS (Islamic State) here in
were the main factors be- said he had an obligation judge, Medina said he as a “confidential human America. Just like that.”
hind Medina’s plot to blow to attack Jews in the U.S. needs help for his illnesses source” by the FBI. Medina was arrested af-
up the Aventura Turnberry “This is one of those heart- and that he made a huge Medina was quoted as say- ter accepting the dummy
Jewish Center. FBI record- breaking cases where mistake by going forward ing in one of the recordings bomb from the informant
ings showed that Medina, there was an organic with the Jewish center plot. that he wanted to “strike near the Jewish center.q
Parole OK’d for ‘evil twin’ convicted in plot to kill sister

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A plan to murder Sunny decision includes a 120-
Southern California wom- Han, who was bound and day review period so Gov.
an convicted of conspir- gagged along with her Jerry Brown can decide
ing to kill her identical twin roommate before police whether to approve or re-
sister in the 1990s has been rescued them. ject the parole recommen-
recommended for parole The Korean-born twins dation.
after spending nearly two were co-valedictorians at The Orange County District
decades in prison, accord- their San Diego County Attorney’s Office in a let-
ing to a report published high school, were once ter Monday asked Brown
Tuesday. close but had a history of to reject the parole rec-
In a case that made inter- fighting, authorities have ommendation, saying that
national headlines, Jeen said. Their relationship de- Gina Han failed to address
“Gina” Han — dubbed the teriorated after Sunny Han her alleged mental disor-
“evil twin” by police — was accused her sister of steal- der and still poses a risk to
sentenced to 26 years to ing her BMW. society.
life in May 1998. The state Board of Parole Deputy District Attorney
Han and two others were recommended the release Nikki Chambers said Gina
found guilty of conspiracy In this May 8, 1998 photo, Deputy Public Defender Roger Alex- of Gina Han, now 43, after Han, as an example of her
to commit murder, bur- ander puts his arm around Jeen “Gina” Han in Orange County a hearing on Oct. 31, the plans for parole, gave the
glary and false imprison- Superior Court in Santa Ana, Calif., after she was sentenced to 26 Orange County Register re- board letters from a men
ment. Prosecutors said the years to life for plotting the murder of her twin sister Sunny. Han ported. with whom she is corre-
trio conspired in a failed has been granted parole after nearly two decades in prison. Under California law, the sponding. q
(Ygnacio Nanetti/OCR via AP)