American Notes LOS ANGELES

"He is one of the most remorseless and dangerous individuals I have come across in 24 years of practice." So said Judge Robert Altman as he sentenced Los Angeles Gang Member Michael Hagan to the maximum of 27 years to life for the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Kellie Mosier. Hagan, 23, claims he was high on the drug PCP last year when he pumped six bullets from a rifle into the back of a girl he had never met.

"I wish they had sentenced him to death," said Irene Mosier, Kellie's mother. But Hagan was spared the death penalty: California does not allow * capital punishment unless a first-degree murder involves other circumstances as well. Hagan seemed unconcerned about his sentence. "One day I'll be back on the streets," he said, "and I'm gonna be hard, hard, hard -- one mean son of a bitch ready for action."