FROM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, June 29, 2006; Posted: 1:47 a.m. EDT (05:47 GMT)

Katrina looters get 15 years in prison

KENNER, Louisiana (AP) -- Three people convicted of hauling away liquor,
wine and beer from a grocery store after Hurricane Katrina were sentenced
Wednesday to 15 years in prison.

The judge said he wanted to send a message that looting would not be
tolerated when he gave the maximum sentence to Coralnelle Little, 36, Rhonda
McGowen, 42, and Paul C. Pearson, 36, all of Kenner.

A jury convicted the trio May 2 on a portion of the state's looting law that
took effect two weeks before the Aug. 29 storm. The amended law set a
three-year minimum sentence, and a maximum of 15 years in prison, for
looting during a declared state of emergency.

They were convicted of attempting to leave the grocery with 27 bottles of
liquor and wine, six cases of beer and one case of wine coolers, six days
after Katrina made landfall.

Little, McGowen and Pearson each testified that they were not looting, but
they offered conflicting accounts of matters such as who drove to the store.

Pearson's attorney, Bruce Netterville, said the sentence and conviction
would be appealed.

"We believe the sentence is excessive," said Netterville.

Attorneys for the other defendants agreed.