‘It’s okay — we don’t do executions anymore.’

‘It’s okay — we don’t do executions anymore.’

Judge Thorne puts nervous defendant’s fears to rest… sort of

news@theeveningtimes.com

With the temperature at 20 degrees in Marion, Marion District Court was low on attendance last Thursday.

Judge Fred Thorne called a woman forward.

“How do you plead to speeding?”

“Are we doing that one today? It is for February 14th.”

“I can go ahead and do it.

How do you plead?”

“No contest.”

“How do you plead to no proof of insurance?”

“Guilty.”

“Did you have insurance that day?”

“Yes, but I couldn’t find it.”

“$55 plus court costs and driver’s school on the speeding. $70 on the insurance.”

Names were called, and there were more than a dozen no-shows.

A woman who wasn’t in court was represented by a lawyer.

“We plead no contest to speeding,” said her lawyer.

“$195 plus court costs and I’ll merge the seat-belt into it.”

The next case was the same, with a lawyer pleading no contest to a speeding charge and also netted a charge of $195 plus court costs.

A man with charges of no proof of insurance pled guilty.

“Do you have insurance?”

“Yes. It is on my phone.”

The man showed his proof on his phone and the judge dismissed the charges.

The next man up was charged with a zoning violation. He pled guilty.

“You have an attached trailer in your yard. The city of Marion doesn’t allow that.”

“It isn’t mine. I’ll have to find the owner.”

“Do you want to change your plea to not guilty?”

“No.”

“I’ll give you 30 days to move it. If you don’t have it off I’m going to fine you a lot of money.”

“I’ll have it off by then if I have to tear it up.”

Judge Thorne asked a lady in the galley if she was nervous.

“Yes.”

“It’s okay — we don’t do executions anymore.”

A woman with a failure to obey a traffic signal pled guilty.

“What happened.”

“I just wasn’t paying attention. I live in Blytheville.”

“You drive all the way from Blytheville to work here?”

“No. I was just passing through.”

“Pay $195 and I’ll keep it off your record.”

The next man with a speeding charge pled not guilty.

“Your trial date will be March 14th.”

“I’d like to get it taken care of today.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“I am a horse trainer. I am in Forrest City now but I’m from Tulsa.”

“Do you want to change your plea?”

“Yes. No contest.”

“$195 plus court costs.”

A truck driver had a speeding ticket. He pled guilty.

“I have a print out from the company that makes the truck. The truck has a governor on it and it can only go up to 68 mph. The officer said I said I was doing 75 in a 65 area.”

“68 is still three miles over the limit.”

“Yes sir it is.”

“Okay you can go. I’ll dismiss it.”

A woman with a CDL was also charged with speeding and pled no contest.

“You were going way too fast. $270 plus court costs.” A man was in court for a review. Mr. Brown of the Justice Network spoke for him.

“He has paid off his fines. He has made all his classes and is still on his six months probation. That will be over in February.”

“I’ll keep it off your record just this time but you are still on probation.”

The next man up was also on probation and Mr.

Brown said, “He came in my office and we went over all the paper work and I think he understands what all he has to do. He has started his payments and his probation lasts until June 20.”

“I want to see you back here for another review on March 14. Did you do your service for West Memphis?”

“Yes.”

A man was charged with an overweight load and pled guilty.

“He was 7,020 pounds overweight,” said the clerk. “Were you hauling grain?” asked the judge.

“Yes.”

“Do you have a CDL?”“No.”

“$275 plus court costs.”

A man who came in late was charged with 3rd degree battery.“How do you plead?”

“Not guilty.”

“The next time you are late you are going to jail.

Your trial date is Feb.

21st.”

By the Evening Times News Staff