Warrant Leaves Md. Roofer Dazed, Jailed

Washington Post ^ | Sunday, July 25, 2004 | Paul Schwartzman

[glorgau]

All mine were arrests and not convictions. ;-)

Probably have a ton of parking tickets somewhere.

[cinFLA]

This same thing is happening to me. ... This is not justice. This is despotism.

You mean you were sentence to a fine and probation and they ran without paying either?

[FoxPro]

I ended up in jail several times in my youth. I hope there are none of these waiting out there for me.

If you ever go back to where you grew up. Drive very carefully. As soon as a cop says "can I see your license" things can really go bad. Better yet, just stay away.

[FoxPro]

You mean you were sentence to a fine and probation and they ran without paying either?

Now, what I am saying is that they should have thrown me in jail 20 years ago, when I deserved it.

I should go to jail in my 40's, just because your computer system didnt work as well in my teens? Please. I am a completly different person now. I have raised a whole family in the meantime.

[SAJ]

I'd be quite shocked if your state had no statute of limitations on misdemeanor petty theft (it **was** a petty amount under the then-statutory limit, wasn't it?). Easiest question in the world to answer, either by your attorney, a PD, or a little work on Lexis or WestLaw.

[FoxPro]

I'd be quite shocked if your state had no statute of limitations on misdemeanor petty theft

There is no statute of limitations on probation violations in most states. A judge can throw you in jail for a violation when you were 18 when you are 95 years old. Go figure.

[SAJ]

Sorry, it wasn't clear to me that your situation involved probation. It is now. The judge is a horse's ass.

[tracer]

FoxPro hasn't created an about page

No wonder..... 8~)

[steplock]

Back on Christmas Eve 1975, I was hauled into Federal District Court for a parking ticket that I received on a "federal reservation" (govt facilities).

The judge was nice enough to ONLY charge me $100 (quite a bit for an E-4/Cpl) and threaten me with the rest of the "normal" fine if he saw me again.

Well, in March 1976 (3 months later) I got another ticket. Luckily, I had orders, so I skipped the state and went to my next duty station.

Believe it or not - I still worry about getting arrested for that parking ticket since that judge (aka scumbag-lawyer) probably issued a warrant for me 28 years ago!

[yarddog]

I agree that a minor offense committed many years ago should not result in an arrest and imprisonment.

Now murder or something similar is a different thing.

[FoxPro]

Believe it or not - I still worry about getting arrested for that parking ticket since that judge (aka scumbag-lawyer) probably issued a warrant for me 28 years ago!

Dude, your in trouble. I helped write these computer systems. You may be arrested after scanning your discount card at the local grocery store. It is getting that bad.

[BlazingArizona]

So you believe that criminals should not be punished?

Mmmmm - boot leather tastes great, doesn't it?

[cinFLA]

"So you believe that criminals should not be punished?"

Mmmmm - boot leather tastes great, doesn't it?

That is one dumb response.

[cinFLA]

I agree that a minor offense committed many years ago should not result in an arrest and imprisonment.

He was a vagrant that lived by stealing. He didn't pay the fine and violated probation. After he left he was involved in several non-minor offenses.

[cinFLA]

The judge is a horse's ass.

Don't you believe that one should serve his sentence?

[Axenolith]

Who in the hell would use their real information on a store discount card???

[SAJ]

After 20-odd years, I don't really think it serves any public purpose to jail an otherwise productive citizen who has not fallen afoul of the legal system since the original offence (in this case, of a probation violation). One must ask about the incompetence of the court and probation system that NO (evidently) effective attempt was made to find the probation violator after 3 months, 6 months, a year, 2 years, etc. Certainly, one can see exceptions here; had the person left the state, committed sundry other crimes, then returned to the original sentencing jurisdiction after X years, why I'd absolutely lock him up.

Not, however, in a case with the facts as presented (no bet if the facts as stated aren't facts at all).

[FoxPro]

Who in the hell would use their real information on a store discount card???

Good point!