Watch CBS News

Sentencing For NATO 3 Set For April 25

CHICAGO (STMW) -- A Cook County judge Friday set a tentative April 25 date for post-trial motions and sentencing of three out-of-town activists known as the NATO 3, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

Brian Church, 22; Jared Chase, 29, and Brent Betterly, 25, face between four and 30 years in prison for possession of an incendiary device and misdemeanor mob action.

Jurors cleared the men of more serious terrorism charges in early February.

The high-profile trial raised questions about police entrapment, the First Amendment and whether the men were "overcharged" for their activities and drunken discussions before the NATO summit here two years ago.

State's Attorney Anita Alvarez vociferously defended charging the men under a little-used state terrorism statute and said she was proud of the two undercover officers who unveiled what prosecutors said was a dangerous plot to set police officers on fire and destroy police stations, President Barack Obama's headquarters and Mayor Rahm Emanuel's home.

"Have we forgotten about Boston? Have we forgotten about homemade bombs in backpacks?" she said following the Feb. 7 verdicts.

Church, Chase and Betterly were arrested on May 16, 2012, after four Molotov cocktails were made out of beer bottles at the Bridgeport apartments they were living in at the time.

Judge Thaddeus Wilson said he will hear post trial motion arguments at 10 a.m. on April 25. If he does not grant the men a new trial, he will sentence them later that day.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.