‘ We have a lot of handy work that needs to be done at the jail’

‘ We have a lot of handy work that needs to be done at the jail’

Judge Thorne helps defendants put their skills to good use

news@theeveningtimes.com

A woman with a felony theft charge was asked by Judge Fred Thorne of West Memphis District Court, “Where do you live?”

“Marion.”

“Where do you work?”

“Nowhere.”

“Who supports you?”

“My sister.”

“Talk to the public defender.

A man charged with a felony robbery was told by the judge, “I don’t need to talk to you. I’ve talked to you plenty of times. Go see the public defender.

Two men were called up. They were both charged with drug paraphernalia charges.

“How do you know each other?”

“Cousins.”

“Do you have a legal job?” “I work for myself,” answered one of the men.

“What kind of work is that?”

“Whatever the people offer.”

“Where are you from?”

“Powhatan.”

“Where is that?”

“North of Walnut Ridge.”

“Why were you here?”

“Visiting my cousin.”

“How much money did you file taxes on last year?”

“Can’t tell you off the top of my head.” “That’s okay. We have a lot of handy work that needs to be done at the jail. Both of you go talk to the public defender.”

The next man in jail explained his situation to Judge Thorne, “A ‘Mex’ dude was robbing me and I took off in his car.”

“If that happened to me, I would have driven to the nearest police station not all the way from Frayser to West Memphis. See the public defender.” To the audience the judge explained, “People pawn their cars to get dope. When the get off the dope or come to their senses, they want their car back. How many people in here have a college education? Let me tell you, these dope people are smarter than you are.”

A woman in jail charged with theft of services pled no contest.

“You are charged with stealing electricity. You bypassed the meter box?”

A woman from the utility service said the utility company lost $515 in electric charges.

The woman’s father was in the courtroom, “The electricity was on when she moved in.”

“If you pay the $515 I’ll let her out of jail.”

“There is a matter of an old bill,” said the utility agent.

“You will have to take that up in civil court.”

“Can I pay this bill on the 1st?” asked the father.

“I’ll give you to Feb. 3rd to pay it or she will get 90 days jail and a $2500 fine.”

A man in jail was charged with no driver’s license and no insurance pled guilty to both charges.

“You live in Kentucky?”

“Near Kentucky. I was staying in Paris, Tennessee.” “I just had a baby and gave it up for adoption. Me and the woman been arguing.”

“Have you ever had a driver’s license?”

“Never. I didn’t keep it up.” “You will have to sit out the charges?”

“I got no money.”

“You did the right thing giving the baby up.”

A woman in jail was charged with obstruction of justice. She pled no contest. “Who is this person?”

“My ex-girlfriend. I just used the first name that came to my mind.”

“$300 plus court costs and 10 days. Have her evaluated before she leaves, jail. There is a difference between criminally mentally ill and medically mentally ill.”

A woman charged with no tags and fictitious tags pled nolo. To driving on suspended she pled guilty.

Judge Fred Thorne “Did I use that plead when I gave my speech? She gave herself away that she has been in court before by using that term.

“Why is your license suspended?”

“I never had a license.”

“Whose tags were they?”

“I don’t know. It was my cousins’ car.”

“$75 plus court costs on the tags. $395 plus court costs and two days jail on the driving on suspended. I’ll dismiss the fictitious tags.”

A man in the courtroom, when his name was called, starting asking for a continuance.

“Put his as not guilty… I’ve seen you many times before, and we will have a trial on Feb. 28th. I’m tired of you.” Aman charged with theft of services, also from the utility department, pled not guilty.

“Where do you live?”

The man started babbling about his address.

“What address can I send the police to today and you will be there?”

Again the man told a couple of addresses.

“Is that your place?”

“It’s somebody else’s place. No, I’m across the street.”

“ We will have your trial on Jan. 17th.”

A woman in the courtroom charged with no proof of insurance pled no contest.

“Did you have insurance at the time?”

“No, sir, but I have it now.” “$195 plus court costs.”

Aman charged with driving on suspended pled no contest.

“How long have they been suspended?”

“A while.”

“Do you work?”

“I just got laid off.”

“$295 plus court costs and two days house arrest.”

A man in the courtroom was asked, “How do you plead to failure to yield?”

“Guilty.”

“No insurance?”

“Not guilty.”

He then started telling the judge his story.

“Stop. Turn around and look at the audience. I want a show of hands that say you didn’t plead right.”

Hands went up in the room. “Now how do you plead to no insurance?”

“No contest.”

“I don’t know why I am being so nice.”

“I’m glad you are,” said the man.

“Do you have insurance to show us?”

“Yes.”

“The insurance is on the wrong car,” said the bailiff.

“Do you have insurance on this car?”

“Yes sir, I thought I did.”

“I’ll give you till next Friday to bring in proof of insurance on this car. $55 plus court costs and driver’s school on the failure to yield. Be back here next Friday.”

As he was leaving, a woman followed him.

“Are you his wife?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did he have insurance on the car?”

“Yes, sir.”

A young woman came forward with her mother.

“How old are you?”

“15.”

“Are you chewing gum? Mother, she is smacking gum. Sit down. I’m mad now. How is that showing any respect to the court? Now you can hate me if you want to, but if you can’t show respect for 15 minutes, I have a problem with that.”

By the Evening Times News Staff