re: Is this too harsh? Georgia couple receive long sentences for verbal hate crime

I know. I read the whole thing and I couldn't find anything justifying the long prison sentences. What did they do at Wal-Mart that was described by the article as "terrorizing"? Did they launch racial epithets there as well or did they cause actual physical harm?

Based on the article alone, this judge went way overboard with the sentencing. He's affectively ruined their lives over something that should just give you a fine and community service.