The Oklahoman & NewsOK

Thunder vs. Bulls: Five takeaways from OKC's win vs. ChicagoMillwood High School pulls basketball team off court amid COVID 'super-spreader' at Community Christian

NewsOK: Oklahoma City News, Sports, Weather & Entertainment

The Morning Brew: Georgia couple that made armed, racist threats at black child's birthday party sentenced

Juliana Keeping
by Juliana Keeping
Published: Wed, March 1, 2017 5:00 AM

Good Wednesday morning. Here is your news summary:

Georgia couple that made armed, racist threats at 8-year-old's birthday party headed to prison

A Georgia couple that yelled racial slurs and made armed threats at an 8-year-old black child's birthday party is heading to prison. 

CNN reported:

Jose "Joe" Torres, was sentenced to 20 years, with 13 years in prison, after a jury convicted him on three counts of aggravated assault, one count of making terroristic threats and one count of violating of Georgia's Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Kayla Norton was sentenced to 15 years, with six years in prison. She was convicted on one count of making terroristic threats and one count of violation of the Street Gang Act.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the July 25, 2015 incident was among a wave of confrontations that occurred between anti and pro-Confederate flag protesters following the shooting of nine black worshippers in a Charleston, S.C. church that summer.

Jose Torres, left, weeps in his seat while during his sentencing at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres and Kayla Rae Norton, right, to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Jose Torres, left, weeps in his seat while during his sentencing at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres and Kayla Rae Norton, right, to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

The AJC reported:

Levi Bush, who was driving one of the trucks and was named in the indictment, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in July that the convoy was leaving a nearby event and just happened to drive by the home. He said partygoers started yelling at the convoy and throwing rocks.

The district attorney's office posted on its Facebook page that Torres was part of a small group of protesters who pointed a shotgun at the partygoers and threatened to kill them while using racial slurs, including the children, CNN reported.

#icymi

Watch: President Trump addresses Congress

Read the transcript

Wife of Navy Seal Ryan Owens applauded for more than 2 minutes during Trump speech

Read more Morning Brew

The weather

State responds to Woody Guthrie image projected onto Oklahoma Capitol

Big Amazon cloud service outage disrupts sites

Fact check: Trump deporting 'bad dudes'?

Thunder: Roberson family doesn't let distance keep them from the games

Allegiant launches twice-weekly nonstop flights between OKC and L.A.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman.

Reports of children with polio-like symptoms cause concern

Norman councilman seeks dismissal of drug paraphernalia charges

Norman city councilman Stephen Holman arrives at Cleveland County district court in Norman, OK, Monday, May 23, 2016 for the second day of his preliminary hearing. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Norman city councilman Stephen Holman arrives at Cleveland County district court in Norman, OK, Monday, May 23, 2016 for the second day of his preliminary hearing. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman

Buddy Hield knows how "La-La Land" feels

Related Photos
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman.
President Donald Trump holds up a hat that reads "Make Counties Great Again" before signing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) executive order, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room in the White House in Washington, which directs the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which expands the number of waterways that are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Jose Torres, left, weeps in his seat while during his sentencing at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres and Kayla Rae Norton, right, to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Kayla Norton stands and speaks on her own behalf in front of Superior Court Judge William McClain at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Jose Torres and Norton to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
+3Norman city councilman Stephen Holman arrives at Cleveland County district court in Norman, OK, Monday, May 23, 2016 for the second day of his preliminary hearing. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-918e772c7b1a7228a3f56b352c246e81.jpg" alt="Photo - " title=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-b67309cd5126f4df6caca392d99c02f8.jpg" alt="Photo - OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman." title="OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman."><figcaption>OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman.</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-c2de16dab86f251da91e1281ec46edef.jpg" alt="Photo - OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman." title="OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman."><figcaption>OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., THURSDAY 10/28/04: Allegiant Airlines' daily flight to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City starts today. The plane is parked at the new terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. Photo by Michael Downes, The Oklahoman.</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-1b0fcb81cbaf406184051f827c2d0bb6.jpg" alt="Photo - President Donald Trump holds up a hat that reads &quot;Make Counties Great Again&quot; before signing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) executive order, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room in the White House in Washington, which directs the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which expands the number of waterways that are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)" title="President Donald Trump holds up a hat that reads &quot;Make Counties Great Again&quot; before signing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) executive order, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room in the White House in Washington, which directs the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which expands the number of waterways that are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)"><figcaption>President Donald Trump holds up a hat that reads &quot;Make Counties Great Again&quot; before signing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) executive order, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room in the White House in Washington, which directs the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which expands the number of waterways that are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-d62ca25446bd39d989815586f480759c.jpg" alt="Photo - Jose Torres, left, weeps in his seat while during his sentencing at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres and Kayla Rae Norton, right, to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)" title="Jose Torres, left, weeps in his seat while during his sentencing at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres and Kayla Rae Norton, right, to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)"><figcaption>Jose Torres, left, weeps in his seat while during his sentencing at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres and Kayla Rae Norton, right, to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-e086a8ee300d7408b800c6f20e927262.jpg" alt="Photo - Kayla Norton stands and speaks on her own behalf in front of Superior Court Judge William McClain at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Jose Torres and Norton to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)" title="Kayla Norton stands and speaks on her own behalf in front of Superior Court Judge William McClain at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Jose Torres and Norton to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)"><figcaption>Kayla Norton stands and speaks on her own behalf in front of Superior Court Judge William McClain at the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville, Ga, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Jose Torres and Norton to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. (Henry P. Taylor/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-de4d5b70f094e10c40906f4feaa4ca84.jpg" alt="Photo - Norman city councilman Stephen Holman arrives at Cleveland County district court in Norman, OK, Monday, May 23, 2016 for the second day of his preliminary hearing. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman" title="Norman city councilman Stephen Holman arrives at Cleveland County district court in Norman, OK, Monday, May 23, 2016 for the second day of his preliminary hearing. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Norman city councilman Stephen Holman arrives at Cleveland County district court in Norman, OK, Monday, May 23, 2016 for the second day of his preliminary hearing. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure>
Juliana Keeping

Juliana Keeping is on the enterprise reporting team for The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com. Keeping joined the staff of The Oklahoman in 2012. Prior to that time, she worked in the Chicago media at the SouthtownStar, winning a Peter Lisagor Award... Read more ›

Comments