Clay County 65-year-old sentenced in '10-20-Life' case gets new trial

Florida Times Union ^ | November 22, 2013 | Larry Hannan

[Uncle Chip]

A 65-year-old Keystone Heights man sentenced to 20 years in jail for firing shots into the ground will be getting a new trial.

Ronald Joseph Thompson had his conviction tossed out this week by Circuit Judge Don Lester. He was released pending that new trial, said Greg Newburn, director of Families Against Mandatory Minimums Florida Project.

The judge found that the jury instructions in Thompson's original trial were misleading regarding the justifiable use of deadly and non-deadly force.

A new trial is the latest twist in a saga that has wrapped Thompson in controversy over the state's "10-20-Life" statutes.

A jury convicted Thompson of four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm in a September 2009 shooting that occurred at a neighbor's home.

Clay County authorities said he fired at least two shots into the ground in the vicinity of a teenager and his friends after the boy got into a quarrel with his grandmother.

Prosecutors said he faced no serious threat when he fired the gun.

Thompson was originally sentenced to three years in jail by Circuit Judge John Skinner, who declared the "10-20-Life" statutes unconstitutional. Under that law, the judge was required to sentence Thompson to at least 20 years.

The State Attorney's Office appealed the sentence successfully, with the 1st District Court of Appeal ordering Skinner to resentence Thompson. The appellate court then removed Skinner and assigned Lester to the case.

Lester did sentence Thompson to the 20 years in March, but vacated that decision by throwing out the case this week.

Thompson's case has drawn the support of organizations like Families Against Mandatory Minimums, which argues that minimum sentences of 20 years are inhumane.

Newburn called on State Attorney Angela Corey to free Thompson....

[Uncle Chip]

Another Angela Corey case overturned

[Frank_2001]

They offered him a plea deal with a three year sentence, he should have taken it and he’d be out of jail now!

[Uncle Chip]

20 years for firing two shots into the ground to get somebody’s attention —

[EEGator]

Bush’s fault.

[chaosagent]

Ahh, he is out of jail after three years now.

[P-Marlowe]

When I went in for jury duty the judge asked me whether I would follow his instructions. I told him that it depended on what they were. I explained that in many cases following a judge’s instructions can lead to a miscarriage of justice and I pointed to a couple of cases like this.

I was thanked for coming in and excused from service.

[trebb]

When I went in for jury duty the judge asked me whether I would follow his instructions. I told him that it depended on what they were. I explained that in many cases following a judge’s instructions can lead to a miscarriage of justice and I pointed to a couple of cases like this. I was thanked for coming in and excused from service.

I always say yes - once on a jury, I can decide how applicable the orders are - disqualifying yourself may not be what's best for the justice system...

[VeniVidiVici]

Circuit Judge John Skinner, who declared the "10-20-Life" statutes unconstitutional

WTF? Another activist judge that should be tarred and feathered.

While I agree this guy should not have gotten 20 years for what he did the solution would have been no charges filed to begin with.

[Figment]

Warning shots? If he wasn’t justified in shooting the perps, he wasn’t justified in shooting

[Uncle Chip]

Says who???

Tell that to the kid who is alive today because he didn’t get shot.

There are people who do less time in prison for killing someone than he was sentenced for for just firing warning shots.

[Figment]

I stand by the original statement. If he was justified in shooting at all, he would be justified in shooting the perp

[Uncle Chip]

Following your rules you would be the perp doing 20 years to life while the guy firing the warning shots is out enjoying his life.

[Figment]

“Following your rules you would be the perp doing 20 years to life while the guy firing the warning shots is out enjoying his life.”

You might want to sober up before posting shit like this

[Gene Eric]

Don’t agree.

What’s wrong with firing into the ground for any reason, any time?

Don’t defend crap law.

[Figment]

Don’t defend idiots that have no reason to shoot

[Gene Eric]

Statism is far more dangerous than idiotism. I’d rather deal with idiots.

[xzins]

I’m to report for petit jury duty in the morning. I’ve never done jury duty before, so I’m sort of interested in how it works. But randomly, what of real importance can come before a petit jury on an average day? Probably worth sitting through to get an idea on the workings of these things.

[Hot Tabasco]

vacated that decision by throwing out the case this week.

Any mention of the attorney fees Mr. Thompson had to pay out?

[P-Marlowe]

You’ll probably get booted for being a pastor. Most lawyers are hesitant to put pastors and lawyers on juries because they both make a living persuading people to their point of view.

As a general rule lawyers prefer sheep to shepherds.

[xzins]

Our county being as small as it is, I know the DA personally. My wife was the cross country coach at the high school when his son ran. We stood side by side for hours all around the state watching kids run.

He's a good guy, but I expect they'll ax me anyway for just the reason you mention.

In fact, bleeding heart me went to court a month or so ago to plead with him to put the child of a church member in an extremely long drug rehab program far, far away from here. She needed it, but she was no daisy. He worked it out for her, but I suspect I've used up all my indulgences.