Man convicted of hanging dummy by noose in yard

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man accused of hanging a black-faced dummy in his yard where his black neighbors could see it has been convicted of violating a state law against displaying a noose to intimidate people.

A judge returned a guilty verdict last week against Jack Turner, 51, of Rocky Mount. Turner could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $2,500.

News outlets report Turner was arrested in June after hanging a life-sized dummy wearing a black ski mask from a tree in his yard. Turner initially told investigators the dummy was a scarecrow, authorities said. However, Turner later said the figure was meant to scare people and that he is racist.

A 2009 Virginia statute makes it a felony to display a noose with the intent of intimidating someone. Prosecutor Robert Deatherage said he believes this is the first time someone had been convicted under the statute.

Neighbors John and Kena Mitchell, who are African American, testified that Turner was cordial when they first moved into a house next door to him in November 2013. Relations gradually soured, they said, and Turner began calling the police to report disturbances.

Defense attorney Holland Perdue argued the noose was displayed on private property, while the state law applies to nooses displayed in a “public place.”