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No prison time for man who paralyzed victim with punches
Chicago Tribune ^ | 8/1313 | Alicia Fabbre

Posted on 08/13/2013 5:54:16 PM PDT by Nachum

A New Lenox man found guilty of throwing punches that left his victim paralyzed, blind and unable to speak was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months of probation and ordered to turn over the $20,000 his family put up for his bond to the victim's mother.

Joseph Messina, 25, faced up to 10 years in prison, but Will County Judge Sarah Jones said prosecutors failed to provide enough evidence to overcome the presumption of probation. Family members of Eric Bartels, the man left paralyzed by the punches, gasped when Jones said she was sentencing Messina to probation.

"I'm very disappointed with the sentence, and we believe there was sufficient evidence in the record to justify a prison sentence," Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said. "The injuries to Eric Bartels are a hair's breadth from murder.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: no; prison; punches; time
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1 posted on 08/13/2013 5:54:16 PM PDT by Nachum
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To: Nachum

In a just world they would have cut his spinal cord, his vocal cords and sewn his eyelids shut. The punishment would fit the crime.


2 posted on 08/13/2013 5:57:14 PM PDT by null and void (Frequent terrorist attacks OR endless government snooping and oppression? Soon we'll have both!)
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To: Nachum

So where’s the rest of the story here? Such as, are the perp’s parents contributors to the campaigns of the judge or other local politicians?


3 posted on 08/13/2013 5:59:12 PM PDT by Arthurio
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To: Nachum

Is it legal to take the bond money put up by his family? Doesn’t seem like it should be.

Not saying the guy is innocent or anything, just wondering about private property, confiscation, etc.


4 posted on 08/13/2013 6:01:00 PM PDT by Born to Conserve
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To: Nachum

I know how my family would respond.


5 posted on 08/13/2013 6:01:04 PM PDT by gotribe (Vladimir Putin is MY President)
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To: null and void

With the cost of housing people in prisons so outlandishly overpriced the best thing is extended probation. The state brings money in for cost of supervision fees. It is all about revenue and those guaranteed pension funds.


6 posted on 08/13/2013 6:03:27 PM PDT by bigheadfred (INFIDEL)
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To: Nachum
Joseph Messina is such a charming addition to the human race.
7 posted on 08/13/2013 6:03:56 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Revenge is a dish best served with pinto beans and muffins)
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To: null and void

I am pretty sure they would do that very thing in Saudi Arabia.


8 posted on 08/13/2013 6:04:50 PM PDT by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory)
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To: Arthurio

It’s Chicago.

We’re always reading about how Chicago is dealing harshly with narcotics trafficking, and arresting or curtailing Mexican cartels.

What you’re not reading is how the Rioja family is protected by the police from out of town drug traffickers. Why? Because the Riojas, who’ve been dealing drugs in Chicago since the 1960s, are tight with the local Democrats - that’s why.

You can bet that the Messina family is in tight with the Democrats of Chicago.


9 posted on 08/13/2013 6:06:16 PM PDT by SatinDoll (NATURAL BORN CITIZEN: BORN IN THE USA OFCITIZEN PARENTS)
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To: bk1000

Not if the victim were a kafir.


10 posted on 08/13/2013 6:09:04 PM PDT by null and void (Frequent terrorist attacks OR endless government snooping and oppression? Soon we'll have both!)
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To: Nachum

He looks so nice in that picture...

I’d love to see his mugshot.


11 posted on 08/13/2013 6:10:49 PM PDT by esoxmagnum (The rats have been trained to pull the D voting lever to get their little food pellet)
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To: Nachum

Well, THAT will teach him!


12 posted on 08/13/2013 6:12:33 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Inside every liberal and WOD defender is a totalitarian screaming to get out.)
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To: bk1000

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2302742/Saudi-man-paralysed-best-friend-knife-attack-threatened-having-spinal-cord-cut-eye-eye-punishment.html

I’m not sure what the final disposition of the case was.


13 posted on 08/13/2013 6:13:19 PM PDT by pluvmantelo (A Greenie is one distraught knowing that somewhere, someone is living above subsistence level.)
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To: Nachum

I blame the judge for this: Will County Judge Sarah Jones.

I tried to find a photo of her. Curious what she looks like. But there doesn’t seem to be one on the internet.


14 posted on 08/13/2013 6:25:49 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Nachum

I’ve never heard the term “presumption of probation”. That is ludicrous.


15 posted on 08/13/2013 6:26:11 PM PDT by andyk (I have sworn...eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.)
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To: Nachum

Leftists feel much more sympathy for the criminals than for their victims


16 posted on 08/13/2013 6:28:14 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Nachum

This is why we ended up with mandatory minimum sentences. The judiciary is a joke.


17 posted on 08/13/2013 6:34:12 PM PDT by wmfights
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To: Nachum
Messina also must complete 250 hours of community service. Jones also ordered Bartels not to drink any alcohol while on probation and noted that a 180-day county jail sentence could be imposed if he breaks his probation agreement.

Someone buy that man a beer!

18 posted on 08/13/2013 6:36:34 PM PDT by null and void (Frequent terrorist attacks OR endless government snooping and oppression? Soon we'll have both!)
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To: Nachum

This freakin’ loser should do some hard time. WTF.


19 posted on 08/13/2013 6:39:10 PM PDT by Sheapdog (Chew the meat, spit out the bones - FUBO - Come and get me)
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To: Nachum
Will County Judge Sarah Jones said prosecutors failed to provide enough evidence to overcome the presumption of probation.

Huh? "Presumption of probabtion"? WTF is that?

20 posted on 08/13/2013 6:42:29 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Play the 'Knockout Game' with someone owning a 9mm and you get what you deserve)
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