State v. Jones - revisited

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:13 pm

Today defendant Bradford Jones was sentenced for the murder he committed back in May, 2001.

Prior to being sentenced, a victim of the sister addressed the Court. It was very emotional for all in attendance as she, unsuccessfully attempting to fight back the tears, told the defendant how he not only killed her brother…but also killed his family. She was very articulate in her description of how she could never forgive the defendant for what he did…and how she wished that he received a “death sentence”.

The defendant then was permitted to speak (the first time I heard him speak throughout the trial) and his true “punk” self shined through. He got up and stated, “First of all…I want y’all to know that I’m innocent of this crime. To sister over there [directing his statements to the victim’s sister], you need to vent to someone else because I ain’t the guy that done this. I was wrongly convicted……I’m innocent.”

After he finished, the punk started staring at me and I, of course, stared right back at him. I was oh so tempted to blow him a little kiss but, in the spirit of maintaining my professionalism, I didn’t do so.

The judge them sentenced him to two consecutive life terms followed by 11 years and 6 months in prison followed by 6 months of Work Release and 18 months of intensive probation.

For those of you thinking it was stupid to order probation, Delaware law requires that whenever a judge sentences a defendant to 1 or more years in prison, he must add (at least) a 6-month “transitional” probationary period to follow. This probationary period was symbolic in this case because, in reality, the only way this guy is getting out of prison is when his cold, lifeless body is placed in a pine box and taken to the medical examiner’s office.

If a news article is posted tonight or tomorrow regarding this case, I’ll post it on this thread.

For now, this case is now officially over…….and justice was done.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 3:32 pm

Nice work JH!! Chalk one up for the good guys.

skinsfan1 · Post by **skinsfan1** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 5:57 pm

Good job JH!

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 6:17 pm

one less thug on the streets....great job concidering the death wasn't a option

Warmother · Post by **Warmother** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 9:48 pm

Great job JH. I love when the bad guys lose.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:14 pm

Way to be JH. I appreciate the work that you're doing.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 8:58 am

Okay....as I promised...here's the link:

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/07/10judgegivesconvi.html

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:10 pm

Hey, JH! For those of us unfamiliar with jail terms, what's the total time this young man will spend in the slammer?

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:38 pm

Justice Hog wrote:For those of you thinking it was stupid to order probation, Delaware law requires that whenever a judge sentences a defendant to 1 or more years in prison, he must add (at least) a 6-month “transitional” probationary period to follow.

this is awesome, i love it. it says that even if the guy finds a way to escape the seventh circle of hell (twice) he still has to do 6 months od work release and report to a probation officer! classic!

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:55 pm

Redeemed Skin writes:

Hey, JH! For those of us unfamiliar with jail terms, what's the total time this young man will spend in the slammer?

I thought I answered this in my original post:

...the only way this guy is getting out of prison is when his cold, lifeless body is placed in a pine box and taken to the medical examiner’s office.

In other words, he ain't gettin' out at all....until he dies.

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:58 pm

Right, but, if we were to put a specific number on the years he's scheduled to be there, how many years does his sentence amount to?

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 6:13 pm

Redeemed, there's no specific years. He's serving two life terms. Life means life. When you're dead, you've completed your sentence. I don't know what else to tell you.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 8:46 pm

JH I sat on a jury here in Kent County Superior Court...the process was very interesting but the case sucked...a civil case, never should have saw the inside of a courtroom!!!

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:31 pm

Civil case! ICK!

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 9:38 am

Justice Hog wrote:Redeemed, there's no specific years. He's serving two life terms. Life means life. When you're dead, you've completed your sentence. I don't know what else to tell you.

A former police officer once mentioned to me something about a life term = 45 yrs or so. I'm not sure if there was any truth to that; that is why I continued to ask. (otherwise, why would a guy be convicted to two life terms?)

I understand that this guy in particular will not see "free life" ever again, but I want to be clear if a "life term" can be quantified. Thanks in advance!

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:02 am

If you are sentenced to life, you can sometimes get out on good behavior, correct? I think that's why two terms were placed, to eliminate that possibility...

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:51 am

don't they have to specify, 'life with no chance of parole'?

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:10 pm

Oh yeah, I forgot about that...

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 5:43 pm

To clear up a few questions:

1. Delaware doesn't have parole; therefore, the judge need not say "life with no parole".

2. Unlike some States, which say a "life sentence" = 25-30 years, in Delaware...life means "life"...with no quantification.

3. If you're sentenced to life, you can never ever get out on "good behavior". You can only get out on "dead behavior".

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 5:43 pm

Could also be because one of the convictions may be appealed and the appeal upheld so if the judge didnt give 2 life terms then the perpetrator would get away with something

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 6:39 pm

No parole, huh? I see some obvious advantages/disadvantages to that. Justice, do you like the no parole system?

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:51 pm

SSIII, Yes I do. Inmates still earn "good time" credits during their sentence which, I believe amounts to 45-60 days/year; therefore, for every year they are sentenced...they may be released up to 60 days earlier. This is called "conditional release", not "parole".

"Parole" would generally allow a person to be released after serving only 1/3 of their sentence.

I have always been a fan of a person sentenced to prison serving most of their prison time, so I hated the idea of "parole". If I were a victim of a violent crime, I would hate to see the defendant get any kind of early release.

If a person earns enough "good time" credits while serving a sentence, let him get out a little early on "conditional release"...but not too early. I think I'm okay with that idea because, in theory, it gives incentive for inmates to behave while they're locked up.

Amberion writes:

Could also be because one of the convictions may be appealed and the appeal upheld so if the judge didnt give 2 life terms then the perpetrator would get away with something.

This was a clean trial so I doubt the defendant will have any chance on appeal. If he appeals, however, it will likely effect all charges (not just one), so it won't really matter what type of sentence was issued [i.e., one versus two life sentences] because both the conviction and sentence would probably be appealed. Understand?

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 9:38 pm

Is a conditional release possible for someone who has been sentenced to life?

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 10:14 pm

Nope. One who is sentenced to life doesn't get out of jail........ever.

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 10:39 pm

Good...

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State v. Jones - revisited

State v. Jones - revisited

Re: State v. Jones - revisited