Did this man get too much time?
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Too much time. While it is possibly true that he could "always be a threat to the peace of the community", I find this sentence RIDICULOUS. Our justice system is that you are innocent until proven guilty, isn't it? (edit, I'm assuming this is Fort Worth, Texas...right?) .He definitely deserves to pay for his actions that he DID do, but a life sentence on the premise that he might commit another crime in the future is absurd.0
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A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?
This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.
Jeebus, what is this, Minority Report?! There was a threat of violence, that is often enough for a heavy sentence but honestly I think murderers, child killers and rapists get less time that this. It ought to be relative - They should get more, he should get marginally less because while there was a threat of violence nobody was actually killed.
I agree 100% (nice reference, btw).
The punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed.
It is.
The guy went from business to business, robbing them at gunpoint.
He literally pointed a gun at people and demanded that they open cash registers and give him money. He did this nine times.
On the last robbery, when he noticed someone was chasing him and his accomplice, he or his accomplice opened fire.
The guy also has three prior assault convictions and a fourth pending in court.
This is a man with a significant history of violence who held nine people at gunpoint over the course of a few days. In Texas. Who then gave his sentence up to a jury.
Oh Jonny, you're just lucky you're pretty.0 -
Career criminal POS. Glad he's gone forever. We need more of this type of sentencing.0
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While I believe his sentence is harsh, I don't think it is too much time. As other's have said, murderers and rapists get less time. That is the true crime. If we actually start punishing criminals harshly instead of giving them club med, maybe some of the crime rates will go down.
No, not too much time and I hope other states follow suit and start being harsher0 -
Too much time. While it is possibly true that he could "always be a threat to the peace of the community", I find this sentence RIDICULOUS. Our justice system is that you are innocent until proven guilty, isn't it? He definitely deserves to pay for his actions that he DID do, but a life sentence on the premise that he might commit another crime in the future is absurd.
Is that what the jury said?0 -
A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?
This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.
Jeebus, what is this, Minority Report?! There was a threat of violence, that is often enough for a heavy sentence but honestly I think murderers, child killers and rapists get less time that this. It ought to be relative - They should get more, he should get marginally less because while there was a threat of violence nobody was actually killed.
I agree 100% (nice reference, btw).
The punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed.
It is.
The guy went from business to business, robbing them at gunpoint.
He literally pointed a gun at people and demanded that they open cash registers and give him money. He did this nine times.
On the last robbery, when he noticed someone was chasing him and his accomplice, he or his accomplice opened fire.
The guy also has three prior assault convictions and a fourth pending in court.
This is a man with a significant history of violence who held nine people at gunpoint over the course of a few days. In Texas. Who then gave his sentence up to a jury.
I agree with you in that the crimes were heinous, but nine life sentences is overkill.
Questions to consider:
Is this punishment in line with average sentences for similar crimes in other states?
What is the average sentence for armed robbery in the state of Texas?0 -
definitely deserves time in prison but some murderers and rapists get off almost scott free comparitvely speaking.0
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Wasn't there a really sh*tty Tom Cruise movie that charged people for future crimes?? We should clearly go on that.0
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I think in this day and age we know enough about violent crimes and the people who commit them, and how they go on to do worse I dont think that some one needs to BE dead before some one goes to prison for it. I think that a tough sentence such as this is warented. No one will suffer at the hands of this person ever again. How many lives have already been ruined?? YES THIS PERSON SHOULD BE BEHIND BARS FOR EVER!
Wow, so he will never change?0 -
yes0
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It sounds harsh, but aggravated robbery in a pizza hut? a food chain where family's go? on numerous occasions? maybe I am abit old fashioned but if you put any children in danger you deserve all you get.
and his record justifies the sentencing, he is a danger inside so surely he is a danger outside too, I wish in the UK we would be harsher on thugs like that.0 -
Career criminal POS. Glad he's gone forever. We need more of this type of sentencing.
So you are up for higher taxes to pay for the increased prison population?0 -
he doesnt even deserve 1- if he didnt kill anybody0
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Wasn't there a really sh*tty Tom Cruise movie that charged people for future crimes?? We should clearly go on that.
Minority Report;) Thanks Shredded Tweet!0 -
The guy committed 9 armed robberies. hmmmmmmmmm..........................................he was armed, because??? Had a gun??? Was convicted of a of a at least one prior offense so here is a felon with a gun. Back ground checks??? hmmmmmmmm..........violent while incarcerated??? hmmmmmm........................
You look at this guy's history, and the current crimes he's admitted and therefore been convicted of and you ask if the sentence is extreme?
Have you ever heard of anyone leaving prison that's been rehabilitated?? Not me.
I'd give him consecutive prison sentences rather than concurrent sentences.
Yes, I know a lot of people who have been "rehabilitated." You just don't hear about those people.0 -
Wasn't there a really sh*tty Tom Cruise movie that charged people for future crimes?? We should clearly go on that.
Minority Report;) Thanks Shredded Tweet!
Great minds OdusGulp!
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I think we'd need to read all the court documents and see all the evidence that the jury had available to even make an informed opinon here.0
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This, if the DOC would pull their heads :explode: .....wait you said respectable :grumble: .... ok let me reloadSounds to me like they're punishing him for crimes he hasn't committed (yet), as opposed to the crimes he already did... which doesn't sit well with me at all.
The DOC should put more emphasis and use a little more of the funds it has on making an "honest" and "dilligent" attempt to re-direct these kids (because that's what he is a kid) give them the "opportunity for a second chance" I say that sarcastically becasue our 8th district has that on a poster in thier office, I'd love to spit on that poster. Its a big juicy lie.
They push them through the system, do what the paperwork says they have to do, and that's it.
Prevent employee burnout and don't have Parole officers serving for 30 years....they are de-sensitized to new people and situations, put people in there who truly want to make a difference. Not everyone in jail/prision is a bad person, they just need that "opportunity" sometimes.
Eh..
Completely agree, with both of you.0 -
Former criminal defense attorney here...from the facts you have stated, I think its fine*. They are punishing him for what he did do, not what he might do.
As far as this...
3. I have read about murderers getting less time then he has.
Its not a comparative thing. Each system has sentencing guidelines which dictate how much time each crime gets (a base offense level), and then many many other factors are taken into account (both mitigating and aggravating) - like criminal history, whether a firearm was involved, whether the defendant is remorseful, etc etc. There is a numerical calculation - starting with the base offense level, and then increasing or decreasing based on the other factors, that gives you the sentence range. So you cannot compare by saying murderers get less...its a case by case basis determined by numerous factors, and each jurisdiction has its own set of sentencing guidelines. Furthermore, each charge carries its own sentence...you may not think 9 life sentences is fair, but he committed 9 crimes, each of which carries a sentence.
*I also don't think it makes sense for people to judge criminal sentences...aside from the fact that generally lay people do not know how the law, people in the field, myself included, don't pass judgment like this because we do not have all the information. I wasn't in the courtroom, I haven't seen the evidence, I don't know.0 -
Depends on what the end goal is: Restitution, Punishment, Incapacitation or Rehabilitation.
It sounds like the prosecutor had incapacitation in mind. I'm not sure that was warranted in this case.
Rehabilitation should always be the goal. It does not sound likely at this time. His character is too volatile.
The reason that some people take smaller punishments for seemingly bigger crimes often has to do with their character (or perceived character) and circumstance. A woman who murders her abusive spouse is not as likely to kill anyone else as a teenager who shoots someone for looking at him the wrong way.
Money, unfortunately, also tends to be a factor. Look at all the celebrities who get ridiculously long/short sentences because the judge wanted to make an example of them, or because the right person got their pockets lined.0 -
My opinion is biased since i live and raise kids in FW, and dont commit armed robberies, but im gonna say 'No, it is not too much time.'0
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The sentences are running concurrently, which means he only got one life sentence. And I have heard of other armed robbers receiving a life sentence so, in my personal opinion, no... the jury was fair and just in their decision.
Remember that a life sentence equates to like 30 years so if he is a young guy, he will get out in plenty of time to live a normal life. The problem is usually, by the time they are released, guys like him have no idea how to live a normal life.0 -
Sounds to me like they're punishing him for crimes he hasn't committed (yet), as opposed to the crimes he already did... which doesn't sit well with me at all.
And yet they do it all the time. Why else would they take flight risk in to consideration when discussing bail? ("He HASN'T run before, but he MIGHT...") The justice system isn't always black and white, there are things to consider such as criminal history (which this guy had) and believe it or not, even likelihood to break the law again factors in.
It sounds like 9 life sentences was extreme, but none of us were on that jury, and they didn't come to that determination on the fly. There most likely was more evidence that the press hasn't yet/won't/can't release that made the jury ask for the maximum sentence.0 -
I think the punishment is suffice. Even though it didn't say it in the story, chances are he had a stolen gun. Any violent crime committed with a stolen gun will generally yield a VERY harsh sentence. You can't legally buy a gun if you have an arrest history (which he did), so I'm assuming it's stolen.
Chances are he had the option for a guilty plea, but didn't take it.0 -
Not sure what I think. Not enough info to go on. Just because murderers and pedophiles get less time doesn't mean he shouldn't be punished less severely, it just means that they should be punished more severely. I don't know if multiple life sentences are warranted in this specific case. I do know that my first impulse is to say that if someone ever put a gun in my wife's face for any reason, I would want that person in prison for the rest of their life, or worse. But admittedly, that's a knee-jerk reaction. It's a complex issue to be sure.0
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In Canada he would have gotten community service.0
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I think there has to be WAY more detail to this story than this short article provides. Based on the article, sure, it does kind of sound like the sentence was too severe. BUT if he threatened people's lives, held them hostage or performed any many or ofher horrid activities during these robberies the sentence may very well be justified. Really hard to say without hearing the whole story.0
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Too often those rehabilitated ARE NOT KNOWN BUT those who are REPEATED OFFENDERS ARE!
More times than not their last ACTS ARE CRIMINAL ---- EVEN DEADLY!!
Although, he didn't shoot or physically harm any one...He had the means too! Thankfully....he wasn't pushed that far!
Having said....His punishment FIT EACH ROBBERY.....HE WAS ARMED! Seemingly harsh but reasonably suited because of the potential that EACH ROBBERY could have escalated ---my 2 cents (smiles)The guy committed 9 armed robberies. hmmmmmmmmm..........................................he was armed, because??? Had a gun??? Was convicted of a of a at least one prior offense so here is a felon with a gun. Back ground checks??? hmmmmmmmm..........violent while incarcerated??? hmmmmmm........................
You look at this guy's history, and the current crimes he's admitted and therefore been convicted of and you ask if the sentence is extreme?
Have you ever heard of anyone leaving prison that's been rehabilitated?? Not me.
I'd give him consecutive prison sentences rather than concurrent sentences.
Yes, I know a lot of people who have been "rehabilitated." You just don't hear about those people.
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The sentences are running concurrently, which means he only got one life sentence. And I have heard of other armed robbers receiving a life sentence so, in my personal opinion, no... the jury was fair and just in their decision.
Remember that a life sentence equates to like 30 years so if he is a young guy, he will get out in plenty of time to live a normal life. The problem is usually, by the time they are released, guys like him have no idea how to live a normal life.
Yes to the first part, in practice he is only serving one life sentence. But on the second part, it depends on the jurisdiction - there is no parole in my state so a life sentence literally means a life sentence, you are there till you die. Most jurisdictions are moving towards this.0 -
And most people convicted of first degree murder DO get life sentences. I bet Jodi Arias gets the electric chair in less than 10 years.0
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