We've got the best justice system that money can buy.

[redrumloa]

Ryan LeVin's hit-and-run sentence is beyond outrageous

LeVin's featherweight sentence of house arrest and 10 years of probation, handed down by Broward Circuit Judge Barbara McCarthy last week, was called "the most outrageous thing I've seen in 33 years at the courthouse" by Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein.

"It undermines confidence in the system and makes us all look bad," Finkelstein said Monday.

I have to agree. Outcomes like this do little to dispel the notion that there are two justice systems in this country, one for the well-off and another for the rest of us.

 

[the_leander]

Outcomes like this do little to dispel the notion that there are two justice systems in this country, one for the well-off and another for the rest of us.

Welcome to reality the world over.

 

[cybereye]

My next election is fire that judge.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

@redrumloa
Maybe they should cut him off welfare.

But the story reminded me a little of this lass.

Maybe she's more familiar in this

(and even if she isn't it's still a fabulous song)

Her dad was Ewan, a folk singer who married Pete Seeger's half sister Peggy. Among the songs Ewan wrote was this one (for Peggy). You may know the Roberta Flack version, I first heard it by Gordon Lightfoot, but I really like this version.

On 18 December 2000 she was diving in Cozumel, Mexico when a power boat came speeding into the dive area (which was off limits to power boats. The boat was heading for one of Kristy two sons, she pushed him out of the way and he survived but she was struck by the boat and killed.

The boat belonged to Mexican millionaire Guillermo Gonzalez Nova and though he was on the boat (with several family members) the rap fell upon an employee of his who witnesses say was not the one at the helm. Apparently the employee received some money for taking the fall but in the end he didn't even have to do prison time. But that is Mexico.

On the other hand, it works the same pretty much every where when some people are so very much richer than the average Joe.

 

[redrumloa]

On the other hand, it works the same pretty much every where when some people are so very much richer than the average Joe.

I know well it is nothing new, but it is not right. This has nothing to do with political affiliation as money transcends political party. The only reason I put it in Politics is because the only way to change this is through politics. I was a fan of Motley Crue in the 1980's, but Vince Neil also got off easy due to money.

 

[redrumloa]

Judge McCarthy lenient with LeVin, tough on local driver
House arrest for hit-run killer, 4 1/2 years in prison for ATV chase

But here's what we know for sure:

LeVin was represented by high-powered defense attorney David Bogenschutz, who served as McCarthy's deputy campaign treasurer last year. Although sentencing guidelines called for a minimum 20-year sentence and the prosecution asked for 10 years, McCarthy authorized a steep "downward departure" to facilitate an undisclosed civil settlement for the victims' widows and five children.

At LeVin's guilty plea hearing last week, McCarthy said the need for restitution outweighed the need for prison.

But that wasn't the case for Maximo Gordon, to whom McCarthy gave the maximum sentence. Gordon, who doesn't have a steady job, was represented by the public defender's office. Stacey Gordon said the judge chastised her husband for a lack of remorse.

"Maybe if we had millions of dollars to pay, our family would still be together," Stacey Gordon said. "Then again, there was no victim to pay in his case."

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

@red

Aggravated fleeing? Wow. That Maximo character sounds hardened!!

Stacey Gordon said her husband has antagonized authorities because he likes to videotape police activities such as traffic stops and SWAT raids in his old Deerfield Beach neighborhood.

Ah yes. People who video the police. Well, we know the police don't like that so perhaps he is not just guilty of having insufficient money but also of annoying the cops.

On the other hand, if the judge was able to squeeze the rich kid for some bucks for the widows I can't object too much. I just hope it was a hell of a lot. It just really gets my goat when they pay the lawyer a million bucks but the victims get 10 grand.