Oregon Prosecutor: Hate Crime Possible in Cross Burning

     ALSEA, Ore. (AP) - A prosecutor says he's not ruling out the

possibility of hate crime charges if authorities can collar whoever

burned a cross in the yard of a Benton County woman.

     District Attorney John Haroldson says his office takes hate

crimes "very, very seriously," and he would review the case to

determine if such charges are warranted.

     Last weekend, Summer MacLean of Alsea found a 5-foot cross

charred in her lawn. She is the white mother of a 13-year-old

adopted African-American child.

     The cross was described as constructed of two-by-fours and

covered with a sheet.

     Investigating officers say they initially classified the

incident as reckless burning because investigators hadn't turned up

evidence of threats or prejudice.

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Information from: Gazette-Times, http://www.gtconnect.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-16-09 1409EDT