Man Fined After Pleading No Contest In Racial Outburst

[The Straight Story]

ATHENS, Ohio -- Rather than face a new trial, a former Ohio University student accused of making racially threatening remarks to two black students has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge.

An Athens judge convicted 25-year-old Edward Mahony (MA'-nee) this week and fined him $250 on the charge of persistent disorderly conduct.

The man from Medina in northeast Ohio was tried last month on charges of menacing and ethnic intimidation, but the jury deadlocked.

On the witness stand, Mahony acknowledged using racial slurs in OU's main library in May but denied threatening to hurt anyone.

A defense attorney said Mahony has Tourette's Syndrome that makes it difficult for him to control what he says.

http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2007-12-13-0011.html

[Taverner]

1. Does this fall under "fighting words"?

I can imagine it would...