‘ What if it skipped my mind to let you out of jail?’

‘ What if it skipped my mind to let you out of jail?’

Judge Thorne has little tol-erance for missing your court date

news@theeveningtimes.com

West Memphis District Court was full in the courtroom and in the jail. “I cleaned out the jail on Friday and have 28 in jail today,” said Judge Fred Thorne.

Aman charge with a felony theft was asked, “Where do you live?”

“Marion.”

“Are you working?’ “Yes, sir. I have two jobs.”

“How long?”

“A couple of years.”

“How much do you make a week for both jobs?”

“$900.”

“The report says you stole two vehicles.”

“It’s made up charges.”

“See the public defender.”

Aman with a felony charge of murder one was told, “You just got out on 2nd degree battery charges. Your bond will be pretty substantial. See the public defender.”

The next man with felony charges of delivery of meth or cocaine was asked, “Where do you live?”

“West Memphis.”

“Do you work?”

“Yes, at Family Dollar Warehouse.”

“How much do you make a week?”

“$400.”

“Who live with you?”

“My grandmother. I help her out.”

“You should help her out. See the public defender.”

A woman with felony drug charges and possession of meth and cocaine was also asked where she lived.

“Mississippi.”

“Have you been in my court before?”

“Yes.”

“Who supports you?”

“My father.”

“Do you live with your father?”

“No. I live with a friend.”

“Is he in jail too?”

“Yes.”

“See the public defender.”

Judge Thorne called the next offender by his first name and told him to go see the public defender.

A woman with felony drug charges was asked where she lived.

“Turrell.”

“Who were you in the car with?”

“Nobody.”

“I left my purse in the car and then later the officer said he found drugs in my purse.”

“See the public defender.”

A man charged with possession of a felony firearm was asked, “When was the last time I saw you?”

“About two years ago.”

“Where do you work?”

“A landscaping company. Was your brother here a week ago?”

“No, it was my uncle.”

“Who do you live with?”

“My wife.”

“Why is she not here?”

“I don’t know.”

“How long have you been married?”

“Four years.”

“See the public defender.

A man charged with aggravated residential burglary was told, “I don’t need to talk to you. Go and see the public defender. For those of you who don’t know, residential burglary means he went into a house with a gun or a knife and robbed the people. Did he have a gun?” “Yes, he did,” said one of the court attorneys.

“For your information, if you are charged with contempt of court, you will get 30 days and no bond,” said the judge.

A man charged with public intoxication pled guilty.

“What is it going to take to keep you out of court?”

“I don’t know.”

“What size beer were you drinking?”

“32 ounce.”

“Do they even sell 12 ounce cans anymore?”

“Yes.”

“$250 plus court costs.”

A man in jail charged with failure to yield and failure to appear pled guilty to both charges.

Judge Fred Thorne “Why did you not come to court?”

“It actually skipped my mind.”

“What if it skipped my mind to let you out of jail?” “That wouldn’t be too good.”

“$55 plus court costs on the failure to yield and $150 plus court costs on the failure to appear.”

A man charged with loitering and fleeing pled guilty to both charges.

“Why did you run?”

“I didn’t. I didn’t know police

was around.”

“Maybe you ran because they found a gun around your group of people? $250 plus court costs. I’ll merge the loitering and fleeing.”

A man in jail was asked if his mother was in the courtroom.

“No.”

“You’ve got one warrant out of Marion and one on the state side. You have a misdemeanor out of West Memphis, Marion and the state. Have a seat.”

A man in jail was charged with loitering and pled guilty.

“You were at Carwash USA? The report said you had your hand in a machine trying to steal money. Where do you live?”

“Fayetteville. They cut me loose from jail on Sunday with no money and I was waiting on my wife to come get me.”

“You told the people there it was ‘only a dollar.’ Five days jail.”

A woman came forward in jail when her name was called. She had trouble getting out of the pew.

“Let her get out of the pew!” said the judge. “You are charged with obstruction of justice. How do you plead?”

“No contest.”

“How do you plead to resisting arrest?”

“No contest.”

“You got in a fight with your boyfriend and called the police and said he had a gun or a knife? You slapped the police officer’s hand when he wanted to look in your bedroom. You get the police out there and then you won’t cooperate with them. More police get hurt on these domestic disputes. $500 plus court costs on the obstruction and $500 plus court costs and five days jail on resisting arrest.”

A woman in jail was charged with theft at Walmart.

She pled no contest.

“Where do you live?”

“Marion.”

“I was taking care of my grandbabies. My daughter left them. I was trying to help her boyfriend fix up their place.”

“You were seen taking stuff out of Walmart then bringing it back in and trying to exchange it for a gift card.”

“I bought the stuff. I didn’t have my ID to take the stuff back.”

“$250 plus court costs.”

“Was there a man with you?”

“Yes.”

“You have the same charges as her, theft, how do you plead?”

“No contest.”

“$250 plus court costs for you, too.”

By the Evening Times News Staff