The League of Iowa Human & Civil Rights Agencies

Two teenagers have pleaded not guilty in federal court to a hate crime in the death of an illegal immigrant from Mexico. The two — Brandon Piekarsky, 18, and Derrick Donchak, 19 — were arraigned in Wilkes-Barre on charges stemming from the July 2008 beating death of the immigrant, Luís Ramírez, 25, in Shenandoah. They were denied bail. A jury previously acquitted them of the most serious state charges in the case. Gov. Edward G. Rendell asked the Justice Department to pursue civil rights charges. Three police officers were charged last week with obstructing the investigation into Mr. Ramírez’s death.

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