55 YEARS FOR “ARMED DRUG SALES” A friend of mine left the South Florida area and moved to California telling me that the cops are so afraid of the coacine traffickers that they were just busting everyone they could for traffic and other violations so they didn’t have to deal with seriously dangerous criminals. When I read something like this story cited here I’m thinking this is just a numbers game. A scam. This goes on while others get away with murder. Take an easy low-level criminal and pump the charges out of proportion to make it look as if you are doing something. I suspect many of the lowered crime stats are a reflection of a decaying criminal justice system that targets what is easy then piles on.
Of course this took place in Utah. I’m actually surprised that piling three counts on the guy wasn’t done as 25 counts with once of pot per count done as seperate accusations.
Marijuana-seller Weldon Angelos’s 55-year mandatory prison sentence has been upheld by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, despite the fact that Angelos had no prior felony convictions. The problem is, he had a gun in his pocket, though he neither brandished nor even displayed it, while conducting three marijuana sales, for a total amount of 24 ounces of pot; thus, he was deemed guilty on three counts of “possessing a firearm while involved in a drug deal.” A report on the case was posted to TalkLeft blog with further corroboration from Families Against Mandatory Minimums. As for the sentencing itself, under Utah law he was convicted of three violations; the first has a mandatory minimum five-year sentence, and each subsequent conviction carries a mandatory minimum 25-year sentence that must run back-to-back with any other sentences. The total? Fifty-five years in prison, with no hope for earlier parole.
This fellow will be released from prison when he is 82. At an average cost of keeping a prisoner in jail of $40,000 per year this pothead will cost the taxpayers $2.2 million. Meanwhile, murderers and rapists get a few years at most. There is no sense of proportion left with these judges.
found by Mad Dog Mike
It’s a travesty of justice.
While looking for justice in Google, I came across a longish, but lighthearted rant from long ago:
http://www.wealth4freedom.com/gov/freneau.shtml
State legislators are constantly passing sentencing bills to pander to the special groups that demands tougher penalties. These groups are emotionally charged, and no one running for office wants to appear weak on crime. The judges hands are tied, and most DA’s only care about conviction number bragging rights so they can run for higher office.
My only regret is the cost of housing him for so long.
The ideology of retribution coupled with rejecting anything approaching science — has brought us back a half-century. I have no doubt that continued control of our government by the neo-con club [with tacit support from the gutless wonders] will draw our nation further back towards the Dark Ages.
This kind of sentencing — before legislated “standards” — was common in the 1940’s and 50’s. When I turned my back on conformity and closed minds and walked away from white-bread America in the 1950’s, I lived in ghettos where first-offense for possession of grass got you seven years!
Ignorance, bigotry, fear and superstition increase their hold on political power — and demagogues prove, once again, these ain’t bad selling points to an ignorant populace.
Why not? drug dealers deserves it.
If ever there was a case requiring the Supreme Court to intervene and correct an appeal court, this is it. It was just last year that the Supremes ruled that the “guidelines” were advisory and not mandated.
The original sentencing Judge agreed that the sentence was excessive, yet he argued that his hands were tied as the Supreme Court had not ruled on the mandatory minimums. The 10th Circuit was not hindered though and very well could have reduced the sentence.
For the Appeals Court to suggest that the sentence was justified because he was a bad guy defies all legal logic. Is this “Judicial Activism” at work?
The ONLY bright part of this case, if it can be called that, is that at least he got a trial. I’m sure that the Justice Department would have been much happier to have just locked him up and done away with any trial.
Pat, I think this will probably be the one and only time I agree with you regarding sentencing issues. This sentence is excessive.
The irony is that judges, lawyers and politicians can sit comfortably in their armchairs smoking a joint with no fear of going to jail for it while the hapless, disposable drug dealers do time for their indulgences. The drug dealer should be held in higher status because he is risking his freedom and life for other’s enjoyment. When a fireman risks his life he is called a hero, when a drug dealer does it he is called a criminal. Kill the morality teachers, the evangalists, the preachers, the priests and pope. They are the ones who have blood on their hands; them bastards!
The sentence is extremely excessive, and pot should be decriminalized. That being said, guns and drugs do *not* mix, and if he needed to carry it around, there is a chance that some future harm will not happen because he is in jail. Likely, who knows?
Regarding comment 5, Jon you are absolutely right!
Drug dealers deserve that kind of jail time.
I called the cops and tried to get them to go over to Rite Aid and arrest this guy in a white coat selling drugs in PLAIN VIEW! It is crazy! It is even called a DRUG STORE!
Not even 2 blocks away there is another place called (get this) LONGS DRUGS. Again, selling drugs in plain view.
I was pretty disgusted at that point because the cops weren’t doing anything about this. Around the corner I found another place peddling narcotics: SavOn Drugs. I can’t believe these places right out in the open selling this stuff. Didn’t they learn “Just say no to drugs”????
This is outgrageous. We’re aware of it. It’s systemic, not just a Utah thing, but this is very embarrassing for Utah.
Cabot Nelson
Vice Chair, Libertarian Party of Utah
Legalize it all, let them folks snort, puff, smoke and inject to their hearts content, tax the living hell out of it, use the money to maintain the addicts should they reach vegetative states and quit worrying about it. No, the guy probably should’ve left his piece at home, but then again, he’s carrying cash and dealing with dopers, so I can see why he’s carrying. So take his gun, then toss him in the local pokey for a month or so.
Surely, this is not how the sentencing guidelines should apply, if they are meant to increase the punishment of people who reoffend. Those 3 counts should have been counted as his first offense, resulting in 3 x 5 year terms = 15 years.
I have a great way to save alot of money for locking criminals up. Murderers, shoot them out back. Rapists, chop their schvantz off, toss some alchohol on it, then shoot them. Child rapists, oooh I dont have enough room here to type that one out.
Gwendle
How would you handle a pregnant woman driving in the occupancy lane claiming her fetus was a passenger?
What about a cat owner who’s cat kills a bird on my lawn?
How about Kenneth Lay who (accusedly) robbed Enron of millions and the stock holders of billions?
Pat,
1. Fine the lady (as was done)
2. Was the bird owned by you, or was it a wild animal?
3. Kenneth Lay destroyed many lives, strip him down and toss him in a pit with all the folks that he screwed. It will solve itself.
Crooks seem to be having more rights than victums (not considering victumless crimes). There really is no reprecussions for crime anymore. Time to kick it up a notch and show the slime of the country that we are done dinkin around.
I do not know why i am here, no where else to go with this.
My Grandson has been charged for selling pot, weed, whatever ya call it.
First offense. Yes he did do it . He is young, scared, and has learned a lesson. But he is not a rapised, a killer etc. just a dumb kid.
If he goes to jail he will never be a good kid again.
How much time does a kid do in jail for selling pot?