Original Story: wxyz.com
PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) - He ended a fight over his dog by shooting his neighbor. Tuesday, Charles Simkins learned his sentence.
Vickie Adams stood up before Charles Simkins and talked about what he took from her when he shot her fiancé 45-year-old Edwin Criswell, killing him. A Walled Lake divorce lawyer is reviewing the details of this case.
“I have lost him. I have lost my job. I have lost finances, friends, some family, sleep, peace, and now my home,” said Adams.
She then asked the judge to lock Simkins away for as long as possible.
“I have seen no remorse shown from him and believe he is a dangerous man,” said Adams.
The tragedy that brought her to an Oakland County courtroom happened in Walled Lake in December 2013.
Simpkins, 28, was looking for his dog. He realized his neighbor had the dog. An argument over the dog running unleashed turned physical. Simkins shot Criswell in the leg and called 911 for help.
When given the opportunity in court to make a statement, Simkins apologized.
“To the Criswell’s I would like to say I am very sorry. I know my words are probably empty. I wish almost as much as you that this never happened,” said Simkins.
Defense attorney Todd Flood said the jury sent a message when it convicted his client, not of murder, but of voluntary manslaughter.
“This is not a man who should be thrown away,” said Flood.
He said Simkins is a veteran with post traumatic stress disorder, and the man killed does not lack guilt.
The judge responded saying Simkins had a history of violence and should have gotten help before his rage cost a man his life. She sentenced him to a minimum six years in prison. A Walled Lake divorce lawyer is following this story closely.
Showing posts with label Prison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prison. Show all posts
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Thursday, March 26, 2015
JUDGE SENDS MESSAGE WITH SENTENCE IN TEACHER SEX CASE
Original Story: usatoday.com
DETROIT — Saying there is no room for double standards, an Oakland County judge sentenced a 30-year-old female teacher to spend the next six to 15 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student.
Kathryn Ronk, who taught Spanish at a Catholic high school, could have been sentenced to as little as a year in jail, but Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Nanci Grant opted for prison time Tuesday, noting the boy was 15 at the time. A Westchester County criminal defense lawyer is following this story closely.
Grant was dismayed by letters asking for leniency for Ronk, a former teacher at Bishop Foley High School in Madison Heights, but making no mention of concern for the boy.
"You are dealing with children that are still developing emotionally," Grant said Wednesday. "To have this continuing double standard is unacceptable. The law does not recognize a double standard, the law is clearly on point in terms that these children are developing human beings. This was a person in position with power and influence over him."
Ronk was originally charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct, including rape, but pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. A Memphis sexual harassment lawyer represents clients involved in sexual harassment claims.
Ronk also faces charges in Macomb County because some of the sexual contact took place in the boy's Macomb Township home and in a car in Sterling Heights. A trial date has been set for March 31, although there are ongoing discussions about a plea arrangement.
DETROIT — Saying there is no room for double standards, an Oakland County judge sentenced a 30-year-old female teacher to spend the next six to 15 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student.
Kathryn Ronk, who taught Spanish at a Catholic high school, could have been sentenced to as little as a year in jail, but Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Nanci Grant opted for prison time Tuesday, noting the boy was 15 at the time. A Westchester County criminal defense lawyer is following this story closely.
Grant was dismayed by letters asking for leniency for Ronk, a former teacher at Bishop Foley High School in Madison Heights, but making no mention of concern for the boy.
"You are dealing with children that are still developing emotionally," Grant said Wednesday. "To have this continuing double standard is unacceptable. The law does not recognize a double standard, the law is clearly on point in terms that these children are developing human beings. This was a person in position with power and influence over him."
Ronk was originally charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct, including rape, but pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. A Memphis sexual harassment lawyer represents clients involved in sexual harassment claims.
Ronk also faces charges in Macomb County because some of the sexual contact took place in the boy's Macomb Township home and in a car in Sterling Heights. A trial date has been set for March 31, although there are ongoing discussions about a plea arrangement.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Three Strikes Law Revised thanks to California Proposition 36
story first appeared on mercurynews.com
SAN JOSE -- Cashier Debbie Curry woke up Wednesday to find California voters had given her a priceless gift: hope.
By an overwhelming margin, they'd passed Proposition 36 to revise the state's tough Three Strikes Law.
The new law prohibits judges from imposing a life sentence on most repeat offenders who commit minor crimes. But it also includes a provision that could result in an early release or shorter sentence for Curry's husband -- and up to 3,000 inmates like him who were sentenced to life in prison for nonviolent, relatively minor crimes like stealing a credit card.
In more severe crimes, like those of child abuse, the accused will seek legal counsel from child abuse defense lawyers.
Curry's husband, Charles Airy, has been locked up in Vacaville on a life sentence since 2001 for drug possession. His previous two strikes were for nonviolent burglaries back in the 1960s and 70s, she said.
She's not the only one who envisions a new life for her family. Alberta Manzanares' brother has served 17 years of a life sentence for stealing a credit card in Santa Clara County. His previous strikes also were burglaries, she said.
But just how fast lifers get a resentencing hearing before a judge -- and if they get out early at all -- is likely to depend on where they were convicted. The movement on cases might go more slowly in conservative places like the Central Valley, while in relatively liberal Los Angeles County and the Bay Area, things might move along more efficiently.
Jeff Adachi, San Francisco's public defender and a spokesman for the California Public Defenders Association, estimated it will take six months to a year in most counties.
In contrast, Santa Clara County is nearly ready. The county's acting public defender, Molly O'Neal, has already drawn up a list of 127 three-strikers who may be eligible to apply for a shorter sentence or early release.
O'Neal hopes they can begin getting people out before the end of the year.
The process will be much quicker in Santa Clara County because District Attorney Jeff Rosen promised well before the election that he would seek shorter terms or outright release for at least some three-strikers even if Proposition 36 lost. His office has already done much of the necessary research, cutting down on the need for lengthy court hearings in cases where he and O'Neal agree on a solution.
O'Neal said a Stanford law school graduate who worked on the university's Three Strikes Project is helping with the effort for free. The director of the project, law school Professor Michael Romano, co-authored Proposition 36.
Before public defenders can pursue a new sentence, three-strikers must fill out application forms giving the office permission. They are available on the Santa Clara County Public Defender's website under "Three Strikes Reform Screening Packet.''
In San Mateo County, Public Defender John Digiacinto said he's already received the form back from one eager three-striker.
Digiacinto said he expects it to have a good result.
Los Angeles mother Kathy Lazenby is hoping her son gets out after 11 years, but she's trying hard not to count on it.
SAN JOSE -- Cashier Debbie Curry woke up Wednesday to find California voters had given her a priceless gift: hope.
By an overwhelming margin, they'd passed Proposition 36 to revise the state's tough Three Strikes Law.
The new law prohibits judges from imposing a life sentence on most repeat offenders who commit minor crimes. But it also includes a provision that could result in an early release or shorter sentence for Curry's husband -- and up to 3,000 inmates like him who were sentenced to life in prison for nonviolent, relatively minor crimes like stealing a credit card.
In more severe crimes, like those of child abuse, the accused will seek legal counsel from child abuse defense lawyers.
Curry's husband, Charles Airy, has been locked up in Vacaville on a life sentence since 2001 for drug possession. His previous two strikes were for nonviolent burglaries back in the 1960s and 70s, she said.
She's not the only one who envisions a new life for her family. Alberta Manzanares' brother has served 17 years of a life sentence for stealing a credit card in Santa Clara County. His previous strikes also were burglaries, she said.
Work begins
But just how fast lifers get a resentencing hearing before a judge -- and if they get out early at all -- is likely to depend on where they were convicted. The movement on cases might go more slowly in conservative places like the Central Valley, while in relatively liberal Los Angeles County and the Bay Area, things might move along more efficiently.
Jeff Adachi, San Francisco's public defender and a spokesman for the California Public Defenders Association, estimated it will take six months to a year in most counties.
In contrast, Santa Clara County is nearly ready. The county's acting public defender, Molly O'Neal, has already drawn up a list of 127 three-strikers who may be eligible to apply for a shorter sentence or early release.
O'Neal hopes they can begin getting people out before the end of the year.
The process will be much quicker in Santa Clara County because District Attorney Jeff Rosen promised well before the election that he would seek shorter terms or outright release for at least some three-strikers even if Proposition 36 lost. His office has already done much of the necessary research, cutting down on the need for lengthy court hearings in cases where he and O'Neal agree on a solution.
Volunteer lawyer
O'Neal said a Stanford law school graduate who worked on the university's Three Strikes Project is helping with the effort for free. The director of the project, law school Professor Michael Romano, co-authored Proposition 36.
Before public defenders can pursue a new sentence, three-strikers must fill out application forms giving the office permission. They are available on the Santa Clara County Public Defender's website under "Three Strikes Reform Screening Packet.''
In San Mateo County, Public Defender John Digiacinto said he's already received the form back from one eager three-striker.
Digiacinto said he expects it to have a good result.
Los Angeles mother Kathy Lazenby is hoping her son gets out after 11 years, but she's trying hard not to count on it.
She said they still have a long way to go before he's out, but to him it already feels like Christmas.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tax Evasion Results In Prison Time for Luxury Car Buyer
First appeared in Mercury News
A South Bay white collar criminal will spend 30 months in
prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, authorities said Tuesday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said Gary Linn Packer, 51, did
not report $8.8 million in stock earnings to the IRS after liquidating shares
from his former company, Sunnyvale-based Network Appliance, in 2000. He was
supposed to pay the IRS $1.8 million in taxes from the stock earnings, but
concealed the profits in trusts and by using false identification numbers.
That year, Packer moved from San Jose and bought a $1.2
million home in Morgan Hill using a trust that was not registered with the IRS.
He also used cash to buy an Audi TT, BMW X5 and Volkswagen Cabriolet, and a
condo in Nashville, Tenn.
Most recently living in Wyoming, Packer pleaded guilty to
one count of tax evasion in a San Jose court in November. On Monday, he was
sentenced to 30 months on prison, followed by three years of supervised
release, and ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution.
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