Two life sentences for Moussaoui
on May 4, 2006 at 7:23 pm
U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of Alexandria, Va., on Thursday sentenced Zacarias Moussaoui to two consecutive life prison terms, each without the possibility of release at any time, based on his April 2005 guilty pleas to six counts of terrorism conspiracy. The case is U.S. v. Moussaoui, docket 01-455. The judge formally declared that “the sentence adequately reflects the seriousness of the offense, adequate punishment and deterrence as well as protection of the community.”
The seven-page judgment form can be found here. (On the public docket, page 7 is not included because it includes “sealed information,” the judge noted.)
Judge Brinkema acted after the jury in U.S. District Court on Wednesday declined to impose a death sentence on any three of the six counts at issue in that verdict.
She ordered Moussaoui to serve together (“concurrently”) five life prison terms without the possibility of release on counts 2 through 6, and a separate life term without release on count 1, consecutive to the concurrent sentences on the other counts.
The judge noted that Moussaoui could have been fined between $25,000 and $250,000, but said any fines were waived “because of inability to pay.” Nevertheless, she ordered him to pay $600 ($100 per count) for a special assessment, “due in full immediately.” If that amount is not paid, it will be deducted from any account Moussaoui has while in prison, the judge ordered.
The judge said that Moussaoui has ten days to file an appeal of the sentence.
