this story is tragic- about a football player at a local high school

[grannie4peace]

http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0109/587569.html the whole county is upset! pot should not be illegal. a local football hero, great kid gets busted for selling pot to feed his family. convicted-facing 12 years. we've got to change those laws right away!!! any comment & publicity this case can get may help... do what your heart leads you to. grannie

[Taverner]

1. What can we do? Is there a legal defense fund for them?

Where do I send cash???

[grannie4peace]

7. complain about the laws - maybe post on the story?

[Taverner]

23. No I want to contribute to that victim's legal defense

[grannie4peace]

27. i'll try to find out for you -wow- some people are so kind!!!

[Taverner]

31. I'm still employed

Gotta do what I can WHILE I can!

[sandnsea]

2. Selling drugs to minors

within 1,000 feet of a school? 12 years is too much, but he certainly isn't innocent.

[KamaAina]

5. In most urban areas, *everyplace* is within 1,000 feet of a school.

In fact, it's possible that dealers might congregate in the few locations that *aren't* within 1,000 feet of a school. Similarly, sex offenders registered under "Megan's Law" and its clones often find there's noplace they can live except in a Ted Kaczynski-style cabin way out in the sticks.

[sandnsea]

12. A school every 3 blocks? Really?

Maybe the problem with city school funding is that there are too many if there's really one every 3 blocks.

You won't win drug law changes if you don't uphold the most basic common sense laws, like not selling drugs at school.

[KamaAina]

15. At least here, it's pretty close to that.

There is no school bus service on O'ahu, except for special needs students, because most families live within easy reach of an elementary school; middle and high school students ride (and overload) the public bus.

And in, say, NYC, yes, there probably is a school every six blocks (not three, because it's 1,000 feet on each side).

[sandnsea]

19. I've lived in cities, medium and small towns

With and without bus service. And, no, there is not a school every 3 blocks, every 6 blocks, or even every 10 blocks.

We will make no progress if people keep relying on phony talking points.

This kids sold drugs to kids near a school, and probably in school. No sympathy.

[grannie4peace]

8. he went to that school

[sandnsea]

13. And so?

It's okay if he sells drugs to kids as long as its kids he goes to school with?

[grannie4peace]

16. it was pot- i'm sorry it should not be illegal!

[sandnsea]

17. It should be legal to sell it to minors? at school? n/t

[grannie4peace]

18. if it were legal they could all grow their own-so bug off

[sandnsea]

20. Kids growing their own pot?

Is ok with you??

And you think *I'm* the one with the problem?

[grannie4peace]

24. i guess you didn't smoke pot when you were 18

[sandnsea]

25. Which is relevant how?

And since when are all kids in a school 18?

[grannie4peace]

26. they are doing just what you did!!!

[sandnsea]

28. And that doesn't make it legal or sensible n/t

[grannie4peace]

29. it's not worthy of jail time!!- i've read you doing this to other posters

i think you do have a problem & it's not me

[sandnsea]

30. Doing what to other posters? Telling them they're wrong?

Too bad some DUers can't handle being confronted when they're being stupid.

You're wrong. Selling drugs to kids will always be, and should always be, a criminal offense.

[karynnj]

21. Worse actually - it says he is a former student

selling drugs to school kids.

Charges on such things vary by state - it is hard to believe that he would really get 12 years if this is a first offense and he was never in trouble before.

I wonder if the op knows more. He may not be a really bad person - but just having been a standout sports star does not make a person a good person.

[sandnsea]

22. Good people go to jail all the time

Usually good people who do stupid things, and don't understand what has happened with some of these sentencing laws where judges don't have any discretion to reduce sentences anymore. I think the school zone law is federal too, with even less leeway, iirc.

I think one of the most unfair things we do to kids is to have them picking up trash for an infraction when they're 17, and then throw the book at them when they turn 18. Sometimes the irrationality of what gets a long sentence makes no sense either. But we could at least warn kids, give them an overview of the most frequently broken laws or something.

[customerserviceguy]

3. Frankly

most people don't look as kindly on someone who sells drugs rather than merely uses them. Especially when it is 1000 feet from a school. Also, it doesn't say "feed his family" it says that he wanted to eat better than what they were feeding him, which was admittedly meager rations.

Yes, the laws should be changed, but it seemed to me if the kid had gotten 1001 feet away from this school, he wouldn't be in such big trouble. Are you merely advocating that pot laws be changed, or are you advocating for a lesser distance radius from a school (or none at all)?

[truedelphi]

4. Not happy to read about this insanity.

CAn any one else in their mid-fifties beleive that marijuana is still illegal?

And twelve years for selling such a minor amount?

[AthiestLeader]

6. 12 years with a just cause?

I mean it's only schedule II. This actually reminds me of the book outsiders. Quiet sad and yes we should change the laws right away.

[customerserviceguy]

9. Did a little further research:

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=9708493&nav=men...

And it says that he sold twice to an undercover agent, presumably not one of his buddies. It also says that he's facing "up to" five years for the felonies. Is that enough of a sentence reduction for you?

Looks like his lame-ass attorney tried to use some sort of "cute" theory of calculating the 1000 feet. If he gets a half-intelligent attorney for an appeal or to handle the sentencing hearing, he might be looking at a lot less than five years.

Sounds like he's the poster child for stupid here. Maybe others will take notice and conduct their 'business' with regard to the applicable zoning. That might have been the prosecutor's point.

[grannie4peace]

10. you should see the way some lawyers take advantage of the blacks in this area.

i know from the personal experience of my friends. & they never do me like that!

[chollybocker]

11. What does "football hero" have to do with it?

O.J. was a football hero, too. Apply the laws equally across the board.

[grannie4peace]

14. nothing -you sound like my younger sister!