Two of George Rockwell’s Nazi “stormtroopers,” sentenced last week to a year of hard labor each on the convict road gang for attacking a 13-year-old Jewish boy, withdrew today the appeal of their convictions.
They feared that a grand jury might re-open the case and impose even heavier sentences. Charges of felonious assault rather than simple assault and battery could result in possible penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment. Therefore, the Nazis decided to serve the year terms on the convict road gang imposed by Arlington Judge Hugh Gregger.
The two men, Richard Braun, 26, and Robert Garber, 31, withdrew their appeals, apparently after Rockwell consulted on their behalf with Commonwealth Attorney William Hassan. Rockwell said, “I’ve talked to Mr. Hassan and he’s convinced me that they can make a big deal out of it.”
The two Nazis now will be sent to a state convict road gang for hard labor. A third Nazi, Anthony Wells, who was convicted of assaulting a 16-year-old youth July 19 and sentenced to 60 days in jail, was released today on $1,000 bond pending action on his appeal, which will be heard by the Circuit Court.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
