Lightfoot sentenced to five years of probation
Anthony Lightfoot '92, who plead guilty to violating the civil rights of Morris Whitaker, the treasurer of the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to sell his assault weapon to pay for fines imposed by a federal court last Friday, according to the Valley News. Judge James Muirhead also ordered Lightfoot to participate in counseling and a mental health program, the Valley News said. Lightfoot, who is part black, part white and part Native American, plead guilty in September to mailing a letter to Whitaker in which he threatened to lynch him and rape his wife, according to the Associated Press in September. He allegedly wrote the letter because he was upset that the Black Alumni Association had sent him mail, according to the AP. According to the Valley News, Lightfoot proclaimed his embarrassment and shame for his actions at his sentencing, but later told reporters "my remarks were strictly for [the judge's] benefit." Hanover Police Sergeant Frank Moran told The Dartmouth he was "not unhappy" with the results of the case. "I don't have any grave misgivings about" the outcome, he said, though he pointed out that the small number of federal indictments the department is involved in makes it difficult to judge the case's relative success. In reference to Lightfoot's admitted insincerity at his court appearance, Moran said, "I thought his comments were bizarre under the circumstances," but added that he would not put too much trust in any of Lightfoot's statements. Although the College has no official response to the sentence, Dean of the College Lee Pelton said Lightfoot was still under suspension. The Dean of the College's Office suspended Lightfoot last April when a warrant was issued for his arrest. Pelton would not say whether Lightfoot had applied for reinstatement to the College, but said a student in his situation would need to submit to a hearing before a Dean or the Committee on Standards in order to be reinstated. Pelton also pointed out that the College's code of conduct holds students responsible for their actions on and off campus. Lightfoot has not finished his Dartmouth degree, due to his decision to take two and a half years off from school to serve in the Gulf War.