-Caveat Lector- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 12:09:06 -0500 September 9, 1999 Suspect Shocked With Belt Sentenced By The Associated Press LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- A man who was jolted with an electric stun belt because of his repeated courtroom outbursts has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on a third-strike theft conviction. Civil rights groups were outraged in June 1998 when a judge ordered bailiffs to activate the stun belt Ronnie Hawkins was wearing because he repeatedly interrupted her during his sentencing hearing. Hawkins, 49, received a 50,000-volt shock for eight seconds. It was believed to be first such use of a stun belt in Los Angeles County courts. He has filed a $50 million civil rights lawsuit against the county, the Sheriff's Department and the judge, Joan Comparet-Cassani. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the use of stun belts in county courts until the suit is resolved. That ruling is being appealed. Comparet-Cassani recused herself from Hawkins' case without sentencing him. He was retried and convicted again in August on charges of stealing $250 worth of aspirin from a market. His sentencing Wednesday was based on California's ``three strikes'' law because he had been convicted of robbery in 1970 and attempted robbery in 1986. ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. -- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
