‘ Is your lawyer on retainer or just as needed?’
‘ Is your lawyer on retainer or just as needed?’
Judge Thorne sees familiar faces in court on a cold winter’s day
news@theeveningtimes.com
Snow and ice didn’t stop West Memphis District Court with Judge Fred Thorne on Friday.
A man in jail with a felony charge of delivery of meth was asked, “Did you just get out on bond?”
“No, I been in here. They do me like that all the time.”
“While you were in jail were you served with a felony warrant?”
“Yes.”
“See the public defender.”
A woman in jail with a felony charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was asked, “Why were you in jail?”
“They said I had a felony.” “Where do you live?”
“West Memphis.”
“Do you work?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Two weeks.”
“How much do you make a week?”
“$400 a week.”
“Talk to the public defender.”
A woman with felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia was asked, “When did I see you last?”
“Two months ago.”
“Did you have a felony?”
“Yes. It was dismissed.”
“Is your lawyer on retainer or just as needed?”
“Retainer, but I didn’t need him last time.”
“What do you do?”
“I am a payroll clerk.”
“How much do you make a week?”
“$350 a week.”
“The last time you were here was on drug charges too?”
“Yes.”
“See the public defender.” The next man with a felony charge for non support and drug paraphernalia was asked, “Didn’t you move to Tennessee last time?”
“Yes. I came back to help someone do some work.”
“How much do you make a week?”
“$400 to $600.”
“Who do you live with?”
“No one. By myself.”
“Talk to the public defender.”
Two men with the same last name were called up in the jail.
“You are both charged with 3rd degree battery and one of you has a failure to comply. The one with the failure to comply go talk to the public defender. The other person, have a seat until your uncle gets back.”
A man in jail with a theft charge pled guilty.
“You stole $69 worth of goods at Walmart. What did you steal?”
“A Tracfone.”
“Why is your face red?”
“I have sugar diabetes and high blood pressure.”
“Why did you steal a phone?”
“I was being an idiot.”
“Where do you live?”
“Paragould.”
“You had to come to West Memphis to steal from Walmart? $500 plus court costs and five days jail.”
To the next man in jail, “How do you plead to obstruction of justice?” “Guilty.”
“You gave the wrong name?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you on parole?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do they have a hold on you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“$250 plus court costs.”
A man charged with public intoxication pled no contest.
“You had two 32 ounce beers? Who were you visiting?”
“My cousin. He called the
Judge Fred Thorne police the first time and the officer told me to go back in. Then he came in and got me.”
“Why did your cousin call the police on you?”
“I don’t know. He was drunker than me. He was mad because the dope man wouldn’t come by.”
“$250 plus court costs.”
Two men in jail were called up together.
“How do you plead to criminal trespass at Walmart?”
“Guilty,” said one.
“Guilty,” said the other one.
“And obstruction of justice?”
“No contest,” said one.
“No contest,” said the other one.
“Y’all just follow the leader. Why were you sitting in the parking lot all day?”
“We were trying to exchange our battery. They didn’t have the right one and we couldn’t make them understand. We been in trouble with Walmart in the past.”
“Where do you live?”
“Dyess, Arkansas.”
“$350 plus court costs each on the criminal trespass. I’ll dismiss the obstruction.”
A man in jail with reckless driving, resisting arrest and possession charges pled guilty to all charges.
“What is wrong with you?”
“I was on the way to work.”
“Where?”
“McDonald’s. I am a crew trainer.”
“You are moving up in your job and now you have marijuana charges. Does your mother know you are in jail?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How old are you?”
“18.”
“12th grade?”
“Yes. I’m taking college classes and I’ve got a job.”
“You had dope in your pocket?”
“It’s true.”
“Does that make sense?”
“No, sir, it don’t. I’m not going to lie, I panicked.”
“You almost hit the police head on.”
“I had already stopped my vehicle.”
“Have a seat. I don’t know what I’m going to do about your case.”
Two women in jail we called up together.
“How do you plead to loitering?”
“No contest.”
“No contest.”
“And one of you on possession
of drug paraphernalia?”
“Not guilty.” “Your trial on that will be Feb. 19th. What were you
both doing at the truck stop?”
“I had a flat. You can look in my truck bed and see the flat tire,” said one of the women.
“You told police you were here to visit a friend. You told the police you were low on money and you were going to have sex for money.”
“Not me, judge, I just had a flat.”
“$400 plus court costs for both of you on the loitering.”
A young woman with her mother was in the courtroom. She was charged with illegal window tint and pled guilty. She was also charged with no tags and pled no contest.
“Mother did you know she was here last week?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Are you having trouble keeping her in control? It is obvious she has an attitude.”
“She doesn’t even live with me. She lives with my mother.”
“How old are you?”
“17.”
“She knows everything doesn’t she?”
“Yes and she doesn’t know anything!” said her mother.
“Are you in the 12th grade?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What kind of grades do you make?”
“A’s & B’s.”
“Do you work?”
“Yes. I work two jobs.”
“Why didn’t you call your mother last time instead of bringing a friend with you?”
“I was just stupid.”
“How long have you worked these two jobs?”
“Two months.”
“Whose car were you driving?”
“Mine.”
“I bought her a car and she traded it at a car lot for a car she can’t afford.”
“Did you tell the dealer you were 18? Isn’t that illegal?”
“He saw my driver’s license.”
“She can pay court costs and go to driver’s school or she can do four hours community service and driver’s school.”
“Community service,” said her mother.
“Have you taken the window
tint off?”
“No.”
“Be back here next Friday and show my bailiff you have taken the tint off.”
By the Evening Times News Staff
