GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE August 8 2014

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

Seattle arsonist given double the sentence

by Anthony Glassman

Seattle-Prosecutors asked for Musab Masmari to be sentenced to five years for his New Year's Eve arson at Neighbours nightclub. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez, however, sentenced him to ten years in prison on July 31.

While it was believed that the arson was an anti-gay hate crime, prosecutors did not believe they could prove it in court. They made a deal with defense attorneys, who claimed that the crime was fueled by alcohol and not homophobia, to ask the judge for a fiveyear sentence.

Masmari, 31, set the fire in the early minutes of 2014 by pouring gasoline in a back stairway of the nightclub and setting it alight. While there were 750 people at the bar that night, celebrating the new year, patrons noticed the fire quickly and kept it under control until the sprinkler system came on.

One of Masmari's friends told investigators that he had confessed to the crime and told them he did it because homosexuality was wrong, and another associate said that he was generally hostile towards gays and lesbians.

However, Masmari also has a notable drinking problem, which rendered him jobless and living in his car by last year.

He was born in Los Angeles to Libyan parents. His father was studying film in L.A. He was raised in Libya for most of his childhood before moving to Washington in 2008.

He was arrested trying to flee the country, having booked a flight to Turkey.

Masmari wrote a letter to the court, saying that he had downed a bottle of

Gay Games 9 sporting event schedule

whiskey and did not remember setting the fire, though he recognized himself in surveillance camera footage from the club.

"I do not believe that I am a bad man but when I get drunk I have done bad things," he wrote, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer. "I swear that it is my intent to never drink again."

"I am sorry for the damage I caused, and I am grateful that no one was hurt,' he continued. "I should have gotten alcohol counseling... I wish I had."

For full details of the following sporting events, as well as cultural events, day trips, parties, entertainment and a complete listing of activities in the Festival Village, please visit www.GG9Cle.com.

Saturday, August 9

International Rainbow Memorial 1 Mile Run 8:30 am, Begins and ends at the Rock Hall and loops around First Energy Stadium. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 1100 E 9th St, Cleveland

Pre-Opening Ceremony Party and Staging 4:00 pm 5:45 pm, Registered participants only. Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St, Cleveland Opening Ceremony 7:00 pm 10:00 pm, star-studded line up of entertainment, with special appearance by Olympic champion and LGBT

advocate Greg Louganis. Quicken Loans Arena, 1 Center Ct, Cleveland

Sunday, August 10

Open Water Swim 6:45 am 11:30 am Edgewater Park, 6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, Cleveland

Triathlon 7:00 am 12:00 pm, Voinovich Park, East 9th Street Pier, Cleveland

Swimming 8:00 am 5:00 pm, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave, Cleveland

Tennis 8:00 am 8:00 pm, Cleveland State University Malaga Complex, E. 21 and Chester, Cleveland, Highlands Heights Community Park, 5905 Wilson Mills Rd, Highland Heights, Mayfield Village Racquet Club, 6685 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Cleveland Racquet Club, 29825 Chagrin Blvd, Pepper Pike, Rockefeller Park, East 88th Street, Cleveland

Ice Hockey 8:00 am 6:00 pm, 15381 Royalton Rd, Strongsville

Rowing 8:00 am 4:00 pm, Cleveland Metroparks Rivergate Park, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland

Powerlifting 9:00 am -

IGRA Rodeo 9:00 am Basketball 12:00 pm

5:00 pm, Old School Iron Gym, 5139 W. 140th, Brook Park 5:00 pm, Summit County Fairgrounds, 229 E Howe Rd, Tallmadge

5:00 pm, Cleveland State University, Woodling Gymnasium, 2420 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Bowling 2:00 pm 5:00 pm, Game of Wickliffe 28801 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe

Volleyball Open Practice 2:00 pm 5:00 pm, Cleveland Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland

Monday, August 11

Martial Arts John S. Knight Center, 77 E Mill St, Akron

Sailing Edgewater Yacht Club, Inc., 6700 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, Cleveland

Soccer/Football 8:00 am 7:00 pm, Copley Road Soccer Fields, 1806 Copley Rd, Akron

Wrestling and Grappling 8:00 am 5:00 pm, Case Western University-Horsburgh Gym, 2138 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland

Golf 8:00 am 5:00 pm, Firestone Country Club, 452 E Warner Rd, Akron

Badminton 8:00 am 4:00 pm, Case Western University, Veale Center, 2138 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland

Ice Hockey 8:00 am 6:00 pm, OBM Arena, 15381 Royalton Rd, Strongsville

Swimming 8:00 am 5:00 pm, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave, Cleveland

Track and Field 8:00 am 6:00 pm, Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex, 315 South Union Street, University of Akron, Akron Racquetball 8:00 am 6:00 pm, Case Western University, 2138 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland

Volleyball 8:00 am 6:00 pm, Cleveland Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland

Billiards-Pool 9:00 am 9:00 pm, Dave & Buster's, 25735 1st St, Westlake

Bowling 9:00 am 12:00 pm, Game of Wickliffe 28801 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe

IGRA Rodeo 9:00 am 5:00 pm, Summit County Fairgrounds, 229 E Howe Rd, Tallmadge

Softball 9:00 am 5:00 pm, Cascade Valley Metro Park, 1690 Cuyahoga St., Colonial Salt Field, 400 West Wilbeth Rd., Firestone Stadium, 1575 Firestone Pkwy. Akron, OH

Darts 9:00 am 6:00 pm, Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, 24 Public Square, Cleveland

Basketball 10:00 am 3:00 pm, Cleveland State University, Woodling Gymnasium, 2451 Euclid Ave, Cleveland

Bodybuilding 10:00 am-8:00 pm, Public Music Hall, 1201 East St. Clair at East 6th Street, Cleveland

Rock Climbing 10:00 am 4:00 pm, Kendall Cliffs Climbing Gym, 60 Kendall Park Rd, Peninsula

Water Polo 2:00 pm 9:00 pm, Case Western Reserve University Veale Natatorium 2138 Adelbert Road, Cleveland Cheer Competition 6:00 pm 9:00 pm, Public Hall Music Hall, Cleveland

Diving Competition 6:00 pm

9:00 pm, Cleveland State University, Robert F. Busbey Natatorium

Tuesday, August 12

Martial Arts John S. Knight Center, 77 E Mill St, Akron

Sailing Edgewater Yacht Club, Inc., 6700 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, Cleveland

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