Pubdate: Fri, 11 Feb 2005
Source: Reflector, The (MI Edu Mississippi State Univ)
Copyright: 2005 The Reflector Online
Contact:  http://www.reflector-online.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2802
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/dontae+walker

WALKER SENTENCE TOO HARSH FOR CONVICTION

Dontae Walker, former MSU star running back, will receive 22 years in
prison and a $1,000 fine for possession of cocaine and another three
years and $1,000 for a felony possession of marijuana.

While Walker deserves to go to prison for his drug charges, the
conviction is too harsh.

For a simple possession of drugs, and with no previous convictions,
Walker nearly received the harshest sentence he could.

One possible reason for the harsh sentence is that the court had
previously considered convicting Walker with the intent to sell the
drugs, considering the amount of drugs in Walker's possesion. Yet the
jury, after much deliberation, acquitted Walker of these charges. They
decided to only convict him on possession of cocaine and marijuana.

The judge must have had this in mind when he was sentencing Walker.
Yet since Walker was acquitted of "intent to sell" charges, possession
should have been the only factor in the sentencing, with taking into
account that Walker had never been charged before.

The punishment should fit the crime, and in this case, it didn't.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin