Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jul 2001 Source: Free Lance-Star (VA) Copyright: 2001 The Free Lance-Star Contact: http://fredericksburg.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1065 Author: John Quinlan FOUR MARIJUANA PLANTS WORSE THAN THREE DEATHS? Once again, in the infinite wisdom of the judicial system in Stafford County, a killer has been given a slap on the wrist. I am, of course, referring to the sentencing of Brandon Brown, who directly caused the deaths of three young people, one of whom was my neighbor. Brandon Brown is guilty of killing three individuals, regardless of the incident leading up to the reckless-driving crash (it was not an "accident"). Brown was sentenced to complete a four-to-six-month "in-house rehabilitation program" and 50 hours of community service, and his license was suspended until he is 20. Gee, I really feel sorry for him for receiving such a "harsh" sentence for killing three people. I received a sentence in Stafford County of five years for growing four medical marijuana plants for my own use. I didn't harm anyone as a result of my "crime" (a felony); yet one can kill three individuals and get 50 hours of community service! How true the phrase: "Justice is blind." And, of course, the individual who threw the projectile at Brown's car will probably receive a more severe sentence than the person who actually caused the deaths of three individuals. Justice (?) in Stafford County. John Quinlan Stafford