Posted on 08/03/2005 9:39:30 AM PDT by AMTRepub
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. -- A large stash of money believed to have been confiscated from a drug dealer and discovered recently in a police evidence vault belongs to the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge J. Richard Parker had ruled in April that the Elizabeth City Police Department could use the $34,000 to purchase evidence tracking software and investigate drug crimes. Parker reversed himself after an attorney for the school district argued the money should rightfully go to the local schools.
The state Constitution provides that penalties, forfeitures and fines collected for penal crimes must be used by the public schools in the counties in which the crimes occurred.
District Attorney Frank Parrish argued that the money was not collected from court-imposed fines but as evidence. Therefore, the money can be disposed of in any way a judge or magistrate sees fit, he said.
But school board attorney L.P. Hornthal Jr. argued that the money amounted to drug forfeitures.
"I don't think they can get around the case law, I don't think they can get around state statutes, I don't think they can get around the state constitution in this matter," Hornthal said, referring to Parrish and City Attorney Bill Morgan. "I believe it's pretty straight-forward."
The money turned up when the Elizabeth City Police Department did an inventory of evidence in the vault. They uncovered a total of $34,677 in cash, believed to have been confiscated during drug seizures dating back to 1989, when the last inventory was taken.
Chief William Anderson publicly advertised the money, as the law requires, but no one stepped forward to make a claim.
After Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright questioned why the money was not going to the schools, County Manager Randy Keaton brought the matter the attention of the school board.
Very cool. Wish Texas did the same.
NC ping ...
More money - that'll fix the schools!
Re-elect that man!
Elizabeth City Police Department could use the $34,000 to purchase evidence tracking software and investigate drug crimes. Parker reversed himself after an attorney for the school district argued the money should rightfully go to the local schools.
The state Constitution provides that penalties, forfeitures and fines collected for penal crimes must be used by the public schools in the counties in which the crimes occurred.
This year, my son did some great research during Black History Month into legitimate (grounded? Realistic?) American black heroes (not the Mumia types...). Anyway, he chose the name of a wonderful man who IS a hero, and a hall at a college in Elizabeth City is named after him. There wasn't much data about this man, and my son and I did searches through every available means. The man was awesome, and a true Patriot, who changed history in so many different ways, through his character and actions. But during Black History Month? The college didn't list this man -- at all -- as one of their heroes. Oh, no.. it only listed the lefty ones and socialist causes.
I think the money is FAR BETTER given to the police for tracking purposes. But of course the anti-American "tinfoilhatters" would go into full tizzy, if they couldn't do the socialist thing in re education. IF NC weren't harboring as many illegals? Maybe the schools could meet its budgets. Maybe the police could get the equipment they need as funded by the budget -- to keep DRUGS OFF THE STREETS AND OUT OF THE HANDS AND LIVES OF STUDENTS IN K-12. But someone made the law so that "schools" get this "grant" earned by the police departments? hmph. Same ones who wanna give in-state tuition to illegals?
Yeah.. I know what happens to states who emotively support "it's for the children" mantra of the left. Lots of money gets frittered... to grownups with a political partisan agenda. It doesn't reach the classroom.
This is just retarded.. why was the money in a safe? The money its self isnt evidence... the amount is... why didn't they put this money in the bank? $34,667 even in a regular savings account would get interest all the way back from 1989...
The cop shop is at least as Socialist as the schools.
Fine and seizure money SHOULD be rebated to taxpayers. But it is best kept AWAY from teh cops, otherwise corruption gets even more rampant.
Who?
I had no idea.
This law did serve one good purpose. The money from red light cameras was supposed to go to the schools and the company administering the cameras got a huge percentage of the fines. Either the county or city would have to make up the difference to the schools or stop using them. Ha!
Especially in unionized PDs.
They WILL kick your door in to take your guns. Count on it.
I'm from CA: I am NO fan of "unions".
:) Indeed.
You might remember that was part of the plotline for the TV show Miami Vice -- their cool wheels were the result of drug raids and confiscation/forfiture.
Miami Vice was also subsidized by ONDCP propaganda money. Now, in spite of all the propaganda money still flowing into the MSM, it is just laughable to make a TV show about "cool narcs." We no longer think our Stasi is "cool."
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