Posted on 08/04/2004 3:42:33 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
TAVARES, Fla. -- A Lake County judge may have set a new record. Donna Miller allowed a man to walk away from the jail Sunday after posting twelve cents in bond.
While 12 cents can't get you a cup of coffee or a newspaper anymore, Judge Miller says, in this unique situation, it was enough to bond a man out of jail.
In the first appearance room at the Lake County jail Sunday, Miller says one man's behavior was startling.
"Crying, then singing, then screaming, then happy, then sad," she explains.
James Hennes was arrested for trespassing at a mental facility. Since Miller didn't think he was a danger, she could have released him from the jail on his own recognizance, meaning he wouldn't post any money. But another judge did that on a previous arrest and Hennes slept in the lobby of the jail.
"I try to be creative and structure things that will change people's behavior," Miller says.
So she gave Hennes an option: stay in jail or post bond with whatever money he had. The trouble is, he only had 12 cents. But, Miller went ahead and set the bond at that very amount.
"He immediately calmed down and felt empowered that the decision was in his hands," says Miller.
Hennes posted the 12 cents and did not sleep in the lobby that night.
But, this is not the first unusual ruling to come from Judge Miller's courtroom. A woman charged with battery was told she had to go running every day. A man caught driving with no license had to spend time with the cartoonist from a newspaper. Another man had to listen to an inspirational talk from a paralyzed man, who happens to be Miller's son.
Miller says she knows there are critics, but she's confident in her decisions.
"Whatever it takes to change people's behavior," she says.
This past spring, Miller sentenced a man to work in her courtroom for 10 hours, even though she admits he sometimes exhibited behavior that scared some people. When the sheriff's office heard this, they asked the judge to change her decision and she agreed.
'I'll give you my two cents worth'.......... wasn't good enough?
Sounds like the 'oh-so-animated', Teraaayza!
"James Hennes was arrested for trespassing at a mental facility."
Hummm, was he trying to get IN??
Sounds like he should've been welcomed with open arms!
"A woman charged with battery was told she had to go running every day"
The energizer bunny?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.