‘ I was scared that you would lock me up’

‘ I was scared that you would lock me up’

Seems like a perfectly reasonable excuse for missing court

news@theeveningtimes.com

A crowded jail and a crowded court room caused Judge Fred Thorne to comment, “Let’s get going. It’s Friday, and we need to get you out of here so you can go to Esperanza Bonanza and you can come back on Monday with a pubic intoxication charge. There will be a State Trooper at each exit looking for you.”

A young man in jail was to pay restitution.

“Is there no one here for you? A parent or a guardian?”

“No, sir.”

“Something must be wrong if a parent won’t come and arrange a payment schedule. I want you back next week with someone. You need a parent up here with you.”

A man in jail charged with loitering pled no contest. His mother was in the courtroom.

“He is slow, your honor.”

“Why was he on the opposite end of town from where you live?” asked Judge Thorne.

“He lives with me,” said his cousin. “We do live on that side of town.”

“Jail, let him out at noon today.”

A man in jail charged with theft pled no contest.

“You stole three bottles of mouthwash?”

“I needed mouthwash and I screwed up.”

“Let him out Monday at noon. Take him back to the mission if they will take him.”

A man in jail for public intoxication pled ‘nolo.’ “What were you drinking?” “Miller High Life.”

“Parents, does he live with you?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the parents who were in the courtroom.

“The officer’s report says he was sitting on someone’s front porch drinking beer.”

“Can you send him somewhere as an in patient for help?” asked his mother.

“$150 plus court costs and 30 days suspended to one month probation on the condition that he goes to Celebrate Recovery. Be back here May 27th and bring proof that you went. If you did not go to Celebrate Recovery, I am going to lock you up for 30 days. Mother, do you understand how it would feel to wake up with someone on your porch drinking?”

A man in jail was charged with a possession of drug charge and pled no contest. A woman in the courtroom who was also charged pled not guilty.

“Sir, this says you had marijuana and Xanax.”

“I didn’t have any Xanax.” “Whose car were you in?”

“Her car.”

“$500 plus court costs and 30 days jail on the marijuana. Her trial date is set for June 28th at 1:30. I want you back for her trial and then I’ll decide then on your Xanax charge.”

Awoman in jail charged for loitering and failure to appear pled no contest to both charges.

“Why didn’t you appear in court?”

“I was scared that you would lock me up.”

“Court costs on the loitering and 10 days on the failure to appear. Now you don’t have to be scared of me locking you up.”

A man in jail was back because he had appealed his case and the appeal was denied.

“Who screwed up your appeal?”

“I don’t know.”

Judge Fred Thorne “You can pay $595 or spend 15 days in jail.”

“Okay.”

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

“How old are you?”

“44, no, I’m 45.”

“Did you have a late night craving? You were in your pajamas at the fish market.” “I was told to be careful going there.”

“Did a truck driver get mad and put you out? Where are you from?”

“Atlanta.”

“Do you have parents?”

“No, they are deceased.”

“Brothers or sisters?”

“Yes, brothers.”

“I just thought someone might be worried about you.”

“Your honor, I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Jail, let her out at noon today and call the shelter and see if they have a place she can stay.”

A man in jail pled no contest to driving on suspended. “Mom, why does he keep driving?”

“I don’t know.”

“$375 plus court costs and five days jail or five days house arrest. Make a payment plan and you can get him out.”

A man charged with domestic battery pled no contest.

“Do you realize how serious a charge this is? Have a seat. I’ll have to figure this out.”

In a short time the judge called him back up.

“What do you have to say?” “We had been doing a lot of drinking that day. I started drinking when I got off work. She went to hang out at her girlfriend’s house. I texted her to see when she was coming back.”

“Have you had domestic battery charges before?”

“Yes, in Florida.”

“Why were you with her?” “She is my ex. We live together.”

“That is a strange arrangement. $250 plus court costs. One year suspended to six months probation. You are to have no contact with her.” “Your honor, my tools and clothes are over there and I don’t have the money to buy new ones when I get out.”

“Is the apartment in her name?”

“Yes.”

“When you get out, contact the police and you can go back there and get your stuff. You can’t go back there to live.”

“Yes, sir.”

“She may be selling those tools while you are in jail.”

A young man in the courtroom was called up.

“How old are you?”

“14.”

“How do you pled to no drivers license?”

“Not guilty.”

“No seatbelt?”

“Not guilty.”

“Let me see your driver’s license.”

“I don’t have one.”

His mother was with him.

“Momma, bring some money back with you when you come. He had better have a driver’s license or he is going to jail. Also when you come back bring a copy of his grades. I usually give community service to someone his age, but because of his attitude he will pay a fine and/or do jail time.”

A woman in the courtroom pled no contest to two charges of no driver’s license,

failure to stop and no

child restraint.

“You got a ticket for no driver’s license and in two weeks you got another ticket for the same thing. This tells me you don’t give a darn, and I use that term because of where we are, and you also think “to hell with the law.” Why did you have a child with no child restraint?”

“It was sprinkling that day and I gave them a ride.”

“Do you work?”

“Yes. At a pizza place.”

“I hope it isn’t delivering pizzas. $125 plus court costs times two for the driving with no license. Court costs on the failure to stop and I’ll dismiss the child restraint.”

By the Evening Times News Staff