Oklahoma mother gets 10 years for $31 marijuana sale

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

(CBS) - A $31 marijuana sale has landed 25-year-old Oklahoma mother of four Patricia Spottedcrow and a grandmother 10 years in prison.

Police say Spottedcrow and her 50-year-old mother Delita Starr sold $11 worth of pot to an undercover cop at her home in 2009 on New Year's Eve, according to The Oklahoman. Two weeks later, the cop came back and bought $20 worth of marijuana.

Both women were arrested and charged with drug distribution. And since Spottedcrow's children were present in the home during the drug deal, the pair was also charged with possession of a dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, according to the paper.

The Oklahoman reports that prosecutors tried to cut a deal, but both women decided to plead guilty and take their chances with the judge, since they had no prior convictions.

But the judge threw the book at them and sentenced them to 10 years in prison.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20035294-504083.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

[AKDavy]

1. If they wanted to operate a criminal enterprise with impunity...

They should have gone into banking

[theHandpuppet]

47. +1000!

:thumbsup:

[msanthrope]

57. .....they shouldn't have involved the kids in the drug deals.

One woman isn't going to jail at all, and the other is up for parole in three years.

Now, they were offered two-year deals, which isn't bad for dealing drugs in front of your kids and having them make change for your customers.

They walked away from these deals. Then the mother brought pot to court.

While I agree with most of the posters on this thread that the War on Drugs is mostly bullshit, I do agree with the court holding people accountable for putting their kids in danger. Drug dealing isn't something to be done in front of minor kids.

[Left_Is_Right]

59. I don't advocate drug use or sales...but....

I've got 10 bucks that says the cops KNEW the kids were there and WANTED to make the sale in front of the kids...if that's so...the cops are in my opinion complicite...

Here's the issue...it was pot...AND it was $31.00....wtf...they get jail...but wall street crooks bilked BILLIONS out of we the people...and they go without prosecution?....this punishment does NOT fit the crime...but like I said...just my opinion

Lefty

[SpiralHawk]

2. First the Sooners jump the gun and steal the land...

...now they further display their degenerate RepubliBagger sense of 'fairness' and 'justice' by condemning a mother to 10 years in the hole for having a bag of nature's own herb.

Real classy, Oklahmoma (R)...
:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. What a complete waste of money and effort by Oklahoma

Not to mention the complete destruction of a family.

[fasttense]

4. The war on drugs is nothing more than excuse to beef up the prison

industrial complex. Now there are 2 more healthy woman who can be made to work for free.

[Bragi]

22. They don't need free workers

They make their money just locking up living, breathing people.

[TheMadMonk]

35. They make their money "housing" the prisoners. They make their...

profits by giving those prisoners a choice between 23 hours a day lock down and a bare cell, or working for a tiny pittiance (as low as 10% of minimum wage I believe) that may be used to buy such luxuries as toothpase.

[Mulhane]

5. Meanwhile on Wall Street

The Fraudsters and Banksters get promoted for criminal activity. CIA in Afghanistan back to narco-entrepeneurship in billions. Yep, US "criminal justice" still status quo.

[Exultant Democracy]

6. Sounds to me like the judge is getting kick backs from the people running the privatized prisons

I'm guessing that it is probably a widespread practice in every state with privately owned prisons.

[Uncle Joe]

20. Do you mean like this one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4743733

[Exultant Democracy]

30. Yup, I'm pretty sure he is just the tip of the iceberg. Sooner or later we are going to find out

that it is everywhere. I have zero trust for the current judicial system. I seems to me that wide spread corruption is inevitable given the circumstances that inevitably come about due to the current state of the prison industrial complex.

[happyslug]

33. Sounds like the 1980s Cambria County PA OKicki Scandal

OKicki even made the Wall Street Journal. His scam was to sentenced people to the Maximum time in Jail, then visit them in Prison and tell them how much money they needed to raise so that when they Petition the court for a reduction of their Sentence, OKicki would then reduce the sentence, sometimes to time served. It was a good source of revenue for him. The problem was one of the convicts complained to the Federal Government who then contacted the State Attorney General who fearing the Feds would move and if the Fed did move against OKicki, the Feds would NOT restrict itself to OKicki. The story I heard (not confirmed) was that two other Judges were involved, one retired (And thus preserve his pension) the other stayed on the bench for the information on him was weak. All three had been former DAs in Cambria County. The next judge elected came out of the Public Defenders (But his family had been involved in the Courts of Cambria County for at least 50 years, no hint of corruption was ever associated with him). The next three Judges elected after the Public Defender were ex-DAs (The Fifth Judge, the first female Judge, had worked in the Public Defenders office).

As to OKicki's name he was of Slovenian descent so it is OKicki NOT O'Kicki.

[ensho]

7. this is terrible. the judge should be investigated

hope people have the women's back

[msanthrope]

53. Why? It was a fair sentence.

One didn't go to jail at all, (suspended) the other is probably going to serve about three years---

You do realize that was dealing drugs in front of her kids, right? And that she took pot with her to court? I mean, when you have your kid make change for your drug customers, I can tell you that most judges throw the book at you.

[CanonRay]

8. Assinine use of our prison facilities

but it's no wonder, she's Native American in Oklahoma

[jmowreader]

43. Yeah, that's what I was thinking...

We're talking about what, three joints?

The problem is this: Because Marihuana is supposed to be a drug as dangerous and life-sapping as Meth, Crack, Cocaine or Heroin, this lady would have gotten a disproportionate sentence no matter her ethnicity. Oh, and she sold drugs with her children in the house--whether the children even knew there were Dangerous Evil Life Sapping Drugs in the house is not known, but in today's "think of the children first!" environment it doesn't matter.

[catrose]

9. Who's going to care for the children?

Family values, anyone?

[Recursion]

23. Their grandmother (defendant's mom)

The DA explained it in a longer article we had a thread about a few days ago; that's why the grandmother only got probation.

This woman had her kids bring the change when she sold to the sting. And she brought pot with her to court. When an unjust law meets a stupid person...

[Le Taz Hot]

42. Stupid doesn't warrent

10 years in prison. Not when the Enron execs walked away from ripping off people's LIFE SAVINGS worth BILLIONS . When the law is applied equally, then we can look at punitive damages for someone selling $31.00 worth of ganja. Big picture here.

[msanthrope]

56. Dealing drugs in front of your kids? Having your kid make change for your customers?

Bringing pot to court? Turning down a 2-year plea deal?

This level of stupid will get you prison.

[Blue Owl]

10. End the war on some drugs

That judge is sure looking out for the best interest of the country -- 10 years in prison for some organic plant matter, thank god the streets are safe.

:sarcasm:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. private prison industries....investigate the judge

[davidthegnome]

12. Bizarre

Ten years - with no priors? For.... 31 bucks worth of pot?

In that position I probably would have taken my chances with the judge as well - not expecting him or her to be a complete lunatic.

The war on drugs has always been a farce, but this is a grave and terrible injustice committed against those who have little to defend themselves, it sickens me. If anyone should rot in prison, it's that blasted judge.

[Haole Girl]

13. While child rapists get probation

You want a link? Here's the first one that came up:

Oklahoma Man Gets Probation for Vicious Rape of Six-Year-Old Girl

What happened to Jessica’s Law?

Muskogee – A child rapist has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to raping a six-year-old girl.

Forty-four-year-old Vincent Martin LeCompte was charged with felony first-degree rape. As part of a plea agreement, LeCompte was handed a 20-year suspended sentence.

“We feel that justice has been served,” Adair County Assistant District Attorney Shannon Otteson told the Muskogee Phoenix. “The defendant admitted what he did and will serve under very, very stringent rules and restrictions of probation.”

If you can stomach reading the rest: http://www.red-alerts.com/crime-news/oklahoma-man-gets-probation-for-vicious-rape-of-six-year-old-girl

:grr:

[Mojeoux]

46. Boycott Oklahoma!!! HOW?????

Shameful sexist, foolish mean, barf inducing.

[Dogtown]

14. K&R n/t

[grasswire]

15. so Oklahoma taxpayers are going to pay $700,000 for $31 in pot

It will cost about $700,000 to keep the two in jail for ten years. To say nothing of the cost of foster care for the kids. Oklahoma must have lots of extra money to waste.

[boppers]

36. Did you read the story? I guess you didn't.

Only one went to jail, the grandmother got a suspended sentence, and the one who did go to jail is up for parole in 2014.

"Starr received a 30-year suspended sentence with no incarceration, but five years of drug and alcohol assessments. Spottedcrow was sentenced to 10 years in prison for distribution and two years for possession, to run concurrently. She will be up for parole in 2014."

...

"Former Kingfisher County Judge Susie Pritchett, who retired in December, said the women were conducting “an extensive operation” and included children in the business.
“It was a way of life for them,” Pritchett said.
“Considering these circumstances, I thought it was lenient. By not putting the grandmother in prison, she is able to help take care of the children.”
....

So, one person, three years, no foster care costs.


edit: word switch

[msanthrope]

54. Why brings facts into then thread when DU can have a rant?

She got a pretty good sentence.

Most judges tend to throw the book when you involve the kids in your drug dealing.

[defendandprotect]

16. We are all threatened by this Drug War farce -- end this Drug War now -- !!

[timtom]

48. +1000!!!

I won't go into the horrors my family members have endured at the hands of this insane, rapacious policy!

<ed. to fix a really stupid spelling error>

[Boswell]

17. well if the cop really did their jobs

they would have to arrest 3/4's of the other cops or more. much easier for them to bust grandmothers...

[Marnie]

18. I know of a case back inthe 70's in my home town in which

a father sodomized his 8 mth old son. His reason, as stated in court was that his wife was momentarily out of the house and he "wanted some."

The baby's colon was penetrated and shredded. It had to removed as the baby was bleeding to death and the tearing was so extensive the colon could not be repared.
So a 8 year old with a colectomy and external bag was going to have to be cared for, and would live out his entire life that way.

The father, a confessed rapist, sodomizer(illegal in Texas,)and child abuser was put on probation and allowed to return home to the other children and the 8 month old because he was the sole provider for the family. (Does anybody believe he did not rape his other children?)

A young mother commits a victimless crime and gets 10 years.

How does this come out as equal justice when it doesn't even make sense?

I do not support legalizing MJ for a variety of reasons but this sentence is abusive and will accomplish nothing.

10 days, counseling, and work in a drug abuse center makes a lot more sense and is a teaching moment for the mother and her children.

[Bragi]

24. What's that got to do with this case?

Seriously, when people here grab an anecdotal case about the courts being too lenient, I think they play into the hands of the right wingers.

The American prison and justice system is corrupt, but it sure isn't lenient to people who can't pay what it takes to get away with crime. It is idiotically harsh and punitive and stupid.

[Uncle Joe]

19. Stupid, unjust, dysfunctional, short sighted, draconian, immoral and downright evil laws.

Thanks for the thread,

[Recursion]

21. She took pot with her to court

When unjust laws and stupid people meet...

[KamaAina]

25. Incompetent counsel

What kind of attorney allows that to happen? Was he even awake?

[boppers]

37. They pled guilty, after rejecting a two-year plea bargain offer.

If it was a judge known for giving out light sentences, that would make sense, indeed, one of them got no actual jail time *at all*, and the other will be out in 3 years (if they can keep their act together).

I want to know what kind of editor allows reporting that as two ten year sentences.

[Haole Girl]

40. It's still a lot more time than many violent offenders. nt

[msanthrope]

55. Not incompetent counsel--incompetent clients.

They had a two-year plea on the table, and they walked from it.

The mother then brought pot to the court.

[KamaAina]

26. Perfect fodder for Colbert's "Nailed 'Em!"

[tabasco]

27. It's well past time we took to the streets like the Egyptians

and ended this tyrannical assault on harmless citizens.

[beevul]

28. Utterly ridiculous.

What kind of senseless heartless mindless SOB judge could hand down a verdict like this to a person like this, regardless of the mitigating circumstances?

[and-justice-for-all]

29. fucking absurd.....nt

[Dash87]

31. She should have beat the crap out of someone, or robbed a bank

The sentence would have been less. :eyes:

[TheDebbieDee]

32. This is what happens when there is a for-profit prison industry and

mandatory sentencing! You get endless cases of people getting stiff sentences for crimes in which probation is called for.

[alp227]

34. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA NOW! Meanwhile why aren't the political scam artists in jail yet?

I mean those who lost billions of dollars in Iraq?

[Juneboarder]

38. I'm glad I didn't bring my weed with me when I drove thru OK last...

[Telly Savalas]

39. You have to admire the patience and tenacity of the law enforcement officials here

Most police forces would have taken a shortcut and made the bust for the $11 transaction. The Kingfisher police force opted for a long play, and had an informant courageously risk his life to return to confront this criminal organization and go for the big $20 score.

Usually a bust of this scope requires careful coordination of local, state, and federal authorities, with months of surveillance and intelligence gathering. That the Kingfisher Police Department was able to pull this off without such support is a testament to their resourcefulness and hard work.

It's simply inexcusable that these efforts and sacrifices were wasted due to the light sentences given to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Shame!

[Le Taz Hot]

41. And the Banksters

are not only walking free but getting multi-million dollar bonuses to boot.

When do we reach critical mass?

[Critters2]

44. Oh, thank God! I feel safer already!

Just in case--> :sarcasm:

[City Lights]

45. The US justive system is FUBAR!

:argh:

[Vinca]

49. The "little people" go to jail. The wealthy criminals go to their yachts.

What a huge waste of tax dollars to send anyone to jail for such a piddling offense.

[dropkickpa]

51. It's the not white people they do this to

[WatsonT]

50. Well I feel safe now

that this monster is off the streets.

:eyes:

[tuckessee]

52. That's what happens when you elect frothing at the mouth anti-drug fanatics to the White House. n/t

[Glassunion]

58. Meanwhile we let violent criminals get out early because of over-population...

then they run out 3 weeks later and kill a police officer while robbing a bank.

Hint: If we don't convict people for $31 of pot, there would still be plenty of room in prisons. But no, we have to have no tolerance sentencing for drugs... Not for people who... I dunno... RUN AROUND FUCKING MURDERING PEOPLE!

[Imagevision]

60. mother of four sells $31.00 worth of weed? maybe she was trying to feed her kids?

in these days and times people are robbing more banks and sh*t...!

[LAIEN]

61. sad

very sad !!