NC senators want tougher penalties for damaging substances
RALEIGHA bill filed Wednesday in the North Carolina Senate would enact stricter criminal penalties for damage done to electrical substations and other vital infrastructure, in light of the December attack on substations in Moore County that left tens of thousands without power for days.[-->Senate Bill 58, introduced by GOP Sens. Tom McInnis, Danny Britt and Paul Newton, would make it a Class C felony to damage or try to damage substations or other energy facilities. The offense would carry a sentence of up to 123 months, or just over 10 years in prison, along with a $250,000 fine.[-->In addition to stiffer penalties for damaging substations, the bill would also make it a Class I felony to, without authorization, enter or remain on the premises of energy facilities, facilities that are…