judge In Carlie Brucia case let out another parole violater to murder a teenage girl

O'reilly ^

[Cubs Fan]

Impact Segment:

Raging Rapkin Judge Harry Rapkin of Sarasota, FL refused to send Joseph Smith back to prison on a parole violation. Now, Smith is under arrest and the principal suspect in the brutal murder of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia.

In 1995, Rapkin refused to send Richard Lee Walker back to jail for a probation violation - and now, Walker is the principal suspect in the murder of another young girl, 14-year-old Kristy Degg. Degg's mother Sandra and sister Kristy are guests tonight on The O'Reilly Factor.

The judge has declined repeated offers to appear on The Factor - but he found the time today to call Bill "a piece of scum." We'll play that clip for you - and you won't believe your ears.

Again: Judge Rapkin let Joseph Smith - a man arrested 13 times since 1993 - back on the streets last year, even after he violated his parole. Smith's criminal record included:

1993: Arrested for attacking a woman on a street in Sarasota and breaking her nose with a motorcycle helmet. Plead no contest to aggravated battery and served 60 days in jail followed by two years on probation.

1997: Put on one year's probation on a concealed weapons charge for carrying a hidden, five-inch knife

1999: Arrested for heroin possession and was put on probation for 18 months

1999: Arrested for prescription fraud (charge later was dropped)

2000: Arrested again for prescription fraud and sentenced to six months of house arrest followed by a year on probation.

2001: Arrested for prescription fraud, sent to prison, served 13 months of a 16-month sentence.

2003: Released from prison on New Year's Day.

2003: Eight days later, deputies found Smith passed out in his car with drugs on the seat beside him. You can read all about it here.

Richard Lee Walker - who, back in 1995, Rapkin wouldn't send back to jail - was convicted of sexually abusing a two-year-old boy. He served just two and a half years for the terrible crime, got out of prison, and was convicted of another sex crime. He served some time, was released, and then, he violated his parole.

In 1995, the state wanted to send him back to prison, but Judge Rapkin said no. Instead, he ordered Walker to serve weekend jail time for a few months.

A few weeks after that decision, 14-year-old Kristy Degg disappeared from her Sarasota, FL home. Her body was found three weeks later.

Guess who was the prime suspect in the case - Richard Lee Walker. He remains a free man, because authorities don't have enough evidence against him.

Judge Rapkin's record speaks for itself in these two cases.

Yet Rapkin says he did nothing wrong - and says he's not to blame.

[Cubs Fan]

A doctor could be sued, lose his license or even be jailed if his negligence lead to someone's death. Yet a judge like this guy can help kill two people and there are no consequences.

IMO the legal system needs to be more accountable. judges who screw up should be held personally acocuntable, sued, disbarred or even jailed when they are negligent.

[FormerACLUmember]

Never, ever, ever vote for a lawyer if you seek justice and judicial reform. Beginning with mega-shysters John Edwards and Hillary.

[DonQ]

Looks like now it's Jeb Bush who has his own Willie Horton ... and this time he's white.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Every parolee who violates his terms should be returned to prison to serve their full term. If this means the budget for prisons must be increased, so be it. If the public votes against these budget increases (or other re-allocations), then they (sadly) reap their reward.

[giznort]

I saw this film clip, and was speechless over the arrogance of this judge. He called O'Reilly scum and seemed to be very upset that he was even being questionned about his ruling. Excuse me, but he is employed by "the people". And when "the people" (i.e., his employers) question his judgment, he owes them the honor of an honest answer. His arrogant and disdainful response spoke legions about his self-righteousness and lack of accountability to his emnployers. What a P.O.S.!!!

[ILBBACH]

Looks like now it's Jeb Bush who has his own Willie Horton ... and this time he's white.

Uh, didn't Dukasis sign a bill to give violent offenders weekend furloughs, which led directly to Willie Horton getting out and killing another person?

How exactly is Jeb Bush responsible for a judge not keeping criminals behind bars when that judge is the one with the power to do so...

Or am I missing something?

[NonValueAdded]

That would be true only if Jeb appointed circuit court justices. County judges are elected by the people in a non-partisan election. County judges are up for re-election periodically and Rapkin comes up THIS November for a retention vote. Lawton Chiles was governor when Rapkin was elected to the court but Chiles had nothing to do with it either. I'm pretty sure the Governor cannot do much in this case. It's probably up to the people of the county (get started!) or, heaven help us, the Florida Supreme Court.

Also, not to defend the judge but there is a factual error in that Rapkin did not release JS from custody but rather refused to issue a warrant. What Rapkin did is reprehensible and a pattern if what O'Reilly says is true, but I want to know who put JS on parole instead of behind bars originally. Rapkin was 13th in a line of judicial errors.

[Bommer]

....He called O'Reilly scum

The judge is a dick I agree, but he discribed O'Reilly to a tee! Should have added, a self-absorbed scum!

[Elkiejg]

Agree with your opinion of O'Reilly - and I used to like his show - but have to give him credit. He's been relentless in exposing stupid, criminal, negligent judges like this one. They do more to hurt our society that we know. They care more for the criminals than they do the victims.

[dalebert]

Is anyone going to blame the judge? I wonder how some of them sleep at night.

[KneelBeforeZod]

more sacrifices upon the altar of liberalism

[tioga]

o'reilly is a big idiot at times, but he will be relentless about this judge, who should take note that a certain FL professor was arrested after a relentless rant from o'reilly. The judge would be foolish to continue in the vein, but I hope he does, it will only inflame o'reilly. Good riddance to bad judges.

[Cubs Fan]

Also, not to defend the judge but there is a factual error in that Rapkin did not release JS from custody but rather refused to issue a warrant.

I am not positive in this, but I think what happened is as follows--

The parole officer sent a note to Rapkin saying Smith didn't pay a court fine (fee?) and tested positive for drugs (two violations). It was then up to the judge to decide whether Smith should return to jail. The judge did nothing (never sent him back, never had a hearing about it which is SOP) so they had to let him go.

[Cubs Fan]

I agree O'reilly has his problems (his flip flop on Iraq WMDs for one big one)

but there's only one high profile guy out there going after judges who screw up and let criminals out (or are overly lenient) and that's a O'reilly. WHatever else may be wrong with him, IMO he is filling a valuable niche that no one else seems to be.

[EEDUDE]

You folks want to talk about judges not being accountable? Take a close look at Family Court judges! There IS NO court of appeals for the decisions THEY make. In fact, generally the cases are sealed.

Many so called "deadbeat dads" who are really loving, responsible parents are kept from their children and financially ruined by judges that many times carry the feminist battle flag. I'm sure there are those who have a pro-male bias as well, but I haven't seen many. This is scandalous, but you can't believe it really happens until it happens to YOU.

The problem in both cases is a lack of scrutiny by the public. I suspect that had the good citizens of Florida understood what Rapkin was doing, he would have been recalled. You never hear about these things until it's too late.

We need a better way of judging the judges!

[floriduh voter]

I live in the viewing area and I watched the Memorial Service this evening. The family is tight with the Sheriff and Fire Dept. They don't even mention the judicial system. It was tough to see all those young children in tears. JUDGE RAPKIN should be investigated and definitely voted out this fall 2004. By the way, check out the Tallahassee Democrat on line. A judge in Tallahassee sent an angry email to probation officers throughout Florida, in an attempt to PUT A BANDAID ON THE SYSTEM until the legislature does the right thing.

[floriduh voter]

SOFT ON CRIME and totally arrogant and cavalier. He's never said Carlie's name. Sarasota's not that big of an area. Rapkin should resign if he could not recall the piece of scum called Smith who had a rap sheet as long as Rapkin's sorry, useless arm. The stroke of his pen CONTRIBUTED TO THE MURDER OF CARLIE BRUCIA.

[floriduh voter]

Carlie's Dad has been blaming the Judge since Day One. Bill O' Reilly had he dad on tonight. Floridians are with O" Reilly on this one.

[floriduh voter]

see 17. It sounds like you.

[floriduh voter]

Greta's covering this case, just showed some of the Memorial Service.