You be the judge.....

The ClubHouse: Archives: You be the judge.....

Abbynormal

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 01:36 am Click here to edit this post
The year: 1971
The suspect: young woman
The crime: caught with 2 marijuana cigarettes.
The sentence: 5 yrs in prison.
The next crime: ESCAPE!

Let's pretend this young woman escaped and moved to another state. She changed her name, met a man, fell in love and had 2 children with him. Let's say the children are now in their 20's. Let's pretend that this once young woman has very wealthly parents who are in bad health. The woman stands to inherit a boat load of money on the death of the parents. Bear in mind, the parents have always been in touch with the woman, and have in essence condoned the escape by not alerting the authorities. Let's throw a sister into the mix. The sister thinks the woman should turn herself in so she will be able to inherit when the parents die. This weighs heavily on the woman's mind. She loves her parents very much and doesn't care about the money so much, but does feel a need to "come clean". The sister assures the woman she will have lawyers at the ready. The woman sets her 2 children down and confesses all. Well, you can imagine the heartache and fear and betrayal that is felt all around. The woman takes the trip cross-country and dutifully turns herself in. Hmmmm. No record of the arrest. No record of the short prison stay so obviously no record of escape. What to do?

The result: What do you think? I'll post later and let you know if you are interested.

Kep421

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 03:28 am Click here to edit this post
Abby....is there something you are not telling us???

Spygirl

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 05:51 am Click here to edit this post
I'd like to know the outcome...

Twiggyish

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 06:04 am Click here to edit this post
I think she should talk with a lawyer. This person could investigate the situation further. If there are no records of her crime, she is therefore not obligated to serve any jail time.

Oregonfire

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 07:18 am Click here to edit this post
The sentence for two marijuana cigarettes is five years? That is the real crime. Save the prisons for the real criminals. It is not unjust to disobey unjust laws. (JMO, of course--I'm pretty radical.) Since the woman has already turned herself in and there is no record of her arrest, she should bless her luck. Most likely her "crime" was cleared from the dockets for more pressing dastardly deeds.

Weinermr

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 08:33 am Click here to edit this post
My opinion - she did the right thing turning herself in, she has already "served her time" because this was hanging over her head for so many years, and she should put it all behind her now and get on with her life. The inheritance is an added bonus, but is irrelevant.

Juju2bigdog

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 08:54 am Click here to edit this post
Statute of limitations expired on the escape? Probably not.

Grooch

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 09:03 am Click here to edit this post
Because she confessed to the escape, they are going to charge her with it?

Max

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 09:30 am Click here to edit this post
Sounds right for 1971. Back then, marijuana was the "demon weed". Total overkill on the punishment for having a small amount was pretty normal.

I think she did the right thing by coming clean, especially with her kids. Sometimes these things have a way of coming to light whether you want them to or not and occasionally that doesn't happen until you're gone. Then you leave behind a legacy of doubt, frustration and anger that's totally unnecessary. Better to just confront the issue, if at all possible.

Heck, there are much worse cases that have happened with radicals from the '60s who were involved in incidents resulting in deaths. Punishments were handed out, but not nearly as severely as some expected.

In this case, it sounds like the whole matter was expunged some time ago. If there's no record of it on the books, I doubt the authorities can press any charges. Other than her word for it, how would they make a case?

Now that things are out in the open, everyone can rebuild relationships completely without looking over their shoulders, and her kids have been taught several valuable lessons. (Mom was a rebel! Mom made mistakes, but ultimately owned up to them and faced the consequences. Mom trusts us enough to tell us the truth.) Yes, some betrayal feelings are probably in place, but will most likely pass, perhaps with the help of some counseling, perhaps not.

Now, what REALLY happened? :)

Sunshinemiss

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 11:02 am Click here to edit this post
Ye gads, more than enough punishment, 30 years of guilt on the mind. By all means do have a GOOD lawyer check into it though, just to make sure the Sword of Damacles is really gone.

The kids issue is tough, but all kids have to learn eventually that their parents have feet of clay, we are all human and make mistakes, especially since the kids are near the age of the original offense, they should be able to relate.

Beware the sister though, if there is money involved family relationships can turn brutal and combative (personal experience here) and she herself may push to pursue the charges. I hope not.

Resolution please?

Abbynormal

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 05:13 pm Click here to edit this post
It has been over 4 months and she is still in jail. She is on her 3rd set of lawyers. Family has not been able to visit yet because of "clearance". I think what is happening to this woman now is a true "crime".

Twiggyish

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 05:26 pm Click here to edit this post
Marm, I can well sympathize with you about family members turning brutal and combative. I totally agree about the sister.

Judy

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 07:12 pm Click here to edit this post
Abby,
What crime can they possible have her jailed for??!!!

If there is no record of it--where is the evidence to charge her with anything?

Are you saying if I go down to the police station and tell them a similiar story- and there is no record (of course- I am making it up) that they will throw my butt in jail??!!

HOW!!!!??

This pisses me off- and if were in my town- I would be protesting in the street:(

Max

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 09:08 pm Click here to edit this post
What state are we talking about?

Abbynormal

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 09:21 pm Click here to edit this post
California

Max

Monday, January 14, 2002 - 10:21 pm Click here to edit this post
Oh, geez. California can be a pain, especially given the current administration.

I don't understand, as Judy said, how they can hold her if they have no record of any charges ever being filed or any escape having occurred. Are we talking about a metropolitan area? My brother is an assistant public defender in Napa county. If you want to email me details, I can ask him to check it out. Don't know if he'd have time or the inclination, but I can always ask. :) My email addy is in my profile.

Misslibra

Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 05:43 am Click here to edit this post
Abbynormal, this goes into the totally ridiculous catergory. And she is on her third set of lawyers? And she had been in jail for 4 months about this and there is no record of it? So what are the charges they are holding her on since there is no record about this?

I would not have went all the way cross country to turn myself in for 2 marijuana cigarettes. How did she escape? Was she in jail and escaped from jail? Or did she just not show up for her court date and that was her escape?

Juju2bigdog

Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 09:54 am Click here to edit this post
Abbynormal, once I realized this is a real story that you are trying to get information on, and some brain teaser sort of thing, I have been thinking about it.

The only conclusion I can reach is that for whatever reasons, you are not being told the whole story. There will be records, and they will be public records that you can look at, charging this woman with a specific crime. You should even be able to get copies of the charging documents if you want.

If I were you, and you really want to know, I would take Max up on her offer. Send her the woman's name now, and her name at the time when the original offense occurred. Send her the woman's date of birth, if you know it, or as close to it as you can get. Send her the place and date (on or about) when she turned herself in.

You can also send me the same information at juju2bigdog@yahoo.com, and I will see if I can come up with anything. I am not in California now, but I retired from there and might still remember a trick or two. If I find anything, I will reply to you in email, not post it on the board.

Also keep in mind, there might be a good reason why whoever knows what is really going on is not telling you.

Urgrace

Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 06:27 pm Click here to edit this post
First of all why was she in 'prison' for two marajuana cigs? That sounds like a misdemeanor not a felony - unless this was her third conviction! Second, where did she escape from? And there is no way the authorities could hold her that long with no records or proof of some sort! Something sounds fishy. Let these people help you find some deeper answers, and good luck!

Urgrace

Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 06:30 pm Click here to edit this post
oops sorry about the misspelling.....

Max

Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 10:03 pm Click here to edit this post
Urgrace, In the early '70s in California, possession of any amount of marijuana was a felony. Laws have changed a lot since then. :)

However, I think it's pretty clear that no one has the whole story on this situation yet, including Abby and her family.

Ketchuplover

Friday, January 25, 2002 - 12:55 am Click here to edit this post
Here come the judge. Here come the judge. Order in the court cuz here come the judge :) Sorry,I couldn't resist

Babyruth

Friday, January 25, 2002 - 06:54 am Click here to edit this post
judge Here Come Da Judge!
Just for you, Ketchuplover

Ketchuplover

Friday, January 25, 2002 - 08:55 am Click here to edit this post
hehehe thank you babyruth :) I forgot about DA

Max

Friday, January 25, 2002 - 09:39 am Click here to edit this post
LOL!

SEriously, though, any news about the situation, Abby? When all the arrests of former SLA members happened last week, I thought of this thread.