Two teens sentenced for burning cross in front of black family's home in New York

Jet, Jan 20, 1997

Two teenagers recently were sentenced after they admitted to burning a 6-foot cross in front of a Black family's home in Long Island, NY.

Frank Gabrielson, 19, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jacob Mishler to a year and one day behind bars. Javier Caballero, 17, was sentenced in a sealed proceeding because he is a juvenile. A third teen, Brian Levi, 19, was scheduled to be sentenced at Jet press time.

Caballero and Gabrielson both pleaded guilty to civil rights violations for burning a cross in front of John Dorsinvil's home. Dorsinvil, a Black teen, attended school with Caballero.

Dorsinvil, who is president of his class, was reportedly targeted because of his popularity, according to an article in the New York Daily News.