BURLINGTON, Vt. – A white man accused of distributing Ku Klux Klan recruitment fliers to two minority women in Vermont has pleaded no contest to charges of disorderly conduct.
Burlington resident William Schenk last year pleaded not guilty to passing out the fliers to a black woman and a Hispanic woman. He sought to have the charges dismissed, saying he wasn't targeting the women and his conduct was protected by the First Amendment.
But he agreed to the no contest plea Wednesday and was sentenced to 120 days in jail, which he had already served.
The Burlington Free Press reports (http://bfpne.ws/1Wqh0gr) Schenk will appeal his conviction.
New York police took him into custody after the hearing to face a felony charge in Plattsburgh of violating an abuse prevention order.
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Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com
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