Gang legislation awaits action

A Durham District Court judge this morning called on Gov. Mike Easley to call a special session of the legislature to combat gang violence.

But a spokesman for House Speaker Joe Hackney says such legislation has already been passed by the House - and could be acted on by the Senate when the legislature returns for its usual session on May 13.

Durham District Court Judge Craig Brown was presiding over a hearing this morning for Laurence Alvin Lovette, a 17-year-old charged with killing a UNC-Chapel Hill student leader and a graduate student at Duke University, when he issued his call to Easley.

"We absolutely, positively need to have anti-gang legislation passed by the General Assembly," Brown said. "I respectfully and sincerely ask the governor to call a special session of the legislature."

Bill Holmes, a spokesman for Hackney, says the House approved the N.C. Street Gang Prevention Act last year. Sherri Johnson, a spokeswoman for Easley, also referred to the pending legislation.

The bill would, among other things, make it a felony to "participate in a pattern of criminal street gang activity," to act as an organizer of gang activity or to encourage or coerce anyone to participate in gang activity.

Read more after the jump.

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Authorities have not said whether Lovette was a member of a gang. There was speculation early in the investigation that a suspect in a surveillance photo wore a cap suggesting gang affiliation.

Holmes also said a special committee appointed by Hackney has been studying gang issues and is expected to make an interim report by May 1. He said a final report from the group, which is chaired by Democratic Rep. Mickey Michaux of Durham, is expected by the end of the year.

Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for Sen. Marc Basnight, said this afternoon that the Senate has taken several steps to "stop the spread of gangs." He cited funding in last year's budget for gang prevention grants, funding to modernize technology in courts and money to hire 77 new assistant district attorneys, investigators and legal assistants.

Johnson said Basnight, a Manteo Democrat, has appointed a committee to study ways to combat gang violence. It is expected to make recommendations by May 1. Johnson said the Senate is expected to consider anti-gang legislation during the May session.