Woman Gets Jail for Bullying Sikhs

December 16, 2001, 09:45 AM

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By AP Staff

A 54-year-old woman was sentenced to 30 days in jail for harassing two Sikhs at an Interstate 5 rest area following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Shari Margaret Mitchell, 54, of Milwaukie had asked for leniency, telling the judge that she might become homeless if she's jailed for a month. But Lane County Circuit Judge Ted Carp imposed the jail sentence requested by the prosecutor.

Carp also ordered Mitchell to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment, to keep away from firearms and not to drive until she proves to state licensing officials that she's no threat on public roads.

The judge said the sentence is intended to discourage Mitchell and others from acting on their bigotry. He promised Mitchell that she'll serve more time if she violates probation.

"This is a case where it's important for the public to see the defendant serve her time," Carp said. "If I see you again, ma'am, you'll be going to jail for a considerable period of time."

A jury convicted Mitchell on Dec. 7 of second-degree intimidation and physical harassment. The bullying occurred five days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a period that saw several acts of violence against Muslims and those mistaken for them.

The victims, Jagit Gill, and his father, Santokh Sing, live in Washington state and did not attend Friday's 30-minute hearing.

The men were drinking tea at the rest area when Mitchell cursed them, accused them of being terrorists, knocked over their tea, pushed Gill and tried to pull the turban from Sing's head.

In her trial, Mitchell claimed that she was mentally ill and thought she was confronting Osama bin Laden at the rest area. Mitchell has some history of mental disorder, but prosecutors described her effort to use it for a legal defense as "a lousy con job."

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)