‘If you cop an attitude, you will go down fast’
Judge Thorne has little patience for young speeder
By the Evening Times News Staff
news@theeveningtimes.com
It was a busy day in West Memphis District Court on Monday. Judge Fred Thorne called up the felony charges.
A woman with drug charges was asked where she lived.
“Osceola.”
“When were you last here?”
“March or April.”
“Was that drugs also?”
“Yes, sir.”
“When was that disposed of?”
“Two years ago.”
“What did you get?”
“I got two years.”
“Where did you get the drugs?”
“From a teenage boy. I took the drugs from him.” “You are still around drugs. See the public defender. You have misdemeanor charges out of Marion.”
A man was charged with residential burglary.
“Where did they catch you?”
“In a house.”
“Why were you in a house?”
“I was letting my injuries heal.”
“Go back and talk to the public defender.”
A man with felony charges of driving on suspended and possession of schedule six with intent to deliver was asked, “Are you working?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’ve been a welder since January. I graduated from welding school last fall.”
“You have started a career and now you have drugs?”
“They are my personal use.”
“How much do you make a week?”
“$500 to $600.”
“I’ll set your bond today.
No public defender.”
The next man was asked his name.
“Junior.”
“How do you spell that?”
“J.R.”
“You have drug charges.”
“I just moved here.”
“Do you work?”
“I do my own work. I do body work on cars.”
“How much do you make a week?”
“$500 a week.”
“Where do you live?”
“Me and my mom live on Broadway. She has Alzheimer’s and I watch her.”
“Who is watching her while you are in jail? Have a seat. I’ll get back to you.” A man was charged with felony possession of a firearm by certain persons.
“Where do you live?”
“The Sunset Inn.”
“Are you working anywhere?”
“Yes. I was working for two months but I got pointed out and had to leave. I can go back now.”
“That means you were late or didn’t show up so many times?”
“Yes.”
“Go see the public defender.”
The next man had aggravated assault and fleeing felony charges.
“Where do you live?”
“Marion.”
“Do you work?”
“Yes, sir, I am a music producer.”
“What is your hit song?”
“I don’t have a hit song yet.”
“Who supports you?”
“Local friends and musicians.”
“How old are you?”
“24.”
“See the public defender.”
The next man had felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
“What are you doing with your life?”
“I work at Kroger. I’ve been there four years.”
“That is a lifetime in this court. Sit down. I’ll set bond for you in a few minutes.”
The next man had felony charges of breaking and entering.
“How old are you?”
“22.”
“Where do you live?”
“Earle.”
“Do you work?”
“I’ve been at my job two months. I’m supposed to be there today.”
“How much do you make a week?”
“We get paid every two weeks and I make $600 to $700.”
“You are looking at time in the penituary. Talk to the public defender.”
In the courtroom a young man was called up. His father was with him.
“How old are you?”
“17.”
“Father, I can tell that he couldn’t care less that he is here.”
“Yes, sir, that is why he is here.”
“How does he plead to his speeding ticket?”
“No contest.”
“Young man, if you cop an attitude, you will go down fast. When someone looks to hire you they will look at your grades and your attitude. Father, I’m going to make the sentence and I’m not even going to let you decide. 16 hours community service at the animal shelter and go to driver’s school. You have one month to do your community service. For each hour you do not do, you will do one day in jail. Be back here on July 15 with proof that you did your service.”
To a woman in jail the judge asked, “How do you plead to DWI?”
“Not guilty.”
“Refusal to take the test?” “Not guilty.”
“Be back here on July 16 for your trial.”
The next woman had charges of reckless driving, no driver’s license, no insurance, refusal to take the test and DWI. She pled guilty to all charges.
“Go talk to the DWI lady and come back.”
The next man up was asked if he had been evaluated.
“Yes, sir. They released me.”
“Who is the only person who can release you?”
“You, sir.”
“Sit down. I’ll call you back up in a minute.”
A man in jail pled guilty to no driver’s license, no seatbelt and obstruction of justice.
“Whose name did you give?”
“My cousin.”
“$100 plus court costs on the driver’s license. I’ll dismiss the seatbelt. $250 plus court costs on the obstruction of justice.”
The next man was told, “You have some serious charges. How do you plead to criminal mischief?”
“No contest.”
“Harassment?”
“No contest. The charges were supposed to have been dropped.”
“You threw her cell phone and damaged her TV?”
A lady in the courtroom stood up.
“Were you the one who made the charges?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Five days jail on the criminal mischief. I’ll dismiss the harassment charges.”
A man with multiple charges pled not guilty to no brake lights, failure of headlights, driving on suspended, no interlock system, obstruction of justice, no driver’s license and public intoxication.
“You need to get a lawyer! Be here for trial on July 16.”
