Judge Thorne: ‘ All you women out there wake up!’

Judge Thorne: ‘ All you women out there wake up!’

No patience for dead- beat boyfriends in Municipal Court

news@theeveningtimes.com

There were 35 inmates in jail Monday after the Thanksgiving Holiday. Two men and a woman were called up.

“You are charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. How do you know each other?” asked Judge Fred Thorne of West Memphis Municipal Court.

“I am a truck driver and I was giving this guy a ride home. He seemed like a nice guy,” said one of the men.

“What about the woman?” The man laughed, “I picked her up, too.”

“You have all had previous drug charges. Sit down. I’m not appointing the public defender.”

A man said he had a mom, a wife and seven kids to support.

“How old are you?”

“30.”

“You mother or wife aren’t here for you. Go talk to the public defender.”

A man in jail charged with domestic battery pled not guilty.

“Your trial will be Jan. 17th at 8:30 a.m. If you make bond you can get out.”

A man in jail charged with disorderly conduct and pled guilty.

“Is there a hold on you somewhere? You were in Love’s in your bathrobe. You told the police ‘don’t mess with me unless you want to take me outside.’” His mother was in the courtroom.

“Where does he live?” asked Judge Thorne.

“I don’t know. I put him out,” said his mother.

“You can’t deal with him, either? $500 plus court costs and 30 days jail. Next time you threaten an officer in a robe you’d better think about it.”

A man in jail was charged with leaving the scene, no driver’s license and careless driving. He pled guilty to the first two charges and not guilty to the careless driving.

“Your girlfriend says you were driving her car without permission. Have you ever had a driver’s license?”

“No, sir.”

“How old are you?”

“18.”

“What are you doing for a living?”

“I’m working and going to Marion High School.”

“$200 plus court costs on leaving the scene. $75 plus court costs on the driver’s license. Your trial date for the careless driving is Jan. 24th. Tell your momma to come with you to the trial.” A man charged with no driver’s license and no insurance pled guilty to both charges.

“Whose car were you driving?”

“My girlfriend.”

“Have you ever had a driver’s license?”

“No, sir.”

“Do you have a job?”

“I was about to get one.”

“All you women out there wake up!” I know I’ve said this before. When I was young, a woman wouldn’t even look at us if we didn’t have a car and a job. Now if they are breathing, that is enough! If they have a record, they are a keeper! I have more respect for you that you have for yourselves. $75 plus court costs on the no driver’s license. $500 plus court costs on the insurance.”

A woman in jail with a dope charge pled no contest.

“Were you drinking that day?” asked the Judge.

“Yes, sir.”

“You called the police and told them you were being held against your will. The cops came to help you and you had a marijuana cigarette behind your ear. Who were you with?”

“I don’t know him. He came and got me in Blytheville and then he put me out.”

“Do you realize how dangerous that is?”

“Yes. I made a mistake.”

“$750 plus court costs and 30 days jail.”

Another woman in jail was charged with domestic battery and pled guilty.

“What was so bad that you got that mad at your mother?”

“I got bit. I was out of my head. I was beat really bad by my boyfriend.”

“How long have you been with him?”

“About 10 years.”

“You were pretty drunk.”

“I’m not going to deny it.” “Do you work?”

“No, sir.”

“Who do you live with?”

“My mom and my boyfriend. My mom takes care of me.

“Jail, put her back on the docket. Call her mother, she lives in Trumann.”

A man in jail was had a dope charge. He pled guilty.

“I don’t guess you are ever going to straighten up. I remember when you were in juvenile and your mother asked me to give you another chance. You’ve had a lot of chances. Since 2002 you have had 21 charges.”

“I’ve been stressed out lately.”

“Are you working?”

“I have been working and trying to take care of my daughter.”

“Are you selling dope to take care of your daughter?”

“No.”

“If you didn’t buy dope you could probably do a better job of providing for your daughter. $750 plus court costs and 180 days jail.”

“180 what?”

“You can appeal it.”

A woman in jail was asked to give the phone number of her mother.

“Your mother says she has no way to get her. She isn’t coming. I don’t know what to think when your momma doesn’t want to help you. $750 plus court costs and 10 days jail.”

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

“Is there a warrant out for you?”

“It is taken care of. My sister knows about it now.”

“Five days jail. If his sister comes to get him you can let him out.”

“She is not coming to get me.”

“I guess you got jail then.” A man in jail was asked, “Where do you live?”

“West Memphis.”

“Do you have a family member that would pick you up?”

“No.”

“You keep calling the cab company and when they get there you just say ‘never mind’. Who were you harassing?”

“My sister says I harass her.”

“Do you have a phone number for your sister?”

“Yes.”

“Jail. Call and see if anyone will come and get him. I want an evaluation if no one comes to get him.”

A man who had to sign a waiver on his DWI was asked how he pled to DWI, refusal to take the test, no insurance and speeding. He pled no contest to all charges.

“That is me you are taking about,” said a man in the courtroom.

“It sure is!” said Judge Thorne.

“You, go sit down,” to the man who just signed the waiver.

“And you, sit down where you are, we will get to you soon.”

Judge Fred Thorne

By the Evening Times News Staff