‘ Well, man, I did drive bad when I was younger’

‘ Well, man, I did drive bad when I was younger’

Everybody’s got a story for Judge Thorne

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Judge Fred Thorne laid out the preamble for the audience in West Memphis District Court last Friday.

“Be quiet,” said the judge.

“I know people will laugh or whatever and that is OK, but let the people charged say their piece. You can also appeal any verdict I give. You can say ‘I sure didn’t know he would do that.’ Be sure and perfect your appeal, or you will serve any sentence I gave you to begin with,” A man in jail was charged with disorderly conduct. He pled no contest.

“Mid-South called the police on you? They say you weren’t on your meds?

What did you think was going to happen after you called the officer at B….?”

“I went up there to get my meds. I haven’t been on any.”

“30 days jail. In 10 days we will have a review. Jail, I may let him out after the 10 days.”

A man in jail was charged with loitering at the day care. He pled guilty.

“I was going to the store, me and my friend.”

“The report says you were begging at the church. You have had (Judge Thorne counted it off), 20 loitering charges.”

Another man was called up also.

“How do you plead to loitering?”

“Guilty. I went there to talk to the preacher.”

“You two can’t be in the daycare yard loitering. Jail, make sure they have the same cell for 30 days.”

A man in jail charged with theft pled not guilty.

“You were stealing at Big Star? When is his trial date?”

“March 20th at 8:30 a.m.,” said the court attorney.

A man in jail was asked, “How do you plead to careless driving?” “Guilty.”

“Driving on suspended?”

“Guilty.”

“And no insurance?”

“Guilty.”

“You were also charged with a failure to appear and no proof of insurance from

Judge Fred Thorne an earlier date.”

“I plead not guilty to those charges.”

“$65 plus court costs on the careless driving. $395 plus court costs on the driving on suspended along with two days jail. $395 plus court costs on the no insurance. Your trial on the other charges will be March 28th.”

A woman in jail was charged with domestic battery.

“Where do you live?”

“I’ve been here a year. My friend ran over my legs.

They are both broke.”

“You walked up to the stand pretty well to have broken legs. Go see the public defender.”

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

“Why did you steal $57 worth of goods?”

“My daughter’s birthday is coming up and I’m between jobs.”

“Why did you steal boy’s socks?”

“I have a son, too. I know it’s not funny.”

“Where are you staying?”

“With my Daddy. I just recently lost my job of 10 years. I’m looking for work.”

“Why isn’t your father here?”

“He is put out with me. He has been having to help pay all my bills.”

“Where are you from?”

“Benton, since 2009. I came here to be near Daddy.”

“Jail, let her out Sunday at 5 p.m. If you get arrested again, you are going to jail for 180 days.”

A man in jail charged with domestic battery wanted to change his plea.

“What do you want to change your plea to?”

“No contest. I just want to get this over.”

“Can you make bond?”

“No, it wasn’t even that.”

“I don’t like domestic battery cases. I want to hear from the other side. Sit down. Let’s call and see if we can get her up here.”

A woman in the courtroom had three charges. She pled guilty to no proof of insurance and unsafe vehicle.

She pled no contest to her failure to appear.

“Why didn’t you come to court?” “I was in the hospital having

surgery.”

“When did you get out of the hospital?”

“I didn’t have a way to get up here.”

“You first told me you were in the hospital. Then you said you didn’t have a way to get here. I am a straightforward kind of guy. All I want you to do is tell me the truth. Did you have insurance?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let me see it.”

“I didn’t know I didn’t have insurance at the time.” “This is getting nowhere.

$225 plus court costs on the insurance. I’ll dismiss the unsafe vehicle and $100 plus court costs on the failure

to appear.”

A woman called up the courtroom was charged with no child restraint. She pled guilty.

“I also had a failure to appear.”

“This doesn’t show that.

Do yo want me to add a failure to appear?”

“No.”

“Do you work at home health?”

“Yes.”

“How long? Three years?”

“Yes.”

“Did you wonder how I knew that? I am the judge, I know everything. How old was the child?”

“One year old. I had the car seat but I failed to put her in it.”

“Pay court costs and put the child in the child seat next time!”

A man charged with no driver’s license pled not guilty.”

“He’s just buying time pleading not guilty. He just wants to prolong this so he can come up with some money. I’ll prove it. Sir, let me see your driver’s license.”

“I don’t have it.”

“I knew you didn’t have it.”

A man charged with driving

on suspended pled

guilty.

“You have a very bad driving

record.”

“Well, man, I did drive bad when I was younger.”

“He is ‘Your Honor,’” said the bailiff. “Not, ‘man.’” “You have a high-dollar

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job and seem to be intelligent. Why can’t you get this straightened out? I hope I’m not in the ambulance when you need to pick me up. They’ll be saying, ‘He is on the side of the road stopped by the police when he was supposed to pick you up.’ $295 plus court costs and two days house arrest.”

A young woman was asked, “How old are you?”

“17.”

“How do you plead to failure to yield?”

“No contest.”

“Are you in school?”

“Yes, high school.”

“Grades?”

“Good.”

“Whose car were you driving?”

“Mine.”

“You are so lucky. I didn’t have my own car till I graduated college. Who pays your insurance?”

“I pay the note and my mother pays the insurance.” Mother, which do you want for her? A fine or four hours community service and driver’s school?”

“The community service.”

By the Evening Times News Staff