Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:03:48 -0400
From: Candace Steele
Subject: Response to Janet and Rita’s posts
I am having problems believing what I’m reading and I really don’t know why. Was this in the Chatham County Court system? I know of one other situation where a person was encouraged by THEIR court appointed attorney to sign paperwork admitting guilt. Is this how things are handled around this place? I don’t know this family at all. I don’t know if he is guilty or not. BUT, whether he is, or whether he isn’t, how can the punishment be so harsh for a first time offender?
My heart literally hurts for this family. I am the mother of a nine month old child and I can’t begin to imagine how scared that young mother must be. I also was adopted 34 years ago at the age of 18 months. I know how confused I was for a long time after being moved from foster home to foster home before being placed in the loving home of my parents. I just can’t even imagine what the little boy will go through with his daddy being in jail. He finally found stability and now it’s been yanked away from him.
I believe in punishment for crimes committed but the punishment should not exceed the crime. I am a conservative and believe if you can’t do the time. don’t do the crime. I also believe it is our right as citizens of the United States to have our day in court and we shouldn’t be railroaded into saying we’re guilty when we’re not just to make some government employee/contrator’s day easier. I can’t believe the poor family paid all that money to have the screws put to them. Was this a local lawyer?
Is there anything that I can do for the family. I have no legal background so I can’t fight on that front but I can try to provide for the family. Does the mother need food or baby clothes? What can the community do to
help?
So saddened,
Candace Steele
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