‘ It’s always someone’s cousin’

‘ It’s always someone’s cousin’

Judge Thorne continues to wonder how folks will let just anyone drive their cars

news@theeveningtimes.com

The jail and the courtroom were both overcrowded and seating in the courtroom was limited last Friday.

Judge Fred Thorne of the West Memphis District Court asked the people who were in the courtroom that had 9:30 a.m. cases to move to the front row, which was usually kept open for courtroom workers and prisoners.

A man in jail with charges of felony terroristic threatening was asked the usual questions.

“Where do you live?”

“West Memphis.”

“Are you employed?”

“I am self employed. I build fences.”

“How long have you been self-employed?”

“Three months.”

“How much money do you make a week?”

“$100 a week.”

“Who do you have to support with that money?”

“My wife and my dogs.”

“See the public defender.”

The next person with a felony charge of delivery of meth or cocaine times two was asked, “Didn’t I see you six or eight months ago?”

“Yes. Six or eight months, I don’t remember.”

“See the public defender.”

A man with a second-degree felony charge of domestic battery was asked where he lived.

“Crawfordsville.”

“Are you employed?”

“Yes. At Marion Market.”

“How are you related to R.T.?”

“I’m his grandfather.”

“How much do you make a week?”

“$100.”

“See the public defender.”

“A man with felony charges of battery and unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle was asked, “Are you a convicted felon?”

“No, they dropped the charges.”

“Are you going to hire an attorney?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll set your bond. No public defender.”

A woman in jail was charged with a felony theft of property was told to go to see the public defender.

The next woman had a charge of rape.

“You have a serious charge, are you going to hire an attorney?”

“No, sir.”

“I’ll appoint the public defender.”

A man in jail was charged with failing to register.

“You are a convicted sex offender. Where do you live?”

“Crawfordsville.”

“Do you work?”

“I’m trying to get my disability started.”

“See the public defender.”

When names in the courtroom started to be called some people that were late were still in the hall.

“Have them stay there.

They were late so I will call them up last.”

A woman in the courtroom was charged with no driver’s license.

“How do you plead?” “Guilty.”

“No insurance?”

“No contest.”

“Whose car were you driving?”

“My cousin.”

“It’s always someone’s cousin. Crittenden County is the most generous county in the state of Arkansas.

Why didn’t you have a driver’s license?”

“I’m working all the time and don’t have time to get my driver’s license.”

“$65 plus court costs on the driver’s license and $205 plus court costs on the insurance. Come back in three weeks and bring your permit. That will be July 20th at 8:30. Now you don’t need to work at it.

I’m doing it for you.”

A woman in the courtroom was charged with no proof on insurance pled guilty.

“I got it the same day. I just moved here from Texas and didn’t have the money at first.”

“I know we all have to shuffle our money around.

$175 plus court costs.”

A man with charges of no insurance, driving on suspended and operating an unsafe vehicle pled not guilty.

“Give him a trial date.”

Another man with charges

Judge Fred Thorne of unrestrained children in his car pled guilty.

“There were three children in your car and none of them were in seatbelts?

Who were they?”

“My grand-babys. I was taking them to the carnival.”

“Why weren’t they in seatbelts?”

“They were in the trunk.”

“What?”

“There was five of them in the back. The child carseats were in the trunk.”

“I thought you said the children were in the trunk.”

“No, sir!”

“I’ll drop this to one charge. $45 plus court costs.”

A man with charges of illegal window tint went out with the bailiff to look at his car. When he came back in the bailiff reported that it had been taken off and Judge Thorne dismissed his case.

A man charged with no proof of insurance pled guilty.

“Do you have insurance now?”

“No, but I can get some.”

“You’ve had from January to June to get some. $275 plus court costs.”

A man in the courtroom who was charged with careless and prohibitive driving pled no contest.

“You hit a pedestrian?”

“She walked in front of my car and laid down.”

“Where were you?”

“At the dog track.”

“I will change your plea to not guilty and we will have a trial or you can pay $45 plus court costs and go to driver’s school.”

“I’ll pay the $45 and go to driver’s school.”

A young man was called forward.

“Are you junior?”

“No I’m the 3rd.”

“How old are you?”

“15.”

“Weren’t you here last week?”

“Yes.”

“I told you to come back and bring your parents, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“How do you plead to no

driver’s license?” “Guilty.” “No insurance?” “Guilty.” “And following too close?” “Guilty.”

“Whose car was it?”

“His aunt’s,” said his mother.

“Why did she let him drive?”

“I told her not to let him drive.”

“Have you ever been in jail?”

“No.”

“Well, mother you can choose. For the driver’s license $55 plus court costs or eight hours community service.”

“Community service.”

“On the insurance, $295 plus court costs or 15 hours community service.”

“Community service.”

“And on the following too close, $195 plus court costs or eight hours community service.”

“Community service.”

“That is a total of 31 hours. You will do your service at the animal shelter. You have 30 days to get it done. Be back here with something showing you did the community service or you will do one day in jail for each hour you do not do, unless your mother wants to pay the fees.”

“He’ll do the community service,” said his mother.

By the Evening Times News Staff