82 Year Old Widow has Home Seized for Son's sins.

Associated Press | 1-11-02 | Associated Press

[LloydofDSS]

Jan 11, 2002 Widow's Home Seized After Son's Arrest for Drug Possession The Associated Press ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Police have seized the house of an 82-year-old widow because they say she knew her son dealt drugs there and did nothing to stop him. Fannie Gresham's small home was seized Thursday under a state law allowing authorities to confiscate property linked to the illegal drug trade. Authorities also arrested her 50-year-old son, Tommie "Top Dollar" Gresham, on a drug charge after he allegedly dropped several rocks of crack cocaine and fled. Police records show 29 incidents of drug activity at the address since 1992 and authorities say drug dealers were caught numerous times fetching drugs from the house for street sales. Based on that, and police claims that the elder, widowed Gresham was helping her son's alleged operation, Superior Court Judge Stephen Boswell issued a court order in December allowing the seizure. Boswell gave Fannie Gresham 14 days to move her belongings. Her attorney, Jim Smith, likened the seizure to the widespread illegal taking of property and land from blacks that he says tarnishes America's past. "They have never seized any drugs in this house. This lady is not accused of a single thing," he said. Police predicted more such seizures as they crack down on the drug trade in the city's troubled neighborhoods. A hearing on the seizure has been scheduled in February.

[LloydofDSS]

How do they expect an 82 year old woman to stop her 50 year old son from dealing drugs? Why does she have to pay for his sins?

[weikel]

The drug warriors on FR will come up with a bogus reason believe me.

[butter pecan fan]

How do they expect an 82 year old woman to stop her 50 year old son from dealing drugs? Why does she have to pay for his sins?

I could be wrong here, but I'm thinking frail 82-year-old woman with brittle bones who's afraid of her 6-foot son...

[DoughtyOne]

Actually this is one drug warrior that won't. I don't believe in confiscation before a conviction. And that penalty should only be exercised after a jury agrees that it should. I do not belive in no-knock raids. And I do not believe in 85 year old women being thrown out on the streets. Hate to burst your bubble, but I don't believe in legalized drug abuse either.

[weikel]

Thats good it shows your rational. But why do you think taxpayer money should be wasted stopping people from ingesting whatever they want into their bodies.

[Moonman62]

Is this the correct title for the article? Why didn't you provide a URL?

[Johnny_Apollo]

There was a similar case in Pompano Beach Fla, about 15 years ago, but the woman wasn't even connected to her son's activities that closely. He had PAID for her condo with the proceeds (supposedly) of his drug deals, and they confiscated her condo because of it. She didn't even live with him, and she too was in her eighties. She probably, almost certainly, had no idea where the money came from, not many drug dealers tell their 80+ year old mothers what they do for a living. They should have at least let her live there until she passed away, if they wanted to be dicks about the whole thing.

[GeronL]

Government over-does it again... these stupid laws must be changed. Maybe media coverage can help....

punish the bad guys, not the people they force themselves upon.. this woman couldn't stop the guy if she wanted to, without shooting him.

[GeronL]

I'm also against drugs, I don't think we should punish those who aren't guilty though.

[xm177e2]

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20020111/us/home_seized_1.html -- The title at this location is "Home Seized After Son's Drug Arrest," I don't know if the same title is used everywhere.

[firebrand]

In New York you are thrown out of public housing if there is drug dealing going on, even if you say you didn't know about it---too easy to say you didn't know when you did. ("What pit bull? I never even noticed that we have a dog. It doesn't bark, I know that much!")

Thanks to Rick Lazio I might add.

[capitan_refugio]

"How do they expect an 82 year old woman to stop her 50 year old son from dealing drugs?"

WE TIP Hotline

[RLK]

This is entirely ridiculous. To qualify as an act of criminality, that act must have at its heart an element of volition or control over the situation. In this case, an 82 year old woman lacks that capacity. The veil should be pierced on this one bringing personal suit for damages and punitive compensation agains the police, prosecutors, or others involved on the bases that they lose protection of their office by knowingly and willingly misapplied the law. Are there no competent attornys remaining in the country.t

[CubicleGuy]

It's the new and improved, government-run "Stoolie Recruitment Program":

"Fink on the kid, grannie, or we take your house. Oh, and thank you for your kind cooperation."

[The KG9 Kid]

Society demands this woman lose her home so that taxpayers may support her now that she's homeless.

That's how it works these days.

[athiestwithagun]

She probably cannot sue.

The government may not be required to compensate an owner for property which it has already lawfully acquired under the exercise of governmental authority.

Bennis v. Michigan (94-8729), 517 U.S. 1163 (1996)

In short, the State can take pretty much anything it wants.

[Aric2000]

This whole thing stinks to high heaven, to take property without a trial and conviction is against all basic tenets of the constitution. Whatever happened to this?

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated

Oh, that's right, the constitution is a living breathing document. My mistake, so sorry.

This is a crock, the constitution is there for a reason, and they just ignore it.

Whatever happened to the constitution? It seems to have gotten lost somewhere...

[Polybius]

How do they expect an 82 year old woman to stop her 50 year old son from dealing drugs?

The same way that the Unabomber's brother stopped the Unabomber from blowing up any more victims. Pick up the phone, call the Police and report the crime.

[pariah]

Whatever happened to the constitution? It seems to have gotten lost somewhere...

It's not lost. It's currently in the possession of the DEA, where they use it for a doormat.

[Sandy]

Not necessarily. If Georgia law allows for an innocent owner defense, then this lady will have the privilege of trying to prove that she didn't/couldn't know about the illegal activity. If she convinces the court, she gets her property back.