‘Parents are making good choices today’

‘Parents are making good choices today’

Judge Thorne hands out plenty of community service assignments

By the Evening Times News Staff

ne ws @ theeveningtimes .com

A bright, cold morning at Marion Municipal Court found Judge Fred Thome with few defendants and a lot of no shows.

“Do you have some reviews?” asked Judge Thorne of the Justice Network representative.

“Yes, your honor. The first one completed his classes and has paid all his fines and court costs.”

“I will dismiss your charges this time but don’t expect it next time.”

The next man with a review was under house arrest and probation for six months.

“He has to go to Kids for the Future and has just started about a month ago.”

“Stand over here where I can see you,” said the judge. “Those pants you have on are very disrespectful. Is that your father with you?”

“Yes.”

“All your fines must be paid off before the six months is up. Give me a review date.”

“March 14,” said the clerk.

“I suspended one year in jail on your theft charge.

Do what you are supposed to do or you will do your time in jail.”A young man with his mother had been in an accident and had a careless driving charge.

“How do you plead?”

“No contest.”

“What happened?”

“I was backing out of a driveway and hit a mailbox.”

“The insurance is working on fixing it,” said his mother.

“Do you have your own car?”

“Yes.”

“Do you realize that is a luxury?”

“Yes.”

“Who pays your insurance?”

“My mother.”

“You realize your insurance will go up, don’t

you?” “Yes.”

“Mother, here are your options. $75 plus court costs and driver’s school and I’ll keep this off his record or four hours community service at the animal shelter and driver’s school and I’ll still keep it off his record.”

“I’ll take the community service at the animal shelter.”

“Great choice! If you don’t do your community service you could end up in jail. Are you in school?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of grades do you make?”

“All A’s except in science.”

“What do you plan to do with your life?”

“I want to own my own business.”' “I hope you understand what we’ve been talking about. Go sign up for your community service.”

A man was charged with driving without a CDL and using a hand held phone pled no contest to both charges.

“Was your CDL downgraded because of your medical card?”

“Yes. I’ve had a CDL since 2001.”

“$305 plus court costs on the CDL and I’ll dismiss using the hand held phone.”

Another young man and his mother were up next.

“How do you plead to improper display of tags?”

“No contest.”

“And no insurance?”

“No contest. It was not my car.”

“It becomes your car when you drive it. Did the tag have something over it?”

“It had a tint over it.”

“Officer check their insurance.”

“It is a year policy.”

“Someone call about this insurance. We always have to check on any year policy.”

In a short while some came back and said he was not covered by the insurance.

“Where do you go to school?”

“Cherry Valley.”

“Here’s your choice mother. 16 hours community service or $195 plus court costs.”

“I’ll pay his fine. His father and I both work and we can’t get him back over here to do the community service.”

The next person up was a young lady and her mother. “How do you plead to driving with out a license?” “No contest.”

“My insurance is paying this,” said the mother.

“I had my license.”

“You had a permit?”

“Yes.”

“What grade are you in school?”

“10th at Marion.”

“What kind of grades do you make?”

“All A’s.”

After looking at her license the court attorney said, “She needed someone 21 or older in the car with her.”

“$75 plus court costs and driver’s school or four hours community service.”

“We’ll take the community service.”

“Go sign up and complete it and I’ll keep it off your record or if you don’t complete it you can go to jail.

I’m not kidding!”

A woman charged with speeding pled guilty.

“I’m from Blytheville. My son was at the Med and he had trauma. We have to go to Memphis for therapy.”

“You can go. I’ll dismiss it.”

A young man and his father came forward next.

“How do you plead to speeding?”

“No contest.”

“Do you own your own car too?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I didn’t own my own car till after I was married. You realize your insurance rates are going to go up?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What are you planning on doing with your life?”

“I have no clue.”

“$75 plus court costs and driver’s school or four hours community service.”

“He can do community service,” said his father.

“Parents are making good choices today.”

* vSmì

Judge Fred Thorne