Judge: No plea bargain for the Christys

Remember Sean Christy, the Pennsylvania lad who had a restraining order slapped on him for stalking Sarah Palin? Christy and his father, who now stand accused of harassing Sarah Palin's Alaska lawyers by phone, are not going to be able to get a plea deal, a federal court judge ruled Wednesday:

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess rejected a plea deal for Shawn Christy, 20, and his father, Craig Christy, 48, and instead ordered the men to stand trial in early January. The plea agreement would have let the two avoid prison time and six-figure fines.

Burgess said the plea agreements prosecutors had reached with the Christys were not acceptable to him. The judge cited what he described as a disturbing pattern of threats.

"They seem undeterred in their conduct," Burgess said.

The Christys were arrested in Pennsylvania in August and are in custody in Anchorage. Prosecutors said the men were upset about state restraining orders issued on behalf of the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, along with Palin family members and friends.

[More]

Thankfully, the state restraining orders against the Christys have been extended another six months. These creeps are two seriously messed up walking time bombs.

- JP