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145 Comments
- Lord_oftheTrons, on 10/12/2007, -10/+152This still isn't as bad as the kid in jail for getting a BJ:
http://www.digg.com/offbeat_news/ESPN_Front_Page_Follow_Up_to_Kid_Imprisoned_10_Years_for_Having_Oral_Sex - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+126He wasn't sentenced to life for a "$2 robbery", he was sentenced to life for smoking marijuana while on probation. That's what makes the sentence extreme and unjust.
As to the "$2 robbery" angle, that strikes me as a really bizarre way of looking at a crime. We're not talking about snatching money from a till, or swiping a couple of candy bars, we're talking about armed robbery. The amount of money the victim happens to be carrying when the criminal threatens him with a weapon doesn't really have any bearing on the seriousness of the transgression. - chenyu768, on 10/12/2007, -7/+119the same judge let a killer go free
- rune420, on 10/12/2007, -13/+77chenyu768: A _caucasian_ killer, to be more specific. Black guy gets life for smoking a doobie, white guy get's released after shooting a male prostitute to death.
And I also can't see where in the article it actually says he was freed. Except for in the title, it looks like he's still incarcerated. - kirbs, on 10/12/2007, -10/+44Unbelievable!
- wmarcello, on 10/12/2007, -3/+34Is the judge going to suffer any consequences for this? A man with that much power who so blatantly abuses it should be sent to jail himself.
- Gryph1, on 10/12/2007, -3/+34Ugh horrible blog spam. Completely ripped off with not even a summary or comment.
http://www.november.org/razorwire/2006-02/Tyrone.html for the original article. I don't get why people do this.
Holy crap and this article is a year old! - rholloway, on 10/12/2007, -17/+44bingo. Considering he got 10 years probation for armed robbery--that was a punishment that fit the crime, although armed robbery is usually 10 years in prison. It is a very serious crime.
But life for smoking weed? Put the kid in a scared straight juvie hall.
All things considered, he got $2 from an armed robbery and put himself in a situation to get caught smoking weed by cops. The kid sounds like one of those ***** ups that we've all known in our lives. Even if he gets out, who's laying odds he ***** up again within 2 years? - Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -11/+33Take a day off, go sit in court while they process the plea bargains, you'll see first hand how prejudiced the system is.
- DyDx, on 10/12/2007, -5/+27Are you a ***** idiot? If you know a damn thing about the cases, a blind man could tell that the judge is clearly racist (to say otherwise is pure, PURE *****). The only reason the judge was allowed to give him life in prison at all is because of some ***** laws in Texas that give the judge full discretion in sentencing in some cases. This wouldn't have even been allowed in most places.
Besides the fact that marijuana use shouldn't be a crime in the first place, the fact that his 10 year probation got extended to LIFE IN PRISON is completely ***** and ridiculous. What is SUPPOSED to happen for a probation violation is that the person is supposed to serve some or all of their ORIGINAL sentence -- not have it extended to LIFE! What the *****?
I'm really disgusted by all the diggers in this topic. The amount of sensible, intelligent posts that have been dugg down is really making me sick. This place really is full of retards. - ThomasJStein, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21Where in the article does it say he has been freed? There is a more in-depth article over at http://staugustine.com/stories/012807/news_4365567.shtml
- dree, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Judge Dean did *CONVICT* the other (white) man of *murder* and gave him probation for murder.
Not only that, this white man VIOLATED his probation numerous times with COCAINE!!!!
He was never jailed.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/LegalCenter/story?id=2743788
"Another man, convicted of murder for shooting a male prostitute in his backyard, was also given probation. But after numerous violations with a much more serious drug — cocaine — that man was never jailed. He was from a wealthy family and had political connections and a private attorney."
I see some pathetic diggers are defending this judge because of the armed robbery thing.... is armed robbery worse than murder?
Is cocaine not a worse drug than marijuana?
Judge Dean is a racist. Plain and simple. - virus2566, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16He hasn't been freed yet. The governor is still considering the case.
some more information here
http://www.savemrbrown.com/ - wayniethep00p, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13If you adjust the $2 to inflation.. it's about $3.14..
this calls for justice!! - archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -5/+17So you're okay with someone being sentenced to life for smoking a joint? What about the white killer whom the same judge let go for free? Did you actually read the article?
- asdfasdf, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13Texas is known for being run by terrorist Christians. I have friends who've violated their probation a handful of times by manufacturing, possessing AND selling drugs and none of them got any time in jail, and none had a clean record prior to any of their drug related convictions. It's just silly and backwards to even fine a person for smoking weed, let alone use any drug in the privacy of his home.
@mastershake1:
Look at countries like Saudi Arabia. Heroin is still widespread even though dealers get executed. - JK1150, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13Little misleading in the title, he was on probation for armed robbery...
- mancat, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14Texas.
- archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13"Please, this kid almost killed someone in an armed robbery"
No, he didn't. The victim is cited in the article as saying the robber didn't harm him.
"I may not be the tell-all, end-all expert that deserves his opinion to be heard by all and taken as fact, but I've seen and worked without pieces of garbage to know that unless they are punished, and that punishment is followed up on by whatever officials, they will never EVER amount to anything useful to our society."
He was sentenced to life. As it is, he will never amount to anything useful BECAUSE of the punishment.
"Please, let this lame story die and forget about people who only serve to drain our economy."
Sure, because keeping someone in jail isn't a drain on our economy...
Digg is turning into such an Idiot Magnet... - pathy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Okay, the title is misleading, but people, don't get hung up on the fact that he comitted an armed robbery.
That type of crime should be punished, yes, but there are other things to be concerened about here. Firstly, while he was on a 10 year probation for comitting the robbery (And sadly I don't know much more about this case, so I'm taking information from the article), he did indeed return the wallet, minus the money, and was given the 10 year probation. He also had a clean criminal record prior to this. (I'm not defending his crime by mentioning the wallet, but rather put it there as something to think about regarding how malicious Brown's intent was.)
Further more, he violated his probation with an extremely low key crime - It was not robbery, he did not threaten anyone, he was smoking a joint. The debate of drugs and their effect on people is for another time, but you cannot say that such a minor violation is reason to be imprisoned for life - I would have a hard time trusting anyone who said they had no comitted other minor infractions, the law covers so many areas.
However, the key point here is that the same judge likewise allowed a man who was white and "privileged" to walk free, despite the man having violated his own probation multiple times, using coke (Which I think we can all agree is a few tiers above weed.), and even manslaughter. The judge may not be racist, but he is clearly biased, or corrupted.
This is a serious case, and the more light that is brought on to it is better. Whether you agree with Brown's sentence or not, there cannot be any argument in regards to the judge's actions. - jftitan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10It doesn't matter, the penalty was not just for the cause.
I have a few friends that are on probation for certain things done in the past. While I do hang out with all sorts of people, (from Rich over paid Attorneys, Doctors, Fast Food 'peeps', Managers, taxi drivers, etc) The few that admitted to having a criminal history, smoke weed, in order to tolerate working as "Human Slaves".
If caught with THC in the system while on probation violates the probation and ends up with jail time, all because a few days before the said individual smoked some weed, they get imprisoned for life, is complete *****. Either extend the probation, or make them sit in jail for the weekend. Rather than ruin someone's life because of weed is considered the norm, then our judicial system is *****.
Now I understand, RACE had a hand in the decision of LIFE in prison. Judge Dean, carried out a too harsh sentence. And when caught/confronted with it. It was clear that he knew he made a bad decision for Mr Brown. So he has pretty much admitted that the sentence was a bit too harsh. (But did the Judge retract his decision, and say, he was wrong... No he didn't) Judge Dean, just said "Mr Brown served his time, and its time to let him out."
I'm glad we have the internet, because its thanks to this kind of publicity, that people that deserve better, get the attention needed to make it happen.
(There is also a bad side to the internet) We have actual criminals that lay prey on innocent people to help them escape prison, or help them get out, so they can continue to be criminals. But then again... thats why we have Attorneys. (ba da bing!) - gaagaale, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11way to go America, that's why we have 1% of our population locked up beyond reasonable for some minor crime. no other country in the world has that rate, some crimes deserve harsh punishment, but this one is unbelievable!
- patience, on 10/12/2007, -23/+31Excuses. Excuses.
I am black and I think you should not go around robbing people.
Gee. Too bad, buddy.
Get a job and struggle like the rest of us black folk.
Its rough for us but we don't have steal to make a living.
I have been discriminated against countless times but not once
have I said, "Let me rob someone."
Enough with the killings, the black on black violence, the excuses.
MAN UP: DO THE CRIME; DO THE TIME.
No one put a gun to your head to rob someone. - Rikushix, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10' "It is the belief of this office that Mr. Brown has paid his debt for this crime, and that life imprisonment is too harsh a penalty," Mr. Hill wrote in his public statement to the Morning News. '
Duh. Waaaaaaayyyy too harsh a penality. - alteratti, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11sentenced to life for $2 robbery??
the judge seems to be an idiot. - danegeld, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Why is it that Texas is still a part of the US? Can't we give it back to Mexico? More trouble and stupidity comes out of Texas than any other state in the union.
- teddtech, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6The way things are going now it WILL be mexico in 5 years
- EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Still a life sentence is a bit harsh. At most he should have had to serve the 10 years for the armed robbery plus a token amount for the marijuana violation. He's been locked up for 17 years now--I think it's time he got out.
- noreturn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@TDKWilson
So you jack 2 bucks and smoke a joint, and you get life. But if you happen to embezzle funds, partake in insider trading, and cause thousands of people to lose their jobs, you get 10 years? Or if you shoot a male prostitute in the back, you get probation? - dree, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I found some new details about the white man that Judge Dean convicted of murder....
The (adult) white man, Mr. Wood, murdered an unarmed male prostitute by shooting him in the back.
Judge Dean gave Mr. Wood a one-postcard-a-year probation.
ONE
*****
POSTCARD A YEAR!!!
Mr. Wood FAILED his DRUG TESTS FIVE TIMES and was even arrested for cocaine possesion.
Mr. Wood never spent a day jail.
(source: http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/042306dnmettwomen.2e5ca5a.html )
Tyrone Brown was sentenced to life (remember, he was a minor) after failing his *FIRST* drug test, when his original sentence was 10 years.
I'm baffled by you ***** diggers who say he deserved an extended sentence.... - DyDx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4That's not the point. Holy *****, you're an ignorant lot. There would have been NO debate if he was just made to serve his original sentence of 10 years. The problem, which is apparently not so ***** obvious to a bunch of retards on Digg today, is that the punishment (life in prison) did not fit the crime (violating parole for an armed robbery charge by smoking marijuana). It's further compounded by the fact that the same judge was extremely lenient to a convicted MURDERER who violated probation MULTIPLE times by using COCAINE -- and he was white, like the judge.
This is such a clear cut case of racism and injustice that the sheer # of people defending, even in the slightest, this extreme sentence makes me lose faith in humanity. Oh my ***** word. - phmfthacim, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5***** texas and georgia both
- Dimensio, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6"But he can't even do that, so he is jailed, not for smoking weed, but for his original infraction."
Do you believe that it is acceptable for a judge to sentence someone to life in prison for armed robbery, even though the state statute does not allow for such a sentence? - DyDx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4***** you, you ignorant piece of *****.
If you read the blog entry for even one ***** second, or had a bit of ***** sense, you'd realize how WRONG and INHUMANE you are. The man (boy, actually, at time of sentencing) should never have gotten more than his original 10 year sentence. That's how probation ***** works!! The racist pig ***** judge gave him life to "set an example" and yet let a convicted murderer stay out of jail after failing probation drug tests multiple times (for cocaine use!!). In most places the judge wouldn't even be allowed this much discretion in sentencing!
I have lost so much faith in the average digg user today. Anyone who thinks this guy deserved the life sentence (or any sentence beyond his original 10 year sentence) can eat ***** and die. - CoolWind, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5It doesn't matter what you've done before in life, you shouldn't get sent to jail for smoking weed. Ever.
- pmuaddib, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4He deserved a couple years for being that ugly but I do think that life is excessive.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3He was stupid, but he should only have had to do his 10 with a couple of parole hearings in there.
- vhold, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3If a marijuana joint is life in prison, perhaps then jaywalking should be... 10 years and maybe a $100,000 fine?
Shoplifting would obviously be the death penalty..
And murder.. I guess.. would be.. you get put on life support indefinitely while subjected to cannibalistic torture for eternity? - garyh84, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Here's a thought, TX is a large state, the second largest in fact in both size and population. Of course there will be a lot of stupid things to come out of it! You think there aren't idiots in other states?
- phmfthacim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3condoleeza rice is black too, and she doesn't experience the injustices that many blacks experience. that clearly has nothing to do with this. the fact that you are using your skin color to pretend that the institutional problem that is so obvious in this case doesn't matter is completely silly.
go hang out with condi thanks... - DyDx, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8@doctechnical: You ***** moron! The difference is so stark I shouldn't even have to spell it out for you. He got LIFE IN PRISON (which is, last I checked, 2 and a half times his original sentence) for smoking a joint. This woman you know would likely not even get her entire sentence in jail -- just a month or two -- if she were caught having a beer. Holy *****, Batman! You're a complete idiot!
- DyDx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The amount of defending of this poor young man I've had to do in this thread is appalling and disgusting. I knew that the average digg user was an idiot, but HOLY ***** the morons have come out in full force today.
- bengrg, on 10/12/2007, -10/+13here is the idiotic heartless racist judges email.
ktdean@sbcglobal.net - HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Additionally, anyone who thinks he'll become a productive member of society after doing that time needs to see the episode of "30 Days" where he does 30 days in jail. If you've seen it, you know what I mean. It's not impossible, but the odds are poor.
The mention in the article that "Brown's renounciation of gangs is 'one of the reasons he is in maximum security'" also raises alarm bells. What are the other reasons?
This seems a lot like a Willie Horton situation here. - mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2And no one seems to mention the fact that he was an adolescent at the time, which makes it all the more ridiculous that he be put to life in prison.
- doctechnical, on 10/12/2007, -10/+12@ archiesteel: "So you're okay with someone being sentenced to life for smoking a joint?"
He didn't get life for smoking a joint. He got life for VIOLATING HIS PAROLE. When he should have been thanking his lucky stars every day that he wasn't in prison for ARMED ROBBERY, he broke the #1 rule of probation: don't do anything - ANYTHING - illegal.
I know a woman who, because she was convicted of driving drunk, has to wear a gadget on her ankle that monitors her blood alcohol level 24x7. She can't take it off - she can't even shower, because she can't get it wet - and to add insult to injury she has to PAY the state a rental fee for the thing.
It's so sensitive that it can tell if she drinks an O'Doul's (about 0.5% alcohol). Now drinking a brewski for you or I is perfectly legal, but if she drinks a Bud she goes to jail. Not because she drank the beer, but because she violated her parole conditions.
Do you think "going to jail for drinking a beer" is too harsh a sentance for her? What's the difference between her story and Mr. Brown's? - FAT_PIGGY, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2racist redneck
- sabotank, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@lord ofthetrons.....
did you notice that the blowjob kid's lawyers name is BJ?? - centerblack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@analyze
Thank you for your irrelevant, useless, off-topic comment.
I have not read one comment where the adjective saint was applied to Mr. Brown other than your own post(s) and sarcastic posts by other readers. Anyone who read the article knows that he commited armed robbery.
You claim that Mr. Brown's race is irrelevant. I disagree- it certainly was relevant to the judge who handled his case. If you believe otherwise you're ignoring the facts:
Brown
Armed Robbery
Drugs during parole
Black
------------------------------
Life in prison
vs
Other guy
Murder
Drugs during parole
White
------------------------------
No jail time - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Actually Florida spawns more horrendous news than Texas by just a small bit, which is alarming given Florida's size.
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