‘ I don’t care. He can sue me’

‘ I don’t care. He can sue me’

Woman who wrecked car with faulty brakes pleads her case to Judge Thorne

news@theeveningtimes.com

It was a packed house in Municipal Court last week. “I clean out the jail every Monday and Wednesday.

This is Friday and I’ve got 27 since Wednesday,” said Judge Fred Thorne.

A woman with a felony charge of possession of meth or cocaine was asked, “Where do you live?”

“Heth.”

“How long have you lived there?”

“20 years.”

“Do you work?”

“Yes, sir. I baby sit and work in a shop office.”

“How much do you make?”

“Not much. $120 a week.” “See the public defender.”

A man with a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance was also asked where he lived.

“West Memphis.”

“Are you employed?”

“I go to school full time at ASU Mid-South.”

“How many hours a semesters do you take?”

“I am getting 17 credits.”

“What are you doing?”

“Computer engineering.”

“Well, it’s not being too productive being in jail is it? See the public defender.”

A man with a felony theft charge was asked, “Were you in Marion court yesterday?”

“No.”

“How old are you?”

“I just turned 18.”

“Do you have a parent here?”

“Yes.”

“He just turned 18 and has a felony charge?”

A woman with a theft charge was also asked where she lived.

“Hughes.”

“Do you work?”

“No. I am currently trying to get on disability.”

“See the public defender.”

A man in jail was asked how he pled to driving on suspended.

“No contest.”

“How do you plead to failure to appear?” “Guilty.”

“Why didn’t you come to court?”

“I had issues.”

“When I ask you a question I want you to tell me why, not that you have issues. $450 plus court costs and three days jail on the driving on suspended. 10 days on the failure to appear.”

“Do I get credit for time served?”

“The jail will tell you if you get credit.”

A woman in jail was charged with theft. She pled guilty.

“Where do you live?”

“Right here in West Memphis.”

“How did you think you could get out of the store with three chuck roasts?”

“It is my first offense.”

“Do you have a job?”

“I get a disability check.”

“Jail let her out at noon tomorrow.”

A man charged with driving on suspended and defective equipment pled guilty. To his charge of fleeing he pled no contest.

“Why did you run?”

“I got out of the car before he told me to.”

“How long has your license been suspended?”

“I didn’t know they were suspended.”

“$400 plus court costs and two days on the driving on suspended. I’ll dismiss the fleeing and the defective equipment.”

A woman with a charge of driving on suspended pled guilty.

“You have a terrible record.”

“All my fines have been paid.”

“But now you owe me $395 plus court costs and two days.”

A man with a failure to appear pled no contest.

“That made two counts for you in one month. $500 plus court costs and 20 days jail. Why did you go to jail in Memphis?”

The man mumbled something then said, “domestic violence.”

“You still owe $695 on your DWI.”

“Can I get out of jail today?”

“You need to pay $350 now and get on a payment plan. I told you before you could do your 20 days on weekends. That will be Friday at 8 a.m. until Sunday at 8 a.m. It’s a new day on your domestic battery.”

“They threw that out in Memphis.”

“Well, that’s good for you.”

A man in jail was charged with theft and fleeing. He pled guilty to both charges.

“How did you think you could steal $340 worth of crab legs from the store?

How did you think you could get out with 30 pounds of crab legs in 16 packs? What do you do for a living?”

“I don’t have a job.”

“Well I wouldn’t have been surprised if you were

Judge Fred Thorne stealing potted meat, but crab legs? $500 plus court costs and 10 days on the theft. $250 plus court costs on the fleeing.”

Another man in jail pled no contest to public intoxication and loitering.

“You were sitting under the sign that said ‘no loitering.’ How much did you have to drink?”

“I had one drink. I begged them to test me.”

“I’ll charge your plea to not guilty and you can come back for a trial.”

“Naw.”

“$350 plus court costs on the public intoxication. I’ll dismiss the loitering.”

A man charged with driving on suspended pled guilty.

“Why is your license suspended?”

“Child support.”

“$295 plus court costs and two days jail.”

A man in the courtroom was charged with driving on suspended.

“How do you plead?”

“Guilty.”

“I could wallpaper my living room with all your charges. I’ll take your cash bond.”

A woman in the courtroom was charged with running a red light. She pled no contest.

“Did you have insurance?” “Yes. I just bought the car and I had brake trouble with it at first. I gave him his car back.”

“After you wrecked it?”

“Yes. I don’t care. He can sue me.”

“$45 plus court costs. She just told off on herself. She knew the brakes didn’t work when she ran the stop sign. Does she not realize that silence is golden?”

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

license. She pled

guilty.

“Did you get the brake light fixed?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Why don’t you have a driver’s license?”

“I’m working on getting it.”

“$45 plus court costs.

Everyone needs a driver’s license and a cell phone.

Do you have a cell phone?” “Yes.”

By the Evening Times News Staff