American sentenced to prison for Thai royal insult

The 55-year-old Thai-born American, Joe Gordon, stood calmly with his ankles shackled in an orange prison uniform as the sentence was read out at a Bangkok criminal court.

Judge Tawan Rodcharoen said the punishment initially was set at five years behind bars, but he reduced it because Gordon pleaded guilty in October.

Gordon posted links the to banned biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej several years ago while living in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the case has raised questions about the applicability of Thai law to acts committed by foreigners outside Thailand.