03 July 2011
423
R. Linda:
With the Casey Anthony trial going on, and it seemingly everywhere, it brought back some memories of me going to the courthouse in Boston with a friend to traffic court. It was an apartment buddy of mine and since they had lost their license I drove and therefore hung around the court until they were done. Since it was going to be awhile I drifted into the criminal court section and sat down to wait. As I sat there, there was not much going on until the court was called to session.
First up, three teenagers were caught in the possession of cigarettes. Yes, you can't be a minor and get caught because if you do, you are then subject to a $500 fine and 6 weeks in jail or community service, whatever the judge deems fit. So there they were one 14-year-old, and two 16 year old males came into the courtroom, two moms and one mom and dad there, one lawyer between all. So I was wondering how they got caught because, you know, you see kids smoking and maybe you say, "Hey, you shouldn't do that, it is not good for your health," but you don't call the authorities now do you?
Well, these three were standing outside a local candy store where little kiddos would go in after school to buy gum, a candy bar, or a can of cola. Well, the shop owner wasn't too thrilled with the "big kids" bad influence outside his shop. This man was not in court but the arresting officer gave a report. First, the store owner told them about cigarettes and their health. Nothing happened, instead, they lit up again. So he came out and told them to leave, no said they, it be a free country. Next, the store owner told them they were breaking the law, their reaction? They laughed and that made the old gent angry. So, he called the crossing guard who said she could do nothing but suggested if he was really that concerned, and the teens were being arrogant, maybe the old gent should call the police. He did.
The policeman arrived, told the kids they were being given a citation to appear in court and well, that scared the cigarettes out of their mouths. What scared them more, was that they'd have to tell their parents, but they needn't have worried because the parents were called on the phone. Thus, day in court.
So the clerk calls their case, and the lawyer comes forward with the three delinquents. Judge looks at the papers, and then over the top of the papers down at the three, then back at the papers and then asks for the plea. Well, guilty all and so he asks the first, the 14-year-old to come forward and gets his name, address and gives in turn a lecture on underage smoking and how that can lead to other underage mischief.
"You have pleaded guilty and I appreciate you are taking responsibility. Now young man, I will let you off with writing me a two-page paper on the ills of smoking, and I will not fine you, if you have the paperback by the end of the week, with a promise you will not smoke again." The judge said.
"Yes, Your Honour." Said the remorseful 14-year-old.
Well, the next one came to stand before the court and he too took the deal and then it was the tallest of the trio's turn. When he stepped forward we all knew who instigated the other two. He looked older, and the clothing was very streetish (if that be the term). When he was asked if he would promise not to smoke, he shook his head.
"Your honour I am not going to lie, I can't stop." And he laughed, yes he laughed!
To this admission, there was an audible gasp in the courtroom. His lawyer was whispering to him in a hurried manner, but he shook his head at what the man was advising. The judge was narrow eyed not appreciating the laugh. I sat there thinking the other two lied like rugs and here you are Mr. Honesty and what's that gonna get ya? Well, he was asked again if he could promise not to smoke, same answer, a third gift of the same question and no, he just couldn't do it and the court gasped after each rejection and with each rejection the miscreant grinned. HE GRINNED R. Linda! Not the correct thing to do in a court of law when you should be standing there meek and not . . . well grinning!
"Okay then. Since YOU can't agree to not smoke, then you will be fined $500 with a 6 weeks jail sentence AND young man you will undergo substance abuse therapy." WHAMP the gavel came down and I sat there looking at the kid thinking, are you stupid or what? So off he was taken to the tears of his mom pleading with the court and she was told pretty much too late, too bad. But she too persisted and for her trouble of disrupting court got to sit in the nick for the rest of the day with a fine of $200.
Talk about insane it only got worse. Next up was this rather nice-looking 30-year-old man who, accompanied by his attorney, came forward to face the judge. I noticed he was on the puny side for all his good looks and he was dressed very nicely. What could he have done I wondered, but maybe he was here for a parking ticket he disputed, I couldn't think what a clean-cut guy like he would be charged with. Well, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with the intent to injure. You think?
The judge looked hard at him and asked him, "It says here you attacked your victim with a tyre iron, is that right Mr. Whosie?"
"Yes, your honour, but . . ." He got out before being interrupted by the judge.
"And the victim was on the ground as you kept beating them with said tyre iron?"
A look at his lawyer then he turned to the judge and affirmed that was the truth.
"And even though the victim was screaming for you to cease and desist, you kept at it?"
"Ah, yeah."
I was thinking wow, are appearances deceiving. But it got worse.
"And when did you stop beating your wife with the tyre iron?" The judge asked as everyone gasped, we had no clue it was his wife! I think everyone thought it was some guy he was brawling with. Well, it wasn't when she said uncle that was for certain. It was when the police arrived and disarmed him of his weapon and the EMS arrived a few seconds later to transport Mrs. Whosie to hospital.
"You don't seem very remorseful Mr. Whosie," the judge observed. "Is Mrs. Whosie in attendance to testify? Or is she as I assume in hospital . . . or morgue?"
We all snickered. I know not exactly good behaviour and we were told we'd all be removed or worse held in contempt if we did it again.
Charges were brought and the nice-looking man in the neat clothing was remanded into custody. Seemed he took offence to his wife when she accidentally put a small dent in his newly paid-off 2002 Ford Escort. DUH.
Anyway, since I've had a few complaints the blog has been storyless, since I actually have been doing real work and when doing real work nothing funny usually befalls me, person, this will have to tide you all over. Yup.
Gabe
Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved
R. Linda:
With the Casey Anthony trial going on, and it seemingly everywhere, it brought back some memories of me going to the courthouse in Boston with a friend to traffic court. It was an apartment buddy of mine and since they had lost their license I drove and therefore hung around the court until they were done. Since it was going to be awhile I drifted into the criminal court section and sat down to wait. As I sat there, there was not much going on until the court was called to session.
First up, three teenagers were caught in the possession of cigarettes. Yes, you can't be a minor and get caught because if you do, you are then subject to a $500 fine and 6 weeks in jail or community service, whatever the judge deems fit. So there they were one 14-year-old, and two 16 year old males came into the courtroom, two moms and one mom and dad there, one lawyer between all. So I was wondering how they got caught because, you know, you see kids smoking and maybe you say, "Hey, you shouldn't do that, it is not good for your health," but you don't call the authorities now do you?
Well, these three were standing outside a local candy store where little kiddos would go in after school to buy gum, a candy bar, or a can of cola. Well, the shop owner wasn't too thrilled with the "big kids" bad influence outside his shop. This man was not in court but the arresting officer gave a report. First, the store owner told them about cigarettes and their health. Nothing happened, instead, they lit up again. So he came out and told them to leave, no said they, it be a free country. Next, the store owner told them they were breaking the law, their reaction? They laughed and that made the old gent angry. So, he called the crossing guard who said she could do nothing but suggested if he was really that concerned, and the teens were being arrogant, maybe the old gent should call the police. He did.
The policeman arrived, told the kids they were being given a citation to appear in court and well, that scared the cigarettes out of their mouths. What scared them more, was that they'd have to tell their parents, but they needn't have worried because the parents were called on the phone. Thus, day in court.
So the clerk calls their case, and the lawyer comes forward with the three delinquents. Judge looks at the papers, and then over the top of the papers down at the three, then back at the papers and then asks for the plea. Well, guilty all and so he asks the first, the 14-year-old to come forward and gets his name, address and gives in turn a lecture on underage smoking and how that can lead to other underage mischief.
"You have pleaded guilty and I appreciate you are taking responsibility. Now young man, I will let you off with writing me a two-page paper on the ills of smoking, and I will not fine you, if you have the paperback by the end of the week, with a promise you will not smoke again." The judge said.
"Yes, Your Honour." Said the remorseful 14-year-old.
Well, the next one came to stand before the court and he too took the deal and then it was the tallest of the trio's turn. When he stepped forward we all knew who instigated the other two. He looked older, and the clothing was very streetish (if that be the term). When he was asked if he would promise not to smoke, he shook his head.
"Your honour I am not going to lie, I can't stop." And he laughed, yes he laughed!
To this admission, there was an audible gasp in the courtroom. His lawyer was whispering to him in a hurried manner, but he shook his head at what the man was advising. The judge was narrow eyed not appreciating the laugh. I sat there thinking the other two lied like rugs and here you are Mr. Honesty and what's that gonna get ya? Well, he was asked again if he could promise not to smoke, same answer, a third gift of the same question and no, he just couldn't do it and the court gasped after each rejection and with each rejection the miscreant grinned. HE GRINNED R. Linda! Not the correct thing to do in a court of law when you should be standing there meek and not . . . well grinning!
"Okay then. Since YOU can't agree to not smoke, then you will be fined $500 with a 6 weeks jail sentence AND young man you will undergo substance abuse therapy." WHAMP the gavel came down and I sat there looking at the kid thinking, are you stupid or what? So off he was taken to the tears of his mom pleading with the court and she was told pretty much too late, too bad. But she too persisted and for her trouble of disrupting court got to sit in the nick for the rest of the day with a fine of $200.
Talk about insane it only got worse. Next up was this rather nice-looking 30-year-old man who, accompanied by his attorney, came forward to face the judge. I noticed he was on the puny side for all his good looks and he was dressed very nicely. What could he have done I wondered, but maybe he was here for a parking ticket he disputed, I couldn't think what a clean-cut guy like he would be charged with. Well, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with the intent to injure. You think?
The judge looked hard at him and asked him, "It says here you attacked your victim with a tyre iron, is that right Mr. Whosie?"
"Yes, your honour, but . . ." He got out before being interrupted by the judge.
"And the victim was on the ground as you kept beating them with said tyre iron?"
A look at his lawyer then he turned to the judge and affirmed that was the truth.
"And even though the victim was screaming for you to cease and desist, you kept at it?"
"Ah, yeah."
I was thinking wow, are appearances deceiving. But it got worse.
"And when did you stop beating your wife with the tyre iron?" The judge asked as everyone gasped, we had no clue it was his wife! I think everyone thought it was some guy he was brawling with. Well, it wasn't when she said uncle that was for certain. It was when the police arrived and disarmed him of his weapon and the EMS arrived a few seconds later to transport Mrs. Whosie to hospital.
"You don't seem very remorseful Mr. Whosie," the judge observed. "Is Mrs. Whosie in attendance to testify? Or is she as I assume in hospital . . . or morgue?"
We all snickered. I know not exactly good behaviour and we were told we'd all be removed or worse held in contempt if we did it again.
Charges were brought and the nice-looking man in the neat clothing was remanded into custody. Seemed he took offence to his wife when she accidentally put a small dent in his newly paid-off 2002 Ford Escort. DUH.
Anyway, since I've had a few complaints the blog has been storyless, since I actually have been doing real work and when doing real work nothing funny usually befalls me, person, this will have to tide you all over. Yup.
Gabe
Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved
