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Judge sentences Special Forces vet, spends night in jail with him
Fox News ^ | April 22, 2016 | AP

Posted on 04/23/2016 10:47:55 AM PDT by jazusamo

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – A North Carolina judge sent a retired Special Forces sergeant to jail for violating probation — then spent the night in the cell with him.

News media outlets report Joe Serna, 41, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after three tours in Afghanistan, was diverted to Cumberland County Veterans Court after being charged with driving under the influence and other traffic offenses.

The court is designed to help troubled veterans avoid jail time and get the help they need. Serna was told to stay sober and return to the court every two weeks.

But when he appeared before Judge Lou Olivera, a Gulf War veteran, on April 12, Serna said he admitted that he had lied to the court and that his last urinalysis had been positive.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: jail; joeserna; judge; northcarolina; veterans
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Congratulations to this compassionate judge, hopefully it will help this retired Special Forces sergeant.
1 posted on 04/23/2016 10:47:56 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

Perfect.


2 posted on 04/23/2016 10:50:43 AM PDT by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: jazusamo

thanks Judge Olivera for helping your brother Sgt. Serna. it’s nice to be able to say—your honor—and mean it for a change. may God bless you both.


3 posted on 04/23/2016 11:01:51 AM PDT by dadfly
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To: jazusamo

Bravo!


4 posted on 04/23/2016 11:05:55 AM PDT by optiguy
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To: jazusamo

If the judge hadn’t been a vet himself you can rest assured he would have gotten a couple weeks in the can. Good for the judge. I like the idea of the veterans courts.

http://abc11.com/news/judge-sentences-war-vet-then-spends-the-night-in-jail/1303652/


5 posted on 04/23/2016 11:12:04 AM PDT by NKP_Vet (In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle,stand like a rock ~ T, Jefferson)
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To: NKP_Vet

Thanks for the link, that’s an excellent video.


6 posted on 04/23/2016 11:20:10 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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Please bump the Freepathon or click above to donate or become a monthly donor!

7 posted on 04/23/2016 11:22:03 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: jazusamo

wow.. like this a lot


8 posted on 04/23/2016 11:23:02 AM PDT by DollyCali
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To: jazusamo

Judge Lou Olivera should be immediately put in charge of overhauling the VA.


9 posted on 04/23/2016 11:23:31 AM PDT by outofsalt ( I identify as a Cruz supporter)
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To: jazusamo

Awesome man...


10 posted on 04/23/2016 11:38:52 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway - "Enjoy Yourself" ala Louis Prima)
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To: NKP_Vet

“I like the idea of veterans courts”.
Upon separation from the military are not veterans citizens just like all other citizens? Do they deserve some special consideration? Yes they do. But not their own court system.


11 posted on 04/23/2016 11:42:07 AM PDT by certrtwngnut
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To: NKP_Vet

Yup, vet courts are great as are courts for the mentally impaired. Way past due.

Veterans Courts
Resource Guide

http://www.ncsc.org/topics/problem-solving-courts/veterans-court/resource-guide.aspx


12 posted on 04/23/2016 11:57:51 AM PDT by huldah1776 ( Vote Pro-life! Allow God to bless America before He avenges the death of the innocent.)
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To: NKP_Vet

I don’t care for the idea of a “separate but equal” court - whether for veterans, minorities, or any other niche group. But I also understand how F’d up our culture is and how difficult it is to receive justice anymore. And for that reason I appreciate this alternative to the wood-chipper that is our court system.


13 posted on 04/23/2016 12:06:40 PM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
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To: jazusamo

Dang, wow.....that is pretty righteous..!


14 posted on 04/23/2016 12:20:42 PM PDT by gaijin
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To: outofsalt
Judge Lou Olivera should be immediately put in charge of overhauling the VA.

Good idea. I hope someone from the Trump team is reading this thread.

15 posted on 04/23/2016 12:41:27 PM PDT by Fast Moving Angel (It is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization gone with the wind.)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: jazusamo; certrtwngnut
Hand salute followed by a standing ovation.
*****

cert:
Do they deserve some special consideration? Yes they do. But not their own court system.

"Serna, 41, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after three tours in Afghanistan"

We have family courts, juvenile courts, maritime courts, the list goes on.

Yet you do not believe that those who in the course of serving our nation may have suffered combat-related physical, mental or emotional damage which may later diminish their ability to adhere to the law deserve a court that is attuned to their special circumstances.

Polite words fail me at this point.

17 posted on 04/23/2016 1:17:16 PM PDT by frog in a pot (That our Commander-in-Chief can be foreign born to a foreign father thrills the one-worlders.)
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To: frog in a pot

I apologize.
When you put it in those terms you are right. I did not see it that way at first glance.


18 posted on 04/23/2016 2:30:02 PM PDT by certrtwngnut
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To: frog in a pot; certrtwngnut

Thanks to you both for explaining and seeing the light.

This is what FR is about.


19 posted on 04/23/2016 3:03:36 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: certrtwngnut
Yes they do. But not their own court system.

I respect that comment. Judging by your home site, your self absorbance in your automobiles obviously takes preference over our veterans.......nice.

20 posted on 04/23/2016 3:08:50 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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