NATION : Racist Killer Gets Life Sentence

PORTLAND, Ore. — A member of a skinhead group was sentenced to life in prison today for beating a man to death with a baseball bat because he was black.

Kenneth M. Mieske, 23, of Portland was ordered to serve at least 20 years in prison before being eligible for parole. The state parole board can release him earlier only by a unanimous vote.

Mieske pleaded guilty to felony murder in the Nov. 13 death of Mulugeta Seraw, 27, an Ethiopian national, who was attacked outside his Portland apartment. When he pleaded guilty a month ago, Mieske admitted he killed Seraw “because of his race.”