Pubdate: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 Source: Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA) Copyright: 2007 New England Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/897 Author: Richard T. DelMasto LAWRENCE CASE IS A PERVERSION OF JUSTICE To the Editor of THE EAGLE: Ironic that the same Appeals Court judge forced to uphold the two-year mandatory jail sentence for one of the so-called Taconic 18 would be the one whose words so fittingly described the actions of Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless as unenlightened. Justice Frederick Brown referred to the marijuana bust of Mitchell Lawrence as "particularly outrageous" and "unsettling" in that Mr. Lawrence was induced by the undercover cop to enter a danger zone with an enhanced penalty. As these remarks emanated from an Appeals Court judge, they must have some merit. The two-year mandatory law is dumb. The only reason it is still on the books is because of gutless politicians. Ruining a young adult's life for a thimble-full of pot by throwing him into the can is perverted justice. And anyone, including Mr. Capeless, who thinks that justice was served in this case is also naive and out of touch. Richard T. DelMasto Housatonic, August 5, 2007 - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake