I just got a call from Mary Watson, Chair of Ventura Village Court Watch program. Mary just returned from court and called to tell me that the offender they were following was sentenced to 19 months in prison after he plead guilty to the charges against him. I won't name him because his name isn't relevant to this post.
However, this individual is the one many of us in the "crime fighting" world use as the poster child example to show how the criminal justice system is broken. It was this individuals rap sheet(over 200 arrests)and picture that was used when people in Phillips and Ventura Village presented to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee of the City and County a couple years ago and when the same people testified before the criminal justice committee of the state legislature earlier this spring. This is the same individual that broke into Jana Metge's house and trashed it while she was on vacation a few years ago and has continued to terrorize her and vandalize her property ever since. O.K. now that I have given the lead up to the real story, I will get to the point. Today in court, the defendant asked if he could address the people that were there from court watch. With tears streaming down his face, he apologized to the people in the community he had harmed and made a point to extend a personal apology directly to Jana Metge for all the harm he had caused her. He said his children lived in Phillips and that he was beginning to understand how behavior like his affects the lives of people living in the neighborhood. Mary said he seemed very sincere. The judge went on to say that he received a rather lengthy "community impact" statement from County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. Peter was also present in court on Tuesday with us when the original sentencing date was to occur. The sentencing date was changed to today. The judge said that when an elected official like Peter Mc Laughlin takes time out of his busy schedule to write an impact statement he takes it very seriously in his sentencing decision. Thank you Peter. I hope this persons expressed remorse continues and that he uses his incarceration as an opportunity to plan a new way of life. I am happy because Jana hopefully can finally sleep more peacefully now knowing that this person isn't going to threaten her anymore. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
