FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1995 (202) 616-2765 TDD (202) 514-1888 TWO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA MEN INDICTED FOR CROSS BURNING WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two Jacksonville men were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly burning a six-foot high wooden cross in front of an auto body and repair shop that employed two African-Americans, the Justice Department announced today. The four count indictment, returned April 27 in Jacksonville and unsealed today, alleged that Stanley James Rich and Robert Arthur Young violated federal civil rights laws by burning the cross on April 19, 1992. It alleged that Rich and Young burned the cross in front of Auto Truck and Bus Service in Oceanway, Florida, a predominantly white area within metropolitan Jacksonville. The indictment alleged that the cross burning was intended to intimidate the African-American auto shop workers and the auto shop owners who employed them. "As long as the flames of race hatred burn, we will seek justice at every turn," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "We will vigorously enforce the civil rights laws of this land." Count one alleged that Rich and Young conspired to burn the cross to interfere with the African-American auto shop employees' right to work free from racial discrimination. Count two alleged that Rich and Young burned the cross to intimidate the African-American employees because of their race and their employment. Count three alleged that the two burned the cross to intimidate the business owners because they were affording African-Americans the right to employment free of discrimination. Count four charges Rich and Young with the use of fire in the commission of a felony. "We share the Civil Rights Division's commitment to eradicate racial violence which interferes with fundamental federal rights," said Charles R. Wilson, U.S. Attorney in Tampa. "We will continue to work closely with the Division in the enforcement of the federal criminal civil rights laws." If convicted on all counts, the two will face up to 17 years in prison and $450,000 in fines. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. # # # 95-