Pair get 8 years for serving beer at party

Washington Times ^ | 2-12-03 | Washington Times

[ambrose]

CHARLOTTESVILLE (AP) — A judge sentenced a husband and wife to eight years in jail Monday for supplying alcohol to teenagers at a birthday party for their son.

Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 90 days for Elisa Kenty Robinson and George Fisher Robinson of Earlysville. They pleaded guilty to 16 misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors.

[xm177e2]

Down with the fascist police state!

[HAL9000]

A judge sentenced a husband and wife to eight years in jail Monday for supplying alcohol to teenagers at a birthday party for their son.

At my high school graduation party, the county judge served the beer. We must have been 500 people at that party. It was wild.

Times have changed.

[ambrose]

What's odd is they would plead guilty to these charges without the benefit of an enforceable plea bargain.

[Cultural Jihad]

Down with the fascist police state!

Sheesh. The pair are guilty of their crimes, O fool. Only liberals and anarchists try to whine and moan over the consequences to actions. File this one under: "Actions Have Consequences."

[Defiant]

That the sentence was legal does not make it just.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

Sounds like this judge really gave 'em 'justice', ie. 'just as' many years as the law allows.

[vbmoneyspender]

File this one under: "Actions Have Consequences."

Yes sir, Inspector Javert.

[cherry]

good for him......

[Bonaparte]

You only get offered a plea bargain when either 1) the evidence against you is weak, or 2) you have the bucks to engage in a major legal battle.

[Bonaparte]

Of course, there's another way to get a plea bargain, namely, turning state's evidence. But that wouldn't apply here.

They'll probably be out in about two and a half years.

[Quix]

Defiant?

Interesting chosen name.

Just sentence? Wonder what the dead girl thinks about it from her eternal perspective.

Wonder what her parents think about it.

I suspect if it keeps one of those youth at the party from becoming alcoholic and crashing into yet another youth to the youth's death--the sentence will have been more than just.

Of course, the first part of the brain to be anesthetized by alcohol is the judgement center that decides what is too much/not enough; what is too close/not close enough etc.

Did you have anything to drink before responding to this post?

No, I'm not a teetottler. But I've counseled enough alcohol groups and individuals--I support the judge's decision. . . . though I think he should have let the community know his attitude toward such things beforehand. Nevertheless, the couple knew the law. They said F***-it to the law and to the lives and responsibilities of the teens at the party as well as to their own responsibilities as adults and role models. It's quite fitting to me for the law to turn around and respond in kind. They have reaped merely what they've sown.

[BullDog108]

I cannot believe that I agree with you Quix!

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Eight years jail, for serving beer to teenagers?

What kind of fascist insanity is that? Or is this from The Onion?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..only liberals and anarchists try to whine and moan over the consequences to actions. File this one under: "Actions Have Consequences."...

(:^D)

You've become a complete parody of yourself, CJ. Sure you wouldn't feel more at home with the Taliban?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...I suspect if it keeps one of those youth at the party from becoming alcoholic and crashing into yet another youth to the youth's death--the sentence will have been more than just....

Sure.

'For the children'... 'if it saves one life'... get back to the village, Hillary.

[zarf]

Are you sure this story isn't dateline Tehran?

[RichInOC]

I don't dispute that the Robinsons broke the law, and had earned some punishment, but the prosecutors' motion is closer to reality. Eight years for buying beer and coolers for their kid's party isn't even funny. If somebody'd gotten hurt at this party, but then if somebody'd gotten hurt, they'd be facing a lot more serious charges. If I didn't know better, I'd suggest that Judge Johnson had been smoking something in chambers.

[DJ Frisat]

Clearly these are stupid and irresponsible people with respect to this single issue. But the sentence is, IMHO, way out of proportion.

I would like to hear details not mentioned -- for example, what happened to the principles in the drunk driving case where the girl was killed? And the person or persons who served their alcohol?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Not to be argumentative, amigo, but you know how we were talking about whether it's me, or FR, that's changed? I'll admit some of your darts hit home. But just take a look at these Freepers saying **eight years** in the slam is a fair sentence, for serving beer to minors in your own home. Can you imagine that happening, three or four years ago? Do you remember how much we used to collectively revile that kind of authoritarian goosestepping mindset? So, who's changed? Gladdened to see a few posters of principle have stepped up to the plate to call this outrage for what it is, btw. Cheers, By.

[RJCogburn]

I guess the son will do real well for the next several years with no parents around.

Idiot judge.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[weikel]

This is BS the judge should be hanged.

[decimon]

The judge refused, saying he saw the Robinsons as "a danger to the community."

Ban the guns! No dogs over 10 pounds! Pools kill! SUVs crunch children like roaches!

[Yeti]

At my high school graduation party, the county judge served the beer.
....Times have changed.

They sure have! Scary...

Many of us have anecdotes like yours. I know I do!

What strikes me as so odd is that the prosecutor only asked for a 90 day sentence, but the judge gave them 8 years!

Somewhere between the irresponsible, destructive, anything-goes mentality of yesteryear and the Church-Lady-jihad we are experiencing lately is a reasonably governed society.

I would furious if I found out about a parent getting my daughter drunk at a party, but an eight year sentence when apparently nobody got hurt is insane.

[RWG]

At my high school graduation party, the county judge served the beer. We must have been 500 people at that party. It was wild...the groundwork for all the carnage on the highways, domestic assaults, addiction, and gateway to the harder stuff.

[weikel]

I don't drink and I think its stupid... however the drinking age is unrealistic and this judge ought to be hanged. Hell in Cape Cod I hosted a part for buddies when my parents were out guess I should get 8 years too.

[Ron H.]

I too find myself having to agree with your position here Quix. Actions alway have consequences as they should.

[11B3]

An eight year sentence for this is way out of line! Hell, we've got baby rapers around here that only do 3-5 years. Or murderers doing 4-7 years. OTOH, we've got first time drug dealers doing 25-life. Go figure.

[eeriegeno]

The Robinson's do hard time while OJ, MJ, WJC, and many many others walk the street! Only in America...........

[weikel]

The country is mad...

[apillar]

Sounds like the judge was trying to make a "tough on crime" political statement from the bench probably up for reelection soon.

Odds are that the sentence will be reduced to the 90 days the PA wanted on appeal, as the appeal courts tend to take a dim view of sentences way greater than even the PA wanted.

[weikel]

Sounds like the judge was trying to make a "tough on crime" political statement from the bench probably up for reelection soon

Judges should never be elected.

[TheConservator]

I just watched a sentencing yesterday. The guy was a career criminal, his ninth felony conviction (but no crimes of violence). He was convicted of forgery (trying to pass a stolen check). He was given two years.

These parents apparently made one stupid mistake. They do not appear to be career criminals. Just the embarassment and the cost of dealing with the criminal conviction would be enough to deter most normal people from ever doing anything remotely like this again. They do not appear to pose any kind of continuing threat. But they get 8 years?

No way. They deserved about 30 days in jail, and maybe about 2 years worth of community service with an anti drug/alcohol component. But the lengthy consecutive sentences the judge imposed will not do either them, or society, any good.

[Wolfie]

Hey, you give a dangerous drug to kids, you take your chances. It's an "American Thing".

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...you give a dangerous drug to kids, you take your chances...

Thanks for that typically inane response, Wolfie.

Hey, talking about drugs, I clicked your 'find in forum' page. Got your drug thread habit under control, bud?

[banjo joe]

Good point: what now happens to the kid? If stupidity were a crime they should probably get some time. But even with 2-1/2 years served they're pretty much ruined. Who is making the house payment? Home is gone. What kind of jobs will they get when released? If you have a serious job or career you can't stand still for 2+ years.

[KC_for_Freedom]

As a former teacher, I have had to leave parties thrown by parents because alcohol was available to the students, most often the well off student body, athletes and student government. It was distressing that this was going on with parental consent. I did not know how wide spread it was. I would of course have lost my teaching credential for serving booze to minors. (And one teacher I know made that mistake).

This judge is calling attention to a real problem in a very novel way, actually enforcing the law. At the very least, the parents will pay some hefty legal fees.

[Wolfie]

Just looking for a little intellectual consistency from the "controller" types. I should have known better, bud.

[RGSpincich]

Provide alcohol to my underage kid and this sentence is a walk in the park. An adult offering booze (beer and wine is booze) is a free pass for most kids. They have been taught to resist peer pressure but an adult? It's a blindside for most kids.
Article says teenagers were served at a birthday party. Not a graduation party with 17 and 18 yr olds. An open party with 13,14,15 yr olds being served alcohol. People want to screw up thieir own kids, have at it. The parents in a community trust other parents to "keep an eye out" for their kids when under their control, these parents violated that trust.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The sentence SEEMS out of proportion. Any picture of te judge? The perps?

[ofMagog]

Well said.

[SauronOfMordor]

Odds are that the sentence will be reduced to the 90 days the PA wanted on appeal, as the appeal courts tend to take a dim view of sentences way greater than even the PA wanted.

Even if overturned, the legal costs of the appeal will probably bankrupt the couple. This whole thing is stupid. A few weekends in jail would have sent the message.

[SamAdams76]

Eight years in jail for serving beer in your own home is utterly unspeakable. And anybody who supports this kind of sentencing is acting like a knee-jerk anti-American fascist.

Sorry if this offends some on this thread who have come out in support of this insane sentence. But I find it absolutely incredible that so-called conservatives, who generally want to keep government out of our lives and who generally believe in taking responsibility for one's own actions, would come out in support of the police-state that our country is rapidly becoming. This is what the liberal/Marxists want. Soon they will be putting people in jail for exposing teenagers to second-hand smoke. Just wait and see. Will the same folks cheering this sentence be cheering then as well?

Were the parents foolish in supplying liquor to underage teenagers? Absolutely. Should they be held accountable? Absolutely. Do they deserve eight years in jail? Absolutely not. This is totally crazy. Especially when wife-beaters and armed robbers and even some rapists are treated more leniently by our court system. And especially when the president of the United States is allowed to have his underling perform oral sex upon him in the workplace and get away scot-free. We really need to get our priorities straight in this country. When even the conservatives are getting on the nanny government bandwagon, I begin to get concerned.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Judges should never be elected.

I used to think that too, now I'm not sure. Appointments give us Maria Lopez.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Sheesh. The pair are guilty of their crimes, O fool. Only liberals and anarchists try to whine and moan over the consequences to actions. File this one under: "Actions Have Consequences."

Amendment VIII - Cruel and Unusual punishment. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

[FreeTally]

Those are exactly my feelings, Sam.

[thepitts]

If you think that an 8 year sentence, based in part on the death of a girl that these people had nothing to do with, is "justice" you are a bigger idiot than everyone suspected.