Free Clarence Aaron

The Washington Times ^ | 11-30-04 | Debra Saunders

[JZelle]

The small joys of life when you live freely: walking into your kitchen for that first cup of coffee, driving down a curvy back road with no other cars in sight, choosing what you'll fix yourself for dinner. We take for granted these small freedoms -- yet they are freedoms we should value and recognize. A just society does not yank these rights from a young man for the rest of his life for a petty crime. The United States of America did just that when a federal court in Alabama sentenced Clarence Aaron to life without parole for a first-time non-violent drug conviction. He was 22 years old when he hooked up two dealers for two drug deals; they paid him $1,500. He has been in prison for 11 years, and he will die behind bars unless President Bush commutes his sentence.

[TXBSAFH]

If you can't do the time don't do the crime.

[TChris]

Eleven years sounds reasonable for being involved in drug trafficking, IMO. Where's the matching concern for the frequently lifetime addicts buying these drugs?

[Mr. K]

I normally tend to say 'fry them' in cases like this- but if the facts are true and she IS NOT LEAVING ANYTHING OUT (she can thank Dan Rather and others for my skepticism) then this man deserves a second look.

[pissant]

24, 15 or 9kg of coke is a lot. What is Alabama's sentence range for being a major drug dealer and lying in court?

[cvq3842]

Seems like people form different opinions of this based on what details they focus on. Certainly reading the first paragraph can evoke sympathy for this person. maybe, just maybe, if that were the only consideration then people would favor clemency; I don't know. (I didn't read the whole thing.)

But focus on what effect the sentence, or granting clemency, in this case would have on the NEXT 100 people considering this crime? I bet it would deter them if they knew the punishment.

Even beyond this case, I think that principle is at work, to society's detriment. A different example: unwed motherhood. Many people felt it was a shame how unwed mothers were stigmatized, and maybe it was excessive say, 40 years ago. I don't know - I am not old enough to remember. But reducing the stigma so greatly not only makes life easier for the poor iunfortunate person trapped in that saituation, but makes the choice of that liefestyle an easier one to make in the future for many more.

Just some thoughts. I don't know if they make a lot of sense.

I have to get back to work!

:)

[Sam the Sham]

Not 11 years. Life without parole.

And the only reason he got such a harsh sentence is because not being a professional criminal, he didn't know the ropes and had nothing to bargain with.

[TXBSAFH]

As far as I am concerned this drug dealer is gettign what he deserves.

[gotmatt]

The time should fit the crime


Would you lock up for life in your house your own kid for or coming home drunk? high? and then have to pay for them until you die, everything they need? FOREVER? for a one time offense? come ooonnnn. 50% of criminals are in jail for nonviolent drug charges. that is a lot of people who need help with addiction, not to be put in the same cell with to a child-molestor or a murderer.

[TXBSAFH]

I think dealing drug warrents this punishment.

[gotmatt]

then lock up 80% of the highschool in your neighbourhood. that's how many kids there have tried marijuana at least once.

[TChris]

Not 11 years. Life without parole.

Sorry, my bad. Geez! I'm on a roll today. :-(

[BOBWADE]

Why have laws at all, we should just start letting people do whatever they want. Drugs, Assault,Robbery, Murder, anything goes I guess?

[frannie]

The Smith woman here in the Carolinas received 20 years and is able to be paroled sooner with good conduct and she murdered her two beautiful boys.

I agree with you, if the reporting is correct, this is an outlandish sentence.

Frannie

[Poohbah]

The local U.S. attorney charged Aaron with dealing in crack because one dealer converted the cocaine he got to crack. The court also convicted Aaron for drugs that never traded hands, as one of the dealers robbed the other. Hence, while 9 kilograms of cocaine were traded, Aaron is serving time for 24 kilograms of crack.

20 f***ing pounds of nose candy?

Aaron also made the mistake of pleading not guilty and perjuring himself in court, which enhanced his sentence.

A "mistake" is something like using the wrong fork at dinner. Perjuring yourself while on trial for a serious felony isn't a "mistake."

[dead]

"He got a longer sentence than he would have got had he hijacked an airplane, had he detonated a bomb in a public place, had he committed second-degree murder or had he raped a 10-year-old child."

That's just sick.

[BOBWADE]

"Aaron also made the mistake of pleading not guilty and perjuring himself in court, which enhanced his sentence."
"Aaron now admits his guilt"
Sounds like he knew he was guilty and took a chance at lying under oath to the courts to try to weasel his way out of trouble. Sounds like he either got bad legal advice or thought he was OJ or something.

[Little Pig]

The answer is not to reduce this clown's sentence, it's to lengthen the sentences of violent criminals.

[BOBWADE]

But he chose to go to trial and commit purgery rather than plea bargain. He would have gotten off fairly easy had he admitted his guilt and taken a plea arrangement. Instead he thumbed his nose at society and tried to avoid being accountable for his own actions. Sounds like he got smacked down pretty good but he brought it upon himself.

[Ignatius J Reilly]

Or contrariwise, lets just execute all convicted felons, any felony, sure would cut down on crime.

I though one of the purposes of prison sentences is rehabilitating the offender to return to society. I don't want MY tax money to keep this guy locked up for the rest of his life. 11 years seems sufficient