Driver who nursed infant found innocent of child endangerment, convicted of lesser charges

SFGate/AP ^ | 8/8/03 | M.R. Kropko

[Dane]

A woman who belonged to an obscure religious sect was found innocent Friday of child endangerment for breast-feeding her baby while driving, but was convicted of three lesser charges.

Catherine Nicole Donkers, 29, was found guilty of violating child-restraint laws, driving without a valid driver's license and fleeing police while on the Ohio Turnpike in May.

[Dane]

Judge Donald Martell said he would postpone sentencing to investigate Donkers "because I feel I need to know more about you." He issued his ruling after closing arguments in a three-day trial and did not schedule a sentencing date

Sheesh Judge Martell, why are you acting like an elitist tenured "Professor" in Sociology.

[Enterprise]

Hell, just give her a suspended sentence be done with it.

[thinktwice]

Prosecutors recommended Donkers be sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine instead of the maximum one year in jail and $2,000.

No victim, no crime -- That's what freedom is about.

[JennysCool]

Judge Donald Martell said he would postpone sentencing to investigate Donkers "because I feel I need to know more about you."

It sounds like he's more interested in, shall we say, "examining the evidence" a little more closely.

[new cruelty]

He seems genuinely concerned about staying abreast of the situation.


: ]

[mhking]

Donkers had what appeared to be a homemade Pennsylvania identification card instead of a driver's license.

Can you say "from a box of Cap'n Crunch," boys & girls?

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[colorado tanker]

I feel I need to know more about you

Somehow I get the feeling that the less the judge knows about "bonkers Donkers" the better off she'll be.

[irgbar-man]

How much more can we milk out of this saga?

[new cruelty]

Are you suggesting some have made mountains out of mole hills? In any event, it looks like Donkers is resigned to taking her lumps (once the judge gets to know her better).

[Howlin]

Lookie here!

[Howlin]

Me, too!

She ain't gonna like jail; imagine all the injustices she'll find in there; LAWSUIT!

[mhking]

Just Zot her and be done with it...

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[colorado tanker]

She ain't gonna like jail; imagine all the injustices she'll find in there

I can hear her now. "You want to search WHERE for WHAT?!"

[general_re]

It's okay - remember, she can't go to jail without hubby's permission...

[tsmith130]

Candy-a** court

[Howlin]

ROFLMAO.........I just spit ALL OVER my computer.....

Of course, you are right! How could I have forgotten!

[colorado tanker]

My wife seems to think she has authority over me. Maybe they're on to something in that sect.

[KineticKitty]

I'm imagining her reaction to being registered within the prison and when she receives her inmate number... Wasn't it her husband that referred to Social Security Numbers as the cataloging human flesh? lol, Oh the humanity of it all.

Just to think about what she was risking (in her own vehicle) and those she choose to put at risk outside of her car. I am thankful that no one got hurt while she was zipping down the highway breastfeeding, on a cell phone, and also that her child didn't become a human airbag.

[al_c]

Hmmm ... "interesting" sect. Sounds like a perfect fit for some of our fellow FReepers. ;o)

[TomB]

She ain't gonna like jail; imagine all the injustices she'll find in there; LAWSUIT!

The delicious irony here is that these idiots were offered a plea bargain. If she would have pled guilty to violating child-restraint laws, AND NOTHING ELSE, she would have gotten off with a $100 fine. But we all know that Couneslor Brad had everything figured out, so they went to trial.

Nice move, Brad!