‘ Do you need three days in jail to rest up?’

‘ Do you need three days in jail to rest up?’

Try to look awake when in front of Judge Thorne

news@theeveningtimes.com

A man in jail with a felony case of 2nd degree battery was asked by Judge Fred Thorne of West Memphis District Court, “Where do you live?”

“West Memphis.”

“Are you employed?”

“Not at the moment.”

“How long has it been since you had a job?”

“Two months. My phone came up missing and they let me go.”

“Who do you work for?

“My sister.”

“Your sister fired you over the phone?”

“It was a company phone.” “Who do you live with?”

“My mom.”

“Why isn’t she here today?”

“She had a doctor appointment.”

“See the public defender.”

A man who was a convicted felon was charged with possession of a firearm.

“Are you kin to Alfred?”

“He’s my cousin.”

“Are you employed?”

‘Yes, sir.”

“Where?”

“I drive a truck.”

“Do you have a CDL?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How much do you make a week?”

“It depends, $600 or 800 a week.”

“I’ll set your bond today. I will not appoint the public defender.”

A man charged with felony fleeing was also asked where he lived.

“With a friend in Memphis.”

“You have some serious misdemeanor charges. You will need to talk to the public defender. This is going to be interesting. This man got shot and said he would take care of it himself. Now he is in jail with murder charges.”

A man with felony drug charges lived in Heafer and had misdemeanor charges also.

“What do you do for a living?”

“I work for a construction company.”

“How long?”

“15 years.”

“Are you currently work-

Judge Fred Thorne ing?”

“At the time I was.”

“How much do you make a week?”

“$500 a week.”

“Who do you have to support out of that money?”

“My three kids and my wife.”

“See the public defender.”

“A man charged with felony theft by receiving a firearm was told by the judge, “You had a stolen pistol and misdemeanor charges also.”

“Where do you live?”

“Marion.”

“Are you working?”

“I’ve got to go for my interview today. If I get out today, I could start to work tomorrow.”

“That depends on you getting out and how much I set your bond for. See the public defender.”

After the judge gave his speech on how to plead, names were called in the jail. Three names were called and no one came forward.

“Jail? Where are these people?”

“They haven’t been pulled yet.”

“We had this same problem on Friday. I’ll start the cases here in court. We’ll

come back to the jail.

Maybe you will have them pulled by that time.”

The first woman called in the courtroom was asked how she pled to no driver’s license. She pled not guilty but there was a confused look on her face.

“Sign a scheduling order to be back for your trial.

How many of you people know how she should have pled?”

Many hands were raised and an echo of ‘no contest’ could be heard.

A man with no proof of insurance and no motorcycle endorsement pled guilty to both charges.

“Did you have wreck?”

“Yes, sir. It was not my fault.”

“What kind of motorcycle do you have?”

“A dirt bike.”

“You were on Broadway and East Jackson on a dirt bike? When will you get your endorsement?”

“Next week.”

“$275 plus charges on the insurance and I’ll dismiss the motorcycle endorsement.”

A man with no proof of insurance pled guilty and was fined $275 plus court costs. Another man had no insurance and also pled guilty.

“Have you got any now?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Show it to me.”

The man took a minute to get his proof out of his wallet .

“Everyone! Have your information to show us out when you come up here.

$195 plus court costs.”

A man with an illegal window tint pled no contest.

“Have you taken it off?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Bailiff, go outside with him and check his car. If it is off, I’ll dismiss this.”

The next man in court was asked how he pled to no driver’s license.

“No contest.”

“No tags?”

“No contest. I have my license.”

“How long were the tags out?”

“It was not my car.”

“It was your car when you were driving it. $45 plus court costs on the tags. I’ll dismiss the driver’s license.”

A woman with a DWI pled guilty.

“Do you work?”

“Yes, sir. Three years. I am a dietitian.”

“I could use a dietitian but I don’t need anyone else telling me what to do. $300 plus court costs. Your license will be suspended.

One year jail suspended to one day served and go to driver’s school.”

A woman charge with no registration and no proof of insurance pled no contest to both charges.

“I had insurance. My mother purchased the car from an auction but had to give the car back because she couldn’t get the paperwork.”

“If you buy a car at auction and they don’t give you the papers you can sue them. $70 on the insurance and I’ll dismiss the registration.”

A man in court was charged with driving on a suspended license and bogus tags. He pled guilty to both charges and was stretching as if he had just woke up.

“Do you need three days in jail to rest up?”

“No.”

“Are you working?”

“No.”

“Who supports you?”

“I got some money.”

“Whose car were you driving?”

“My momma car.”

“$305 plus court costs and four days house arrest on the driving on suspended.

I’ll dismiss the tags.”

The bailiff was sent outside to look at two more cars with window tint issues.

A woman charged with expired tags pled no contest.

“I am driving a rental car.

I’ve been driving it for a year because I wrecked my car.”

“You have had a rental car for a year? Did you tell them you got a ticket?”

“Yes, and they tried to give me a free day and some discounts. I am from Chicago.”

“I’ll dismiss it, but if you come back across the river with expired tags you will have to pay me some money.”

By the Evening Times News Staff