An Asian Pride member is sentenced to 35 years for a car chase and murder.
June 23, 2007
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
St Petersburg Times (Florida, USA)
LARGO - Men Sorn's first brush with law took place when he was a 12-year-old boy with big eyes and a bowl haircut. After he was arrested on charges of arson, residential burglary and criminal mischief, a court told him to stop hanging out with gangs.
By all accounts, Sorn didn't listen. He proceeded to build a lengthy criminal record. Three years ago, St. Petersburg police arrested him, saying he had shot and killed another Asian Pride gang member after a 17-minute car chase and shootout in the city's streets.
On Friday, Sorn, 23, paid the price for spending his youth entangled with Asian Pride when Judge J. Thomas McGrady sentenced him to 35 years in prison for second-degree murder. McGrady also sentenced Sorn, who had already pleaded guilty, to 15 years in prison for aggravated assault and five years for shooting into an occupied vehicle, but said the sentences would be served concurrently.
"Your actions severely threatened the life of the driver and any other innocent bystander who might have been in the streets," McGrady said. "That just can't be tolerated."
McGrady also told Sorn that he'd been given lots of warnings about staying away from gangs, but that he had failed to do that.
Sorn's sentencing hearing shed light on the shadowy world of Asian gangs in Pinellas County. Sorn is Cambodian, though the Asian Pride gang in south Pinellas includes youths from other Southeast Asian countries.
St. Petersburg police Detective Bryan Sims detailed for the court how Asian Pride members wore red bandanas and other clothing on their left side. He explained the various hand signs that Sorn and other Asian Pride members flashed in photographs -- like ck for crip killers, or b for bloods.
Beatings are part of the initiation process, Sims said. He said the department had documented 52 members of Asian Pride by 2004, and said they had engaged in shootings, stabbings and other retaliatory attacks in feuds with other gangs.
Sorn didn't make a statement at his sentencing, and stared straight ahead with little emotion as his sentence was read. He still had a boyish face, but his hair was spiky. Several relatives and friends wept.
The bulk of the Sorn's sentencing revolved around testimony from Sims, who works in gang intelligence. Prosecutors, who had sought a 39.5 year sentence, wanted to establish that Sorn was a member of a gang and that the shooting was gang-related so he would receive a stiffer sentence.
McGrady ultimately ruled that Sorn was a member of a gang, but said he was not convinced that the shooting was done to further gang interests. He said both Sorn and his victim, 18-year-old Xaisomdeth Sayavongkeo, who was associated with Asian Pride, had personal disputes.
Seth Walker, 20, who was arrested along with Sorn, also faces charges related to the killing. His case is pending.
Aaron Slavin, who prosecuted Sorn for the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, said he disagreed with McGrady's ruling on the gang-related motivation of the shooting, but respected it.
"I'm glad Judge McGrady gave him a lengthy sentence," Slavin said. "He (Sorn) won't be committing crimes as an adult in Pinellas County anymore."
Joe Hobson, who represented Sorn, said he was pleased with Judge McGrady's ruling on the gang-related provision, but said the whole incident "was a tragedy for Mr. Sorn."
Laura Vilaysack, 41, who helped care for Sorn, told McGrady that he had a good heart.
Prosecutor Doug Ellis responded by asking whether a man with a good heart would chase down fellow gang members and shoot them.
"Is that a caring heart?" he asked. "He is a danger to this community."
Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.
June 23, 2007
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
St Petersburg Times (Florida, USA)
LARGO - Men Sorn's first brush with law took place when he was a 12-year-old boy with big eyes and a bowl haircut. After he was arrested on charges of arson, residential burglary and criminal mischief, a court told him to stop hanging out with gangs.
By all accounts, Sorn didn't listen. He proceeded to build a lengthy criminal record. Three years ago, St. Petersburg police arrested him, saying he had shot and killed another Asian Pride gang member after a 17-minute car chase and shootout in the city's streets.
On Friday, Sorn, 23, paid the price for spending his youth entangled with Asian Pride when Judge J. Thomas McGrady sentenced him to 35 years in prison for second-degree murder. McGrady also sentenced Sorn, who had already pleaded guilty, to 15 years in prison for aggravated assault and five years for shooting into an occupied vehicle, but said the sentences would be served concurrently.
"Your actions severely threatened the life of the driver and any other innocent bystander who might have been in the streets," McGrady said. "That just can't be tolerated."
McGrady also told Sorn that he'd been given lots of warnings about staying away from gangs, but that he had failed to do that.
Sorn's sentencing hearing shed light on the shadowy world of Asian gangs in Pinellas County. Sorn is Cambodian, though the Asian Pride gang in south Pinellas includes youths from other Southeast Asian countries.
St. Petersburg police Detective Bryan Sims detailed for the court how Asian Pride members wore red bandanas and other clothing on their left side. He explained the various hand signs that Sorn and other Asian Pride members flashed in photographs -- like ck for crip killers, or b for bloods.
Beatings are part of the initiation process, Sims said. He said the department had documented 52 members of Asian Pride by 2004, and said they had engaged in shootings, stabbings and other retaliatory attacks in feuds with other gangs.
Sorn didn't make a statement at his sentencing, and stared straight ahead with little emotion as his sentence was read. He still had a boyish face, but his hair was spiky. Several relatives and friends wept.
The bulk of the Sorn's sentencing revolved around testimony from Sims, who works in gang intelligence. Prosecutors, who had sought a 39.5 year sentence, wanted to establish that Sorn was a member of a gang and that the shooting was gang-related so he would receive a stiffer sentence.
McGrady ultimately ruled that Sorn was a member of a gang, but said he was not convinced that the shooting was done to further gang interests. He said both Sorn and his victim, 18-year-old Xaisomdeth Sayavongkeo, who was associated with Asian Pride, had personal disputes.
Seth Walker, 20, who was arrested along with Sorn, also faces charges related to the killing. His case is pending.
Aaron Slavin, who prosecuted Sorn for the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, said he disagreed with McGrady's ruling on the gang-related motivation of the shooting, but respected it.
"I'm glad Judge McGrady gave him a lengthy sentence," Slavin said. "He (Sorn) won't be committing crimes as an adult in Pinellas County anymore."
Joe Hobson, who represented Sorn, said he was pleased with Judge McGrady's ruling on the gang-related provision, but said the whole incident "was a tragedy for Mr. Sorn."
Laura Vilaysack, 41, who helped care for Sorn, told McGrady that he had a good heart.
Prosecutor Doug Ellis responded by asking whether a man with a good heart would chase down fellow gang members and shoot them.
"Is that a caring heart?" he asked. "He is a danger to this community."
Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.
10 comments:
Make sure to mingle him with mexicans hardcore inmates so they can screw his asshole to death.Scum like this should never been born in the first place.
8:13, your comments are childish. Either your a kid or a foolish adult who needs to open his eyes. Cambodians faced the worst genocide in the 20th century and emigrated with nothing but the clothes on their backs to the United States. Sorn is first generation American born. Please try to consider that Cambodian people has had a rough history. If you wish for this upon him, your no better than he is. Cambodian Youth need guidance.
Ultimately, it's the path that one leads own life. He was in the land of the opportunities, and chose crimes.
I was in the concentration camp during Pol Pot time. I didn't make that my excuse here in the US. I think 35 yrs is too short.
This artcle indicates that an investigative body was set up to deal with the Asian gangs that exist in P. County. This investigative body brought about a case that involved Mr. Sorn's action toward another person in an opposing gang.
At which point, Mr. Sorn was brought into the U.S. judicial system and once convicted into the correctional system. 35 years was his prison term of services.
Comentors 8:28 P.M. and 10: 47 p.m. consigned Mr. Sorn to his fate. Commentator 10:34 P.M. sought to highlight the violent history of Cambodia to explain Mr. Sorn's action. He is eluding to the notion of a violent past pepetuating a violence presence and as such any judgement should take this violence history factor into consideration.
10:34 P.M's arguement while compassionate is overly liberal. Facts are Facts...Mr. Sorn committed the car chase which ended in a shoot out resulting in a serious fatality of another human being---this is murder in what ever form it is call.... True, the final sentencing should consider the violence history of Cambodia, but at a closer examination, this opportunity was offered to Mr. Sorn. He was fairly warned to stay away from gang in his previous case by the judge that decided his current case.
Mr. Sorn chose not to listen and proceed with the life of crime. As such, his action which resulted in the death of another human being cannot be considered to be influence by his violent past. Rather, this was a personal choice. When he carried out that car chase and caused the death of another, it was was not Pol Pol of his parents, rather that was his choice
35 years is the result of a wrong personal choice and it has nothing to do with Mr. Sorn's past. 10:47 P.M. has correctly noted..." I was in the concentration camp... I didn't make that my excuse here in the US."
One seconded 10:47 pm's thought. We do not wish ill upon Mr. Sorn or those like him of Cambodian descendents. We simple highlight that freedom is responsibility and consequences are the direct result of personal choices. By placing Mr. Sorn in confinement...it is the first step to introduce him to recognizing the value of human life and the pain, joy, love, caring and compassion associate with the human existent.
To let Mr. Sorn go free in light of his personal choice that resulted in the death of another is to condone murder. If we condoned Murder, where we would the U.S. be?
11:37PM, you must love writing--that's a long one to read. It's so much gibberish. From your context, you seem to have so much compassion for these thugs. You are a good person.
I, on the other hand, i strongly believe "you do, you pay" principles. I do agree with you 7th paragraph. In addition to that I wanted to add that a person DOES NOT need to be in a steel cage to learn to "recognize the value of human life and the pain, joy, love caring and compassion associate with human existent". Maslow's Hiarchy of Need come naturally -- no one needs to teach anyone, like eating.
DON'T FALL INTO "IT'S NOT MY FAULTS" MENTALITY. WE HAVE PLENTY IN THE WORLD!
1:35 A.M.,
Thank you for recognizing the lenght to which I devoted the time on focusing to the issue at hand.
Clearly, 1:35 A.M. needs to compare his style of critiquing to that of mine and reevaluate his notion of what is gibberish.
Further, it is not clear whether 1:35 A.M. is agreeing with me or is criticizing me on the said piece of Mr. Sorn and his punishment for comiting murder?
Finally, Maslow's work is quoted and applied incorrectly here, especially in the case of Mr. Sorn.
Mr.Sorn had comitted murder. He is a murderer.
Because I am not clear as to 1:35 A.M piece: whether it is criticising me or agreeing with my point, I would appreciate a clarification.
Is 1:35 saying that the U.S. Judicial system and its Correctional system should not confine Mr. Sorn for the crime of murder?
Is 1:35 saying that if one is to murder your sons or daughters, one does not need to be confine and punished or educate?
When 1:35 a.m. used Maslow's work even thought it was incorrectly used, it gives the impression that 1:35 a.m is in favor of no punishment for Mr. Sorn's crime.
Again, Please clarify...and please refrain from personal attack. I am not interested in commetators thought on the style of my writing, rather on their notions of good and evil; crime and punishment.
Both Men Sorn and his co-Defendant, Seth Walker, are dangerous individuals that chose a life of violence. They are lucky that they are not spending the rest of their lives in prison. They will, one day, have a chance to live the remainder of their life. The young man that was shot will never have that chance. He received the ultimate penalty (death) without the benefit of skilled court-appointed attorneys, a judge, a jury or a trial... all protections that our American judicial system provided to Men Sorn, despite his acts of violence.
Men is a great man and he didnt kill anyone so everybody dat gotta say so bullshit about him are stupid pussy ass niggas.Men baby stay strong immma hold it down fa you.
I Agree rorn is one of the sweetest guys I ever dated everyone makes mistakes if your not guided correctly Cambodians were brought here not born here and America doesn't do very much to help them
Fuck america they treat Cambodians like shit rorn held me down for years faithful and never crossed me a great provider
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