Minimum Mandatory Sentencing

[dellinger63]

Interesting though fallacious article posted in the NY Times today.

In May of 2002, a 23-year-old man named Michael Brandon Shuler was sentenced in federal court to 15 years in prison for illegally possessing a gun — something that even the prosecutor acknowledged was a “rather benign act.”

Sounds horribly cruel until I looked up the case 01-CR-10080 and found he was not sentenced for possessing a gun but rather unlawful transport of firearms and furthermore he entered a guilty plea.

In Texas in 2006, DeJarion Echols, a young black college student with no prior convictions, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison: 10 years thanks to a mandatory minimum for possession of a small amount of crack cocaine (40 grams); and 10 more years thanks to a mandatory minimum for possession of a firearm in connection with a drug-trafficking charge. “This is one of those situations where I’d like to see a congressman sitting before me,” the sentencing judge said, in evident frustration.

Young black college student DeJarion Echols also 'pled' guilty but not to possessing a 'small amount' (40 grams/not so sure 12 eight balls of crack is a small amount?) but to 50 grams or more and it wasn't simple possession but possession with intent to deliver. Had the author taken the two minutes it would have cost her to look up the case she also would have found out little DeJarion was also within 1,000 feet of a school, namely Waco Elementary, and the firearm he was in possession of was a Norinco 7.62 caliber SKS assault rifle. (pics here https://www.google.com/search?q=nori...39%3B640%3B480) BTW police also found $7,265 in cash on the poor college student.

I can only hope author Maya Shenwar's poor excuse for a story was due to laziness and not falsifying facts to fit a story. Either way she should probably look for a new career. Perhaps a political speechwriter?

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/22...ws-steal-lives