Life without Parole for nonviolent Cannabis conviction

[planetdoc]

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dai...efforts_co.php



Efforts to release Jeff Mizanskey, the only man in Missouri serving a life-without-parole sentence for a nonviolent marijuana charge, are continuing this month with help from Show-Me Cannabis and Change.org.

Show-Me Cannabis has bought billboard space on I-70 near Kansas City (and near Sedalia, where Mizanskey was arrested). The billboard features a photo of Mizanskey and says: "Life without parole for cannabis? It's time we fix our unjust marijuana laws."

Jeff Mizanskey was convicted under Missouri's "Prior and Persistent Drug Offender" statute, the only drug-specific three-strike law in the country. Each of his felonies were for marijuana, the largest being approximately six pounds, which he didn't even have on him. To read the details of Mizanskey's story, go to: How a Missouri Man Could Die in Prison for Weed

[FishingRod]

Stupid guy is stupid. But if I lived in MO I would encourage my state to repeal this law and recommend Commutation of sentence. The cost of keeping him locked up is not a good use of tax dollars

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by notorious

planetdoc, please don't post a quote by MLK that had to deal with Civil Rights and Segregation in a thread about a dumbass that likes to smoke weed.

1. MLK didnt limit his ideas to civil rights and segregation. He has a lot of quotes and speeches in regards to unjust laws.

2. I would think MLK would be in favor of cannabis reform. The history of the laws itself were written to unfairly target minorities (mainly African Americans).

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Too many people running around thinking they are going to start a revolution or something... It's America, shits not gonna change.

This forum was able to organize "save our chiefs" and get banners flown, billboards put up, and fans to wear black on game day to show displeasure against the Pioli regime. Dont discount the power of the common man.

[Bwana]

I think that is a long time to be hanging in a cell for weed. On the other hand life is full of choices, we all have choices to make and this guy made some bad ones.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

This forum was able to organize "save our chiefs" and get banners flown, billboards put up, and fans to wear black on game day to show displeasure against the Pioli regime. Dont discount the power of the common man.

yup, I can see all the dope smokers getting together to raise a ruckus...

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

yup, I can see all the dope smokers getting together to raise a ruckus...

one does not have to smoke cannabis to understand the laws against them are unjust.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Cannibal

While it may be true that he should not have broken weed laws 3 times, placing him in prison for life is ****ing ridiculous. Especially when weed is being legalized in so many other places in the country.

This.

Dudes dumb as a brick no doubt, but a life sentence is even dumber.

[planetdoc]

Rare ‘Perry Mason’ moment in court wins dismissal for defendant, desk duty for 5 police officers

A seemingly routine suppression hearing in a suburban Chicago courthouse last month took an unexpected dramatic turn when video from a police car was introduced that disproved the testimony of five police officers.

They had said Joseph Sperling was arrested after officers who pulled him over in a traffic stop smelled marijuana, searched the vehicle and found nearly a pound in a backpack lying on the back seat of his car. But the Glenview police video showed the search occurred only after Sperling was taken from his car, frisked and handcuffed, reports the Chicago Tribune (sub. req.). The newspaper dubbed it "a 'Perry Mason' moment rarely seen inside an actual courtroom."

Castigating the officers for their "outrageous conduct," Cook County Circuit Judge Catherine Haberkorn granted a defense motion to suppress the search, which eliminated a basis for his arrest and resulted in a swift dismissal by prosecutors of the felony drug case against the 23-year-old.

"All the officers lied on the stand today," said Haberkorn, who herself is a former prosecutor, at the March 31 hearing. "So there is strong evidence it was conspiracy to lie in this case, for everyone to come up with the same lie."

The officers were later put on desk duty as investigations of their conduct proceed.

The Tribune says the Glenview arrest of Sperling last June came at the request of Chicago narcotics officers who had Sperling under surveillance. They asked local police to pull him over in a marked car, which occurred when Sperling allegedly failed to use his turn signal (he says he did). Then, one of the Chicago officers testified, he smelled marijuana as he waited for Sperling to produce his license and registration. Sperling testified he was never asked to do so.

The officer, supported by testimony from four other Chicago and Glenview officers, said he ordered Sperling to exit the vehicle and stand by the trunk as he searched it. However, the video shows the search didn't occur until after Sperling was sitting, handcuffed, in a police car.

Another discrepancy in testimony concerned the location of the backpack in which the marijuana was located: Police said it was in plain view on the back seat of the car. Sperling said it was under the seat.

If not for the video, which Sperling's lawyer Steven Goldman got by issuing a subpoena to the Glenview police department, and produced in rebuttal at the suppression hearing, Sperling likely would have been convicted and jailed, the attorney told the newspaper.

perjury that only results in paid desk duty.

[BigMeatballDave]

I wonder if there is a 3-strike law for DUIs?

[notorious]

Originally Posted by BCD

I wonder if there is a 3-strike law for DUIs?

I have read stories about people having 6-7 DUI's.

There should be a 3-strike law IMO.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

Rare ‘Perry Mason’ moment in court wins dismissal for defendant, desk duty for 5 police officers

Sounds like a bunch of BS to me. The guy had a brick of weed, got caught, and is getting off the hook because the cops didn't follow proper procedure. There is no "conspiracy" here. Just cops getting too bold and thinking that they don't have to follow procedure.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

1. MLK didnt limit his ideas to civil rights and segregation. He has a lot of quotes and speeches in regards to unjust laws.

A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.

Humans being treated as equals is just a little different than recreation. Just a little.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Bwana

I think that is a long time to be hanging in a cell for weed. On the other hand life is full of choices, we all have choices to make and this guy made some bad ones.

No. There's no "on the other hand" here. The punishment is absurd and ridiculous and in no way fits the crime. Not reflective of justice in any way, and an embarrassment for Missouri.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

There is no "conspiracy" here. Just cops getting too bold and thinking that they don't have to follow procedure.

http://directives.chicagopolice.org/....html?ownapi=1

The Chicago Police Department, as part of and empowered by the community, is committed to protect the lives, property, and rights of all people, to maintain order, and to enforce the law impartially. We will provide quality police service in partnership with other members of the community. To fulfill our mission, we will strive to attain the highest degree of ethical behavior and professional conduct at all times.”

Cook County Circuit Judge Catherine Haberkorn says this

Originally Posted by article

All the officers lied on the stand today," said Haberkorn. "So there is strong evidence it was conspiracy to lie in this case, for everyone to come up with the same lie."

you might think that there was no conspiracy, but the judge does not.

Perjury is considered a crime against justice, since lying under oath compromises the authority of courts, grand juries, governing bodies, and public officials. State and federal penalties for perjury include fines and/or prison terms upon conviction. Federal law (18 USC § 1621), for example, states that anyone found guilty of the crime will be fined or imprisoned for up to five years. Most state laws have similar provisions.

link

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Bwana

I think that is a long time to be hanging in a cell for weed. On the other hand life is full of choices, we all have choices to make and this guy made some bad ones.

Yep.

I love Marijuana. Since I've gotten my CDL, I cannot risk using any. A failed test and I lose it.