Temple bombers expected to be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison

Scott Sonner

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000 | 12:15 p.m.

RENO, Nev. - Four of the five white supremacists who pleaded guilty to an attempted firebombing of a Jewish temple are likely to be sentenced Friday to more than 10 years each in prison, a local prosecutor said.

The Washoe County District Attorney's office has dropped state charges against the men, clearing the way for Friday's scheduled sentencing on parallel federal charges in U.S. District Court.

"If the sentencing varies drastically from the recommendation in the negotiated plea agreement, we can refile those charges," said Karl Hall, chief deputy district attorney.

A defense lawyer for one of the men, Scott Hudson, 24, said last month that Hudson's guilty plea was based on the condition he not be sentenced to more than 15 years.

Hall said Thursday the recommended sentences in the plea bargain are "in the realm of 12 years for most of the fellows."

Joshua Kudlacek, 19, pleaded to lesser charges because of his limited role and is recommended to receive five years in prison, Hall said.

The five skinheads from Nevada and California admitted to conspiring to throw a Molotov cocktail at the Temple Emanu-El Jewish Synagogue last Nov. 30.

A plastic liter bottle filled with cement shattered a temple window, but the gasoline bomb that followed fell to the ground and only scorched the sidewalk.

Federal prosecutors said the group singled out the temple because of its religious affiliation.

The maximum penalties for the federal hate crime and other bomb-related charges range from 30 to 40 years.

Sentencing was postponed last month because the related state charges were still pending. Defense lawyers said the parallel prosecutions resulted in illegal "double jeopardy" for their clients.

A grand jury indictment said the defendants were "self-avowed 'skinheads' who advocated white supremacy and the oppression of black, Jewish and other minority persons."

Hudson, Carl DeAmicis, 26, Christopher Hampton, 23, and Daniel McIntosh, 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the rights of citizens, damaging religious property and using fire or explosives to commit a felony.

Kudlacek pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the rights of citizens, damage to religious property and bombing property in and affecting interstate commerce.

Hampton and Kudlacek are from Reno. Hudson is from Reno and Esparto, Calif. Police described DeAmicis and McIntosh as drifters who moved between Reno, Sacramento and Auburn, Calif.