Judges Gone Wild: “Learn English or go to jail”

A judge known for creative sentencing, often ordering defendants to get a job or finish school, has taken his outside-the-box sentencing to another level.

A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail.

The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday.

“Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?” the judge asked them.

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

I’m guessing the victims of this violent assault are none too happy with this development.

You can read the rest of this article here.

Advertisements

Soldier gets friend to shoot him so he won’t have to go back to Iraq

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
Current Press Release

PC 245 ADW / PC 182 CONSPIRACY –2/25/2008
APPLE VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE , Apple Valley
VICTIM:
SUSPECT:	MATTHEW JOHN MYERS – DOB: 06-10-87 WMA – 20 YOA, OF APPLE VALLEY & DANIEL DOTTERRER – DOB: 09-26-87 WMA – 20 YOA, OF APPLE VALLEY
On Sunday, 022408 at 2131 hours, Apple Valley deputies responded to a shooting victim who had walked into the AM/PM Mini Mart at 15333 Rancherias Rd. in Apple Valley. The victim, MATTHEW MYERS was reported to have been shot in the right leg during a robbery that had occurred at the Apple Valley Country Club Golf Course where MYERS was walking alone towards the AM/PM Mini-Mart. MYERS told deputies he was walking along the golf course when he was confronted by an unknown armed suspect. The suspect robbed him of his wallet and military ID after shooting him at point blank range. MYERS was unable to obtain a description of the suspect due to the darkness. Deputies responded to the golf course to search for the suspect and crime scene with the aid of the SBCSD Sheriff’s helicopter. After an extensive search, deputies were unable to locate a suspect. MYERS received a gunshot to his right front thigh from a small caliber weapon. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital ER for treatment.Deputies soon discovered a different account of the shooting. Through investigation, deputies believed the robbery account could have been a ploy to cover an accidental shooting that had taken place. After further investigation, it was learned MYERS was shot in the leg with a .32 caliber revolver by his longtime friend, DANIEL DOTTERRER. Investigators believe both MYERS and DOTTERRER had conspired to the shooting because MYERS was on military leave from Iraq and did not want to return. Both MYERS and DOTTERRER were released at the conclusion of this investigation. Doctors did not remove the bullet from MYERS leg due to complications. He was treated and released. The Sheriff’s Department will be forwarding the investigation to the DA’s Office for review. MYERS was confirmed to be enlisted with the US Army, stationed out of Kentucky, and is home on temporary military leave and is due to return to Iraq.Sgt. Randy Gwaltney Apple Valley Station 760-240-7400 Case #: 180801133

Originally posted on Adventures In Frickintardistan