Man sentenced for online ‘South Park’ threat

A Muslim convert from Brooklyn was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for posting online threats against the creators of the "South Park" television show and others he deemed enemies of Islam.

The sentence came after Jesse Curtis Morton, 33, offered an apology for his conduct, saying he "contributed to a clash of civilizations" by espousing a violent ideology.

Morton founded the now-defunct Revolution Muslim website. He said he wanted the site to offer a forum for nuanced dialogue on relations between the Muslim world and the West and that he thought his website was protected by the First Amendment. However, he admitted that the website devolved into calls for violent jihad, and that he crossed the line by posting the al-Qaida magazine Inspire on the site.

He and another defendant, Zachary Chesser, used the website to deliver threats against the creators of "South Park" for perceived insults to Muhammad, by depicting him in a bear costume.

Prosecutor Gordon Kromberg said Morton's apology may well be sincere, but argued that a stiff sentence was necessary because of the nature of the crime. He said Morton abused his free speech protections to call for the murder of those whose speech he found offensive.

"Make a TV show we don't like - we'll slit your throat. Draw a cartoon we don't like - we'll slit your throat," Kromberg said, summarizing Morton's philosophy.

U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady said Morton was a bright man who could have used his intellect and energy for good but instead took a "horrible turn."

"You were rubbing elbows with some of the most dangerous revolutionaries of the past few years," O'Grady said, who told Morton "there has to be religious tolerance in the world. There has to be freedom of speech."

Defense attorney James Hundley had sought a prison term of less than five years. He argued that Morton by and large tried to keep his website on the right side of the line between free speech and advocating violence, but admitted that at times Morton crossed it.

"His goal was to engage in dialogue," Hundley said.

Morton was arrested last year in Morocco, where he moved after Chesser's arrest.