Probation for Murder

The Dallas Morning News has done some excellent work over the past few days in highlighting cases where convicted murderers walked (or in one case) rolled free with probation.

The first story is here.

The second story can be found here.

It's a great job of reporting, but I can't find on the website who the reporter is. Whoever it is... kudos.

Two Years For Shooting Friend in the Face

Friends don't let friends shoot friends in the face. And prosecutors shouldn't let 19-year olds who steal their father's pistol walk away with a maximum sentence of two years behind bars.

11 Years For Murder

From Classical Values comes the story of an alleged cop killer who already had a murderous past.

After a hot pursuit by police Tuesday night across downtown Philadelphia, the body of Jerome Whitaker, 29, was hauled from the river about 3 a.m. today, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office said.

Court records show that Whitaker pleaded guilty to murder in the 1994 shooting of Michelle Cutner, 6, his South Philadelphia neighbor. His lawyer maintained that Whitaker fired into an unoccupied vehicle in revenge for an earlier quarrel and accidentally hit the girl, who was playing outside.

Whitaker served 11 years in state prison before being paroled in July 2006. He was arrested four months ago on drug charges and recommitted to prison for violating parole. He was released last month when the underlying charges were withdrawn.

11 years for the murder of a 6-year old child? I'd call that a pretty good deal for the defendant. Not so good a deal for the rest of us.

Six Years for Murder

In Peoria.

At least she'll be testifying against the other defendants in the case. But if she's so innocent (as she's maintained), why is it the police found out about her through the cell phone she left at the scene, rather than her calling 911 to report the crime?

15 Days for Assault

Back in 2005, Joel Olavarria-Rivera copped a plea deal with prosecutors over an assault on his girlfriend. He served a whopping 15 days.

Now he's been charged with her murder.

Ten Years for Attempted Murder

In Michigan.

A Flint man who told an exotic dancer to close her eyes so he could give her a Sweetest Day gift but instead bashed her head in with a hammer pleaded to an assault charge.

Austin M. Schmidt, 21, faces prison when sentenced Dec. 4 before Genesee Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah.

Schmidt pleaded no contest today to assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony.


He was originally charged with assault with intent to murder, a life felony, in the Oct. 22, 2006 assault on Abbie VanAmburg.

...

At an earlier hearing, VanAmburg, 23, said she was severely beaten with a hammer, receiving more than 30 blows to her head and arm that required 25 staples in her head and 50 stitches on her face and arm.

She said about 30 of those stitches were required to reattach her left ear, which was nearly severed in the attack.

And he'll most likely be out of prison before he's 30. Lovely.

A History of Injustice

Just check out the partial criminal history of this guy:

- 7 1/2 years of a 14-year manslaughter plea.

- 5 months of a 16-month sentence for fighting cops.

And now he's facing charges of third degree robbery. I guess the good news is he's been downgrading his crimes. Bad news is he'll probably get off with yet another slap on the wrist for this nonviolent offense.