York County Muslims concerned by SC man’s probationary sentence

Area Muslims from Holy Islamville in rural York County remain concerned about safety after a man who lied to the FBI about a possible plot to commit terrorism on a sister compound in New York received probation Thursday.

Last summer, York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant vowed to protect Muslims from Islamville, saying that no threats or violence against any group in York County would be tolerated.

William Tore Tint, 42, from Travelers Rest near received three years’ probation for lying about the plot that was stopped before anyone was hurt. Tint lied to federal agents when questioned, said Max Cauthen, the assistant U.S. Attorney in Greenville who prosecuted Tint.

About 200 people live at Islamville in York County – several attended the sentencing of Tint on Thursday because of the connection to York County residents.

Muslims are incensed that Tint received no jail time, and area Muslims are more fearful than before Tint and Robert Doggart were arrested last summer. The federal government has used “soft handling” on Tint and the sentence leaves Muslims more vulnerable to hate crimes than before, said Faruq Baqi, a spokesperson for The Muslims of America.

“We are in more danger than before,” Baqi said.

Muslims at Islamville are concerned that lenient sentencing will “embolden” those bent on violence against Muslims. In 2014, a York neighbor near Islamville was convicted of firing guns near Islamville.

Doggart, a former candidate for Congress from Tennessee, is accused by federal authorities of of plotting to kill Muslims at Islamberg in rural New York. Islamberg and Islamville are sister communities: Many of the residents are related to each other, including several Islamville residents born at Islamberg or with close family ties.

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 5:23 PM with the headline "York County Muslims concerned by SC man’s probationary sentence."