Black Man Gets Life for a Joint, White Man Goes Free For Crack

[Canai]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
FUD

Very enlightening perspective, sir.

And too true

 

[Coquito]

The crackhead is an informant that just got in too deep.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: DAWeinG

Originally posted by: Soybomb

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Despte the sob story I have about zero sympathy for anyone who takes part in armed robbery. Thinking its okay to point lethal weapons at people should land your butt in jail for a very long time. Continue to show willingness to break the last and you can stay in jail. To me this is a "awww poor under privileged black guy story" and I'm not seeing it.

"life in prison for smoking a joint ? that's harsh in any case."

The man has life in prison because he continued to disregard the law after taking part in an armed robber, not because of smoking a joint.

So we should just quit...let everyone do all the drugs they want

I agree, we should.

Yeah I agree that armed robbery should carry a high penalty, but this is really about the disparity in the sentencing of 2 people of differing social classes.

Armed robbery is bad, but it doesn't warrant life in prison, especially when the person who commited the crime was only 17. The point is that NEITHER of his crimes warranted a life sentence, yet somehow they culminated in one. While the other guy repeatedly commited crimes which were ALL much worse than any that Brown committed (especially the one that got him on probation in the first place) and GOT AWAY WITH IT.

I'm not sure that I'd agree. People talk about wanting tougher gun laws all the time and whine about criminals with guns but then they want to give people a slap on the wrist that use them in crime. Would it really be so terrible to say that if you stick a gun in someones face during the commission of a crime you're going to prison for life? Threatening someones life is a really one of the worst things a person could do to another person, to me at least. So no I really don't have a problem with armed robbery giving someone a life sentence. If you show that much disrespect for the lives of others you can stay in jail.

I'd want to read far more about the others guy's case before I comment on it. The author of course will have his own spin on the topic and I would be surprised if the difference in sentencing as sinister as its made out to be.

Apparently you turned a blind eye like the judge. Did you even read the whole story? You didn't even have to read the whole story to get the point. The topic is that there was another man, who shot and killed someone else, and got off easy while this man pointed a gun and robbed someone without even harming them and got life in prison. Here are some excerpts from the article:

Mr. Hathaway, the robbery victim, knew nothing about the case's outcome until contacted recently by The News. He, too, was astounded.

"Goodness gracious," he said in a phone call from Virginia, where he now lives. "You have got to be kidding me. ... Nobody touched me at all."

The Wood crime

John Alexander Wood's journey toward Judge Dean's courtroom began on a March evening in 1995. He picked up a 22-year-old hustler named Larry Clark on an Oak Lawn street, and they went to Mr. Wood's nearby home.

Police reports, citing Mr. Wood's statements and physical evidence, say the two men had sex, for which Mr. Wood paid $30. Afterward, Mr. Clark asked for a ride home, but Mr. Wood balked and demanded his money back. A fight ensued.

Mr. Clark ran into the back yard, which was enclosed by a high fence. Mr. Wood, using a small semiautomatic pistol, fatally shot him from behind and took the money from Mr. Clark's pocket.

Mr. Wood, who had no criminal history, initially pleaded not guilty to murder and went to trial in 1996. As jurors were about to conclude deliberations, the prosecution and defense cut a deal that Judge Dean approved: The defendant pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for 10 years of deferred-adjudication probation.

I guess I don't see your point. If a rape victim doesn't think their attacker deserves a strong punishment does that mean they don't actually need it or would you suggest that for the good of society they be punished appropriately anyway? Its certainly doesn't lessen the severity of the crime if victim is too dense to appreciate the gravity of having a gun pointed at him and his life threatened.

I most undoubtably assure you that there is more to the story than "they had sex, then the prostitute was shot in the back." Seldom does something like that wind up being cut and dried with a clear aggressor and clear victim. I suspect the victim was in some way responsible for what happened. I'd want to read a police report to know more, if you think the newspaper article is all there is to the story you're being taken for a ride.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Soybomb

Originally posted by: DAWeinG

Originally posted by: Soybomb

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Despte the sob story I have about zero sympathy for anyone who takes part in armed robbery. Thinking its okay to point lethal weapons at people should land your butt in jail for a very long time. Continue to show willingness to break the last and you can stay in jail. To me this is a "awww poor under privileged black guy story" and I'm not seeing it.

"life in prison for smoking a joint ? that's harsh in any case."

The man has life in prison because he continued to disregard the law after taking part in an armed robber, not because of smoking a joint.

So we should just quit...let everyone do all the drugs they want

I agree, we should.

Yeah I agree that armed robbery should carry a high penalty, but this is really about the disparity in the sentencing of 2 people of differing social classes.

Armed robbery is bad, but it doesn't warrant life in prison, especially when the person who commited the crime was only 17. The point is that NEITHER of his crimes warranted a life sentence, yet somehow they culminated in one. While the other guy repeatedly commited crimes which were ALL much worse than any that Brown committed (especially the one that got him on probation in the first place) and GOT AWAY WITH IT.

I'm not sure that I'd agree. People talk about wanting tougher gun laws all the time and whine about criminals with guns but then they want to give people a slap on the wrist that use them in crime. Would it really be so terrible to say that if you stick a gun in someones face during the commission of a crime you're going to prison for life? Threatening someones life is a really one of the worst things a person could do to another person, to me at least. So no I really don't have a problem with armed robbery giving someone a life sentence. If you show that much disrespect for the lives of others you can stay in jail.

I'd want to read far more about the others guy's case before I comment on it. The author of course will have his own spin on the topic and I would be surprised if the difference in sentencing as sinister as its made out to be.

Apparently you turned a blind eye like the judge. Did you even read the whole story? You didn't even have to read the whole story to get the point. The topic is that there was another man, who shot and killed someone else, and got off easy while this man pointed a gun and robbed someone without even harming them and got life in prison. Here are some excerpts from the article:

Mr. Hathaway, the robbery victim, knew nothing about the case's outcome until contacted recently by The News. He, too, was astounded.

"Goodness gracious," he said in a phone call from Virginia, where he now lives. "You have got to be kidding me. ... Nobody touched me at all."

The Wood crime

John Alexander Wood's journey toward Judge Dean's courtroom began on a March evening in 1995. He picked up a 22-year-old hustler named Larry Clark on an Oak Lawn street, and they went to Mr. Wood's nearby home.

Police reports, citing Mr. Wood's statements and physical evidence, say the two men had sex, for which Mr. Wood paid $30. Afterward, Mr. Clark asked for a ride home, but Mr. Wood balked and demanded his money back. A fight ensued.

Mr. Clark ran into the back yard, which was enclosed by a high fence. Mr. Wood, using a small semiautomatic pistol, fatally shot him from behind and took the money from Mr. Clark's pocket.

Mr. Wood, who had no criminal history, initially pleaded not guilty to murder and went to trial in 1996. As jurors were about to conclude deliberations, the prosecution and defense cut a deal that Judge Dean approved: The defendant pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for 10 years of deferred-adjudication probation.

I guess I don't see your point. If a rape victim doesn't think their attacker deserves a strong punishment does that mean they don't actually need it or would you suggest that for the good of society they be punished appropriately anyway? Its certainly doesn't lessen the severity of the crime if victim is too dense to appreciate the gravity of having a gun pointed at him and his life threatened.

I most undoubtably assure you that there is more to the story than "they had sex, then the prostitute was shot in the back." Seldom does something like that wind up being cut and dried with a clear aggressor and clear victim. I suspect the victim was in some way responsible for what happened. I'd want to read a police report to know more, if you think the newspaper article is all there is to the story you're being taken for a ride.

Despite your undoubted assurance you must admit that there is a disparity in the severity of sentencing between these two individuals. Homicide in any of it's various permutations is a greater offence than robbery in any of it's various permutations which don't involve homicide.

 

[sandorski]

Unfvkinbeleivable.

 

[senseamp]

And that is why we need more riots.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: Soybomb

Originally posted by: DAWeinG

Originally posted by: Soybomb

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Despte the sob story I have about zero sympathy for anyone who takes part in armed robbery. Thinking its okay to point lethal weapons at people should land your butt in jail for a very long time. Continue to show willingness to break the last and you can stay in jail. To me this is a "awww poor under privileged black guy story" and I'm not seeing it.

"life in prison for smoking a joint ? that's harsh in any case."

The man has life in prison because he continued to disregard the law after taking part in an armed robber, not because of smoking a joint.

So we should just quit...let everyone do all the drugs they want

I agree, we should.

Yeah I agree that armed robbery should carry a high penalty, but this is really about the disparity in the sentencing of 2 people of differing social classes.

Armed robbery is bad, but it doesn't warrant life in prison, especially when the person who commited the crime was only 17. The point is that NEITHER of his crimes warranted a life sentence, yet somehow they culminated in one. While the other guy repeatedly commited crimes which were ALL much worse than any that Brown committed (especially the one that got him on probation in the first place) and GOT AWAY WITH IT.

I'm not sure that I'd agree. People talk about wanting tougher gun laws all the time and whine about criminals with guns but then they want to give people a slap on the wrist that use them in crime. Would it really be so terrible to say that if you stick a gun in someones face during the commission of a crime you're going to prison for life? Threatening someones life is a really one of the worst things a person could do to another person, to me at least. So no I really don't have a problem with armed robbery giving someone a life sentence. If you show that much disrespect for the lives of others you can stay in jail.

I'd want to read far more about the others guy's case before I comment on it. The author of course will have his own spin on the topic and I would be surprised if the difference in sentencing as sinister as its made out to be.

Apparently you turned a blind eye like the judge. Did you even read the whole story? You didn't even have to read the whole story to get the point. The topic is that there was another man, who shot and killed someone else, and got off easy while this man pointed a gun and robbed someone without even harming them and got life in prison. Here are some excerpts from the article:

Mr. Hathaway, the robbery victim, knew nothing about the case's outcome until contacted recently by The News. He, too, was astounded.

"Goodness gracious," he said in a phone call from Virginia, where he now lives. "You have got to be kidding me. ... Nobody touched me at all."

The Wood crime

John Alexander Wood's journey toward Judge Dean's courtroom began on a March evening in 1995. He picked up a 22-year-old hustler named Larry Clark on an Oak Lawn street, and they went to Mr. Wood's nearby home.

Police reports, citing Mr. Wood's statements and physical evidence, say the two men had sex, for which Mr. Wood paid $30. Afterward, Mr. Clark asked for a ride home, but Mr. Wood balked and demanded his money back. A fight ensued.

Mr. Clark ran into the back yard, which was enclosed by a high fence. Mr. Wood, using a small semiautomatic pistol, fatally shot him from behind and took the money from Mr. Clark's pocket.

Mr. Wood, who had no criminal history, initially pleaded not guilty to murder and went to trial in 1996. As jurors were about to conclude deliberations, the prosecution and defense cut a deal that Judge Dean approved: The defendant pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for 10 years of deferred-adjudication probation.

I guess I don't see your point. If a rape victim doesn't think their attacker deserves a strong punishment does that mean they don't actually need it or would you suggest that for the good of society they be punished appropriately anyway? Its certainly doesn't lessen the severity of the crime if victim is too dense to appreciate the gravity of having a gun pointed at him and his life threatened.

I most undoubtably assure you that there is more to the story than "they had sex, then the prostitute was shot in the back." Seldom does something like that wind up being cut and dried with a clear aggressor and clear victim. I suspect the victim was in some way responsible for what happened. I'd want to read a police report to know more, if you think the newspaper article is all there is to the story you're being taken for a ride.

Despite your undoubted assurance you must admit that there is a disparity in the severity of sentencing between these two individuals. Homicide in any of it's various permutations is a greater offence than robbery in any of it's various permutations which don't involve homicide.

There is indeed and there are really 2 possible causes why.
1.) The judge is a biased or a racist and does not administer justice fairly.
2.) The circumstances of the cases are quite different and the shooter in the 2nd case was deemed less of a threat to the public. This is certainly not implausible given that they were both criminals and it seems that there was a scuffle of some sort. I suspect a police report might reveal more and give some insight as to why the judge might rule as he did.

One of these is more probable than the other. It will take a little more evidence than the speculation that the journalist gives to convince me the 2nd is what has indeed happened here.

 

[ForumMaster]

that racist motherfvker judge should get the life sentence! what happened to the constitution?!

 

[Kanalua]

You do the crime (violate probation) you do the time... the guy knew that before he puffed the magic dragon. THe other guy should be in jail for some serious time, too...

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: Kanalua
You do the crime (violate probation) you do the time... the guy knew that before he puffed the magic dragon. THe other guy should be in jail for some serious time, too...

Yes, he should have expected to do the time for the original crime, plus maybe a minor drug charge. Instead he got life in prison. Make sense when it's put that way? no? good

 

[Boo Boo]

smoke drugs = get killed
life in prison = get killed

why should i pay for you f***up's mistakes

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Boo Boo
smoke drugs = get killed
life in prison = get killed

why should i pay for you f***up's mistakes

lol...

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: Boo Boo
smoke drugs = get killed
life in prison = get killed

why should i pay for you f***up's mistakes

Cause if you don't it's tax evasion :laugh:

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
All potheads should get life.

I just have to quote this. The more people that read this, the better.

Nominated for the dumbest post of the year.

Weed makes people stupid, lazy, unmotivated scatterbrains - kind of like John Kerry.

Just say no. Its the right thing to do. :thumbsup:

Riiiight.. You would be surprised to find out how many successful people are marijuana smokers. Hint: It's a lot more than you think.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: Canai

Originally posted by: Kanalua
You do the crime (violate probation) you do the time... the guy knew that before he puffed the magic dragon. THe other guy should be in jail for some serious time, too...

Yes, he should have expected to do the time for the original crime, plus maybe a minor drug charge. Instead he got life in prison. Make sense when it's put that way? no? good

And he is doing the time for the original crime. Life in prison IS the sentence for the orignal crime. In texas aggravated robbery is a first degree felony, a first degree felony is punishable by life in prison in texas. He violated his probation and was convicted of the original crime as was agreed upon at the acceptance of probation. You're acting as though he's the victim of some terrible injustice when he has just been sentenced according to the law.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Weed makes people stupid, lazy, unmotivated scatterbrains - kind of like John Kerry.

Just say no. Its the right thing to do. :thumbsup:

Whereas cocaine makes you a brilliant, eloquent, honest, fair, and unbiased pillar of society like George W. Bush?

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Soybomb

Originally posted by: Canai

Originally posted by: Kanalua
You do the crime (violate probation) you do the time... the guy knew that before he puffed the magic dragon. THe other guy should be in jail for some serious time, too...

Yes, he should have expected to do the time for the original crime, plus maybe a minor drug charge. Instead he got life in prison. Make sense when it's put that way? no? good

And he is doing the time for the original crime. Life in prison IS the sentence for the orignal crime. In texas aggravated robbery is a first degree felony, a first degree felony is punishable by life in prison in texas. He violated his probation and was convicted of the original crime as was agreed upon at the acceptance of probation. You're acting as though he's the victim of some terrible injustice when he has just been sentenced according to the law.

Right, so he shouldn't be excused for breaking the law. Neither should the other guy. Why are you focusing on the one guy that the article favors and completely ignoring the guy who is cast in a foul light?

You say that there is more to the story and I guess there always is, but homicide is also a first degree felony. A conviction of the original crime should have carried the same penalty in both cases no?

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
problem #1 - letting the killer go on 10 years probation in the first place.

problem #2 - that's one fvcked up case. even though im against drugs, lifetime for smoking a joint and violating probation is ridiculous.

You obviously dont understand how the judicial system works. Out of 1000 crimes, 11 defendents are sentenced to the maximum they can be stentenced to. Also we dont know all the details surrounding the trial, they go into great detail about the black guys crime and trial, but not the other guys. But by the looks of it the prosecutors cut a deal because he was likely going to get off on lesser charges, resulting in the a similar sentence.

Its not like we didnt know this before our justice system is based on money. You either have and are treated better, or you dont and get raped.

Honestly though, it boggles my mind that the guy has been in jail for 16 years, when the avg life sentence in Texas is 13.5 years. There is no life without parole in Texas.

 

[Conky]

Mmkay. Now, as I was saying, drugs are bad. You shouldn't do drugs. If you do them, you're bad, because drugs are bad, mmkay? It's a bad thing to do drugs, so don't be bad by doing drugs, mmkay? That'd be bad. Cause drugs are bad, mmkay?

-Mr. Mackey

 

[nageov3t]

it's texas... I'm suprised he didn't get the death penalty for being black.

 

[BlancoNino]

War on Drugs has failed. Probation is the most retarded thing in the world...yet we keep both. SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHY!

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
War on Drugs has failed. Probation is the most retarded thing in the world...yet we keep both. SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHY!

because any politician who questioned the system would be labelled as soft on crime and pro-drug.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
War on Drugs has failed. Probation is the most retarded thing in the world...yet we keep both. SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHY!

Probation is only given to first time offenders. Its a usual tool because most who get probation clean up their act.

 

[krotchy]

I dont feel like reading the rest of the replies, but I will just say this.

More reason to hate Texas than I already do. Racism and backwards thinking are rampant in that state. Im not saying everyone from Texas sucks, Its just pretty much everyone in power in that state is coming from a good old boys club and it just plain sucks.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

bring back medieval torture