In several conversations with friends in the Neighborhood Watch Business lately, I have heard a number of complaints Bibb County’s new approach to crime and criminality…and that would be to wimp out.
Much of the information is anecdotal and therefore unreliable, but it bears our giving it some serious thought.
It began to unravel when the dynamic duo of Chris Krok and Vic Jones started exposing judges who are deliberately assigning low bails to men and women arrested for and charged with serious crimes….violence, possession of handguns by felons, robbery, assault, the old gamut of serious crime in our fair city including murder. Mr. Krok has mentioned repeatedly individuals such as Sheriff Modena, judges Randall, Shurling, and Christian, and Bibb Commissioner, the Slightly Reverend Lonzy Edwards, a well-known criminal defense attorney in his other life, as being the individuals responsible for allowing dirt bags back on the street even when they have been caught red-handed.
There was an article in this morning’s T’GRAPH that told of eighteen-year-old Keith Gyrone Foster. Jr. who had some serious charges….assault and criminal gang activity….dismissed by the DA’s office. I read through the numerous comments and was struck by one by somebody called ‘Otherwiser’, which read, “There have been a noticeable number of charges dropped against people alleged to have committed violent offenses lately. Does anyone else find Ms Matson's explanation lacking in clarity?
www.co.bibb.ga.us/BSOInmatesOnline/BSODetail.asp?JacketID=105643&BookingID=262719”
That’s my impression, too. There seems to be a trend in the Judicial system to punish nowhere near the full extent of the law.
This week at the county courthouse the entire jury pool was dismissed after but one day since every case had been ‘settled out of court’, ‘plead down’, or in some way negotiated so that the accused would not have to face a jury of his peers, more or less. That’s a normal part of the system, by the way….saves the state and county money and takes bad guys off the street for a while.
There is always the very real possibility that young Mr. Foster is innocent of all charges. It is also possible that witnesses are afraid to come forward. It must always be kept in mind that the accused has the presumption of innocence going for him.
This will be an ongoing topic of investigation and discussion in THE GOSPEL, folks. Going to have to make some phone calls, pay a visit or two to the County Courthouse, and wear out a little shoe leather.
Back, soon.
*Meaning ‘castration’.
This is THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE and I am Don Brunel
None of us wants to prosecute the innocent, however, we don't want the truly guilty getting the full measure of the law they deserve.