FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1996                        (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
             OHIO MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO CROSS-BURNING
                                
     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two Ohio men pled guilty today to felony
civil rights violations for burning a cross in front of the home
of an African-American family near Mansfield, Ohio, the Justice
Department announced.

     Since January, the Justice Department has brought 25 cases
stemming from cross-burning incidents involving at least 30
defendants.

     In today's plea, Aaron Hunt, 19, and Joshua Rand, 19, both
from the Mansfield area, admitted in U.S. District Court in Akron
to violating federal criminal civil rights laws.  In September,
the Justice Department charged the two with burning a wooden
cross at the Mansfield area home of James and Joanne Beverly and
their two daughters. The home is situated 60 miles southwest of
Akron.

     "We will continue to stamp out the flames of racial hatred,"
said Deval L. Patrick, Assistant Attorney General for Civil
Rights.  "Hateful acts like cross burnings strike at the heart of
the community and must be stopped."

     In the early morning hours on August 28, Hunt and Rand
constructed an eight foot wooden cross, transported it in a van
to the family's farm, and set it afire on the road facing their
home.  As the two fled the scene, they sounded their horn so that
the family awoke and saw the burning cross.

     Emily M. Sweeney, U.S. Attorney in Cleveland, echoed the
words of Mr. Patrick and advised that her office will continue to
aggressively pursue these types of crimes and prosecute those who
attempt to intimidate members of minority communities.

     Hunt and Rand pled guilty today to one count of conspiring
by means of threats and intimidation to interfere with the right
of the Beverly family to live in their home free from racial
discrimination.

      Each man faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000
fine.
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