2012 NATO summit protesters sentenced to several years in prison

CHICAGO – A judge has sentenced three protesters accused of plotting Molotov cocktail attacks at a 2012 NATO summit in Chicago to serve several years in prison each.

Jurors had acquitted the activists of terrorism charges brought under a rarely used statute, but convicted them of lesser counts of misdemeanour mob action and possession of an incendiary device to commit arson.

Jared Chase was sentenced to eight years, while Brent Betterly got six and Brian Church got five.

Judge Thaddeus Wilson said “throwing Molotov cocktails … might not be terrorism… but it is terrorizing.”

Two of the defendants made brief statements before the judge pronounced the sentences. Betterly said their plans weren’t serious and the alleged plottings of attacks were “fits of dark humour.”