‘ Have you ever gone a whole year without seeing a judge?’

‘ Have you ever gone a whole year without seeing a judge?’

Familiar faces in Judge Thorne’s courtroom

news@theeveningtimes.com

“Where do you work?” asked Judge Fred Thorne in West Memphis Municipal Court on Friday of a man charged with a felony.

“I don’t.”

“Where do you live?”

“With my aunt.”

“Who pays your bills?”

“I don’t have any bills.”

“Who feeds you?”

“My aunt.”

“Well I’ll just set your bond high and give her a break. I don’t have a lot of respect for folks that can’t pay their child support and don’t have a job. No one can live without money. You have to eat, wear clothes and pay rent.”

A man in jail charged with loitering was asked, “How do you plead to loitering?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“He said ‘yes.’” “The report says two women put you out of their room and you were going around knocking on doors and trying to get in a room.” When given another opportunity to plead the man continued to say yes.

“You can stay in jail until Monday. Maybe by then you will learn how to plead.”

A man in jail charged with public intoxication pled guilty.

“Have you ever gone a whole year without seeing a judge?”

“No.”

“What were you drinking?” “I had a pint of Blue Top.”

“What does that cost? About $1.95?”

“$2.50.”

“$250 plus court costs.”

Another man in jail was charged with disregarding a traffic device and driving on suspended. He pled not guilty to both charges.

“Your trial date will be August 15 if you make bond.”

The next man in jail was charged with no seat belt.

“How do you plead to no seat belt?”

“Guilty.”

“Failure to appear?”

“I was out of town … I mean guilty.”

“Where were you?”

“Jonesboro.”

“You have had nine charges since 2014. $25 plus court costs on the seatbelt. $350 plus court costs on the failure to appear.”

A woman in jail was charged with loitering and disorderly conduct. She pled guilty.

“Did you walk here from Memphis across the bridge?”

“Yes.”

“You were at the Welcome Center and you were trying to ‘welcome’ all the guests! $250 plus court costs on the loitering. I’ll dismiss the disorderly.”

Six people in the courtroom were called up with driving while intoxicated charges. Three of them were DWI II. “You can all talk to the DWI lady. We will see what she recommends. I’ll see you after your talk.”

A man in the court room

Judge Fred Thorne was charged with operating an unsafe vehicle, fleeing and driving on suspended. He pled not guilty to each charge.

“When is his trial date?”

“August 16.”

“Move it up! I want him in here as soon as possible. He has three priors.”

“His new court date is July 18.” said the court clerk.

Ayoung woman was asked, “How old are you?”

“17.”

“How do you plead to no insurance?”

“No contest.”

“Have you got insurance?” “Yes,” said her mother.

“Okay mom, this is your decision, not hers. She can pay $50 plus court costs and I’ll dismiss it or she can do four hours community service.”

“She will do the community

service.”

The young lady was grumbling about the decision.

“I told you it is not up to you! It is up to your mother!” said Judge Thorne. “She will work it around her job,” said the mother.

A woman in the courtroom was charged with driving on suspended, bogus tags and no insurance. She pled not guilty to all charges.

“The reason why people pled not guilty is that they don’t have any money to pay. Who is your attorney?” “Mr. Donaldson.”

“Well you had better hire Perry Mason from the grave.”

“I would have pled guilty, but I don’t have any money.”

Ayoung man came forward when his name was called.

“How old are you?”

“23.”

“How do you plead to no proof of insurance?”

“No contest.”

“Racing?”

“No contest. I was coming out of the street and the police saw me start off too fast and they ticketed me.”

“Do you work?”

“Yes, I’ve been at Wendy’s for two years.”

“Marion or West Memphis.”

“West Memphis.”

“Good. I usually go to Marion.

Whose name is the insurance

in?”

“The mother of my children.”

“$50 on the no proof of insurance. $55 plus court costs and driver’s school on the racing.”

Another man charged with racing pled no contest.

“Were you with that other guy?”

“Yes.”

“I should have known the first guy wasn’t telling me the truth. $75 plus court costs and driver’s school for you.”

A woman in the courtroom came forward with her husband when called.

“How do you plead to leaving your dog in the car at a restaurant?”

“No contest.”

“What kind of dog is it?”

“A dachshund mix. Chloe. I just got her in June.”

“How long was she in the car?”

“About 30 minutes.”

“Where were you going?”

“From Jonesboro on our way to Florida.”

“Where is she now?”

“At home.”

“Good. She’s not in your car. Who are you sir, Chloe’s father?”

“I guess.”

“Do you realize dogs don’t sweat? They can get overheated

in a short time.”

“Yes, sir.

“You can go this time. Get out of here.”

A woman called up was asked, “Did she pay her fines?”

“Yes. She has paid them all,” said the court clerk.

“Keep on walking,” said Judge Thorne.

By the Evening Times News Staff