‘ Don’t disrespect your mother in my court!’

‘ Don’t disrespect your mother in my court!’

Unkind words net jail time for young defendants

news@theeveningtimes.com

Three people before court began, including Judge Fred Thorne, said “there are more people in jail than in the courtroom.”

To a woman in jail with felony charges, “You have lots of drug charges. Where do you live?” asked the judge.

“West Memphis.”

“How long?”

“Three years.”

“Are you employed?”

“No, sir, not at this time.”

“So who supports you?”

“My mother.”

“Does she know you are in jail?”

“Yes. I lost my child before I went to jail. I miscarried and I haven’t had any medical help.”

“The jail will take care of that. See the public defender.”

A woman with felony charges of possessing drug paraphernalia was asked, “Why were you in the motel?”

“I was with my boyfriend.

I called the cops because he was beating on me.”

“Why did you come here from Millington.”

“We live with his mom.”

“Do you work?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I do books for a man.”

“What?”

“A bookkeeper.”

“Does your boyfriend work?’ “Yes.”

“How much do you make a week?”

“Every two weeks I bring about $300 home.”

“That isn’t very much.”

“I work part-time.”

“See the public defender.”

A man with a felony charge of theft by receiving was asked, “Where do you live?”

“Memphis. We just moved to Memphis.”

“Why were you back here? You have lots of felony charges.”

“Can you set my bond today?”

“You can get your own attorney.”

Another man in jail with felony charges was asked, “Where do you live?”

“I am homeless at the moment.”

“See the public defender.”

“Okay Parker family you can come up. The mother and her two sons. Were you arrested when the police had a search warrant?”

“Yes.”

To the first son, “How old are you?”

“18.”

To the second son, “How old are you?”

“20.”

“Ma’am, don’t you have prior felonies?”

“About 10 years ago.”

One of the sons was asked if he worked, “I quit because they weren’t paying me.”

“Y’all have the family deal. Go talk to the public defender. Mother do you have another son in juvenile?”

“Yes. He did nothing!”

A man in jail was told that he would have a $50,000 bond if he didn’t agree to sign a waiver.

Another man in jail was charged for loitering and pled guilty.

“I had a reason to be

Judge Fred Thorne there.”

“The lady where you were told the police she didn’t know who you were. What do you have to say about that?”

“I’m pleading guilty.”

“$350 plus court costs.”

A man in jail pled no contest to driving on suspended, owing back fines of $735 and failure to appear.

“I just got out of prison on October 31st. I was approved to come here. I see how you are looking at me.”

“I’ll dismiss the 2009 ticket. Driving on suspended will be $195 plus two days jail. $100 plus court costs on the failure to appear. Pay $300 today and I’ll restart your payment plan.”

A man in jail with a public intoxication charge pled guilty.

“What did you have to drink?”

“I had a little beer.”

“You registered .177. You had more than a little beer.

$275 plus court costs.”

A man and a woman were called up together.

“How do you plead to theft at Walmart?”

“No contest,” said the man.

“No contest,” said the woman.

“Why did you drive here from Batesville, Mississippi to steal?”

“We brought some scrap metal to the Crittenden County place and then went to Walmart. I was cold and needed a coat.”

“Why don’t you get a real job and buy yourself a coat?”

“It’s the first time we ever done that,” said the woman. “Is your mother here?”

“Yes, I am,” said the woman’s mother.

“What do you have to say about it?”

“I don’t know anything about the theft, but I know he messes with drugs.”

“No he doesn’t!” said the woman in jail.

“$750 plus court costs and 20 days each.”

“Thanks, Momma!” said the man.

“Don’t disrespect your mother in my court. Make that 25 days in jail each.”

“I paid money to a bondsman

last week for her,” said

the mother.

“I’ll say this where they can hear me, don’t pay for her mistakes, you are enabling her.”

“Come on up ‘Sickle Cell’ man. I know you are in jail again! How do you plead to driving on suspended?”

“Guilty.”

“I’m going to be honest with you sir.”

“I would hope everyone in here would be honest with me.”

“I apologize sir.”

“You have had eight driving on suspendeds.”

“I’m working on it judge.

I’m trying to pay it off at the revenue office.”

“Since 2003 you have had 60 charges. $500 plus court costs and 60 days jail.”

A woman in the courtroom was charged with disregarding

a rail road crossing.

She pled no contest.

“Can I explain? When I was going through the light it was yellow. It turned red with me under it and I went ahead and turned.”

“Did you realize your license

was suspended for an

old failure to vacate?”

“No I did not.”

“$55 plus court costs and go to driver’s school. Go see about your driver’s license at the revenue department.”

A young man in the courtroom pled no contest to following too close.

“How old are you?”

“18.”

“Are you in high school?”

“No. I go to MSCC.”

“How many hours?”

“15.”

“Did you have insurance?” “Yes, sir.”

“Six hours community service and driver’s school.”

The next young man was charged with careless driving and pled guilty.

“How old are you?”

“16.”

“Did your parents buy you a car?”

“Yes.”

“Who pays your insurance?”

“My dad.”

“Where do you go to school?”

“Academies of West Memphis.”

“What happened?”

“I misjudged the room I had to turn and pulled out in front of someone.”

“Father, this is up to you.

Do you want to pay $75 plus court costs and have him go to driver’s school or four hours community service and driver’s school?”

“We’ll take the community service.”

“Good choice. For each day you don’t do your community service you will spend a day in a jumpsuit.

What kinds of grades do you make?”

“Mostly A’s.”

“You realize you could have gotten killed?”

“Yes, sir.”

By the Evening Times News Staff