Bungling Bandits get high bond from Judge Thorne

Bungling Bandits get high bond from Judge Thorne

Felons face charges in District Court

By the Evening Times News Staff

news@theeveningtimes.com

In a felony case at the West Memphis District Court two men and a woman were called forward. The trio recently made the paper following an attempted armed robbery in Marion that found them linked to a string of similar incidents in the area.

“You are charged with a felony aggravated robbery. Where do you live?” asked Judge Fred Thorne of the woman.

“Earle.”

To the first man, “Where do you live?”

“Earle.”

And to the second man, “Do you live in Earle, too?” “Yes, sir.”

I am going to set a very high bond on all of you. You have many other pending charges.”

The two men, Tyrell Caldwell and Desmond Dorsey, were issued a $500,000 bond each. The woman, Monica Bell, was issued a $275,000 bond. All three remain in custody at the Crittenden County Detention Center on several charges.

A man called up in the jail on drug charges was asked, “Do you have the money to hire your own attorney?”

“I do.”

“Do you want me to set a bond before you talk to your attorney?”

“Which would be best for me to do?”

“Sit down. I’ll set your bond today.”

A man charged with a felony burglary said, “My uncle died and they came to get me from the prison. I am originally from Hughes.”

“Go talk to the public defender.”

A man in jail was charged with theft of property. He pled guilty.

“You are going to have to pay a fine and possibly jail time for stealing two beers?” “It was a big misunderstanding. I had left my keys in my car and it was running so I had to run out and take care of it. There were people around my car. The beer was in a bag.”

“The report says you had the beers stuffed down your pants. Why would you hide the beer?”

“The place wasn’t open yet and they weren’t supposed to sell the beer.”

“$500 plus court costs and

Judge Fred Thorne 30 days jail.”

A man in jail said he wanted change his plead.

“He wants to change his plead to failure to yield right of way to no contest,” said the court attorney.

“$65 plus court costs.”

A man in jail stood up and immediately started talking. “I’m no contest.”

“How old are you?”

“I was 38 years old now I’m 42. I went up to school to talk to the lady about my records.”

“Your records are so old, they have been burned. Jail, where is he going when he gets out?”

“I have no idea Mr. Thorne.”

“Call his sister and see if she will come and get him. Sir, do not go back to the school. If you want to look for your records, look in the trash, they have been burned. It has been a long time since you got out of school.”

“Can I go up there on the weekends?”

“No! Don’t walk up there at all!”

The next man was told by Judge Thorne, “You were charged with domestic battery and you didn’t show up for your trial. Do you still plead not guilty?”

“No. I want to change my plea from guilty to no contest.

I just want to get it

over.”

A woman came forward in the courtroom.

“How long has he been your boyfriend?”

“Eight years.”

“How long have I been dealing with you two?”

“Eight years.”

“He went to the police department about you and they arrested him on his failure to appear. How many times have you been in prison, sir?”

“Three times.”

“In February he pulled you out of your recliner and you called the police?”

“Yes, sir,” said the woman. “$750 plus court costs and one year suspended to nine months probation through the Justice Network. Sir, you will be on a no contact order with her.”

“Do I get credit for the days I’ve been in jail?”

“Yes. The jailer will figure that all out for you. Now when she calls you back in a month or two saying she misses you, don’t go back down to see her. I will have you arrested when you do. See you in March.”

“Why would I need to see you in March?”

“Because you will get in trouble with her again by then.”

A man in the courtroom pled guilty to no driver’s license and no insurance.

“The wrong name was on the ticket,” he said.

“So is it you or not.”

“It was me who got the ticket.”

“Do you have insurance now?”

“No, sir. I just bought the car, it wasn’t running.”

“You bought a car and you don’t have a driver’s license?”

“I had to have it worked on. It was real cheap.”

“$55 plus court costs on the driver’s license and $205 plus court costs on the insurance.”

“Can I get a payment plan?”

“Talk to the nice ladies at the window. They will tell you how much to pay down. If it makes them happy, it makes me happy. My favorite plan is the toothbrush plan. If you don’t make any payment, you can take your toothbrush with you to the jail.”

A young woman stood up when her name was called.

“How do you plead to no driver’s license?”

“Guilty.”

“Speeding?”

“Guilty.”

“And no insurance?”

“Guilty.”

“You look like you would have some good sense but maybe you don’t.”

Her mother was with her. “She had been trying to get a driver’s license.”

“Whose car was it?”

“My friend.”

“Did your friend have insurance?”

“No. He just went to pay his own ticket.”

“I know you are 18 and want to be on your own and you probably don’t listen to your mother.”

“That’s right, judge!” said the mother.

“$55 plus court costs on the speeding. $205 plus court cost on the insurance. I’ll dismiss the no driver’s license just this one time.”

A man called up and asked how he plead to no driver’s license said, “No English.”

“$65 plus court costs.”

“ Thank you.”

Two men came forward when their names were called.

“How do you plead to disorderly

conduct and discharging a fire arm in the

city limits?”

“Guilty to both charges.”

The other man was asked how he pled and he said “no contest. I was just with him.”

“You were shooting your rifle on New Years Eve?”

“Yes.”

“Was it an AR15?”

“Yes.”

“And you also had a side arm?”

“Yes.”

“He has a permit and the guns are registered in his name,” said the court attorney.

“It is not good shooting within the city limits. I’ll have to look this up and see what the charge is.”

After consulting his law books Judge Thorne said, “$15 plus court costs for the weapon firing. I’ll dismiss the disorderly conduct.”

To the other man, “I will drop the charges against you.”