| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
Watch your back out there! This guy will serve about 9 years. Gotta love the 3 strikes law and all the drug users serving life (ie taking up valuable prison space in place of guys like this who really deserve to serve more than 50% of his sentence!) travesty. http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/loc al&id=8165418 FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Jose Calderon was sentenced to 18 years in prison for causing the deaths of two people in a drunk driving crash last year. The collision occurred last April at McKinley and Blackstone. Kenneth Klein, a substance abuse counselor and Jerry Lynn Perry were sitting at the intersection when the car driven by Calderon slammed into them at a high rate of speed. Calderon kept going, dragging the motorcycle. Police caught him when his vehicle stalled. At his sentencing on Wednesday Perry's sister, Marla Hartley expressed her feelings towards him. "This man comes along with no regard for anyone," said Hartley. "I miss my sister, I'm sorry he did this, I'm angry." Len Giradella, a close friend of both victims told the court Calderon should be held accountable. "I am not without compassion for him but that is tempered by the fact he still has his life. He still has his life and my two friends don't." Calderon addressed the court, and apologized. "Nothing I do or nothing I say will bring Mr. Kleineor Miss Perry back, but I couldn't live with myself if I didn't make things right with you your friends and your loved one. I hope and pray you can find it in your hearts to forgive me one day. I know it may be too much to ask, but please understand it was an accident. I've never been a non caring person, I just made a poor decision." The prosecutor said the fact Calderon was drunk, had smoked marijuana and was driving at a high rate of speed, nearly 100 miles per hour were aggravating circumstances. She wanted the maximum sentence. The judge agreed, and sentenced Calderon to 18 years and 8 months in state prison. Calderon's attorney, Vijay Dinaker had hoped for less time. Dinaker said, "I thought it was harsh, actually, I thought the judge was going to come back maybe 14 years, he came back with the most harsh sentence he could under the law." Calderon's family members were upset and did not want to talk. Marla Hartley hopes Calderon gets help in prison, but knows that's not likely. "Yes, he should have an opportunity eventually to get out and have a life, but he should be in there enough time to pay for what he's done. I think it's a shame that our system does not really fix people all it does is warehouse them but yes you do have to pay a price." While sentenced to 18 years, with time served his attorney says Calderon will likely serve about nine years in prison. Calderon is 25, is married and has three children. His victims were both in their 50's. (Message edited by fresnobuell on June 02, 2011) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Prison time is as much a warning and an example to others as it is a punishment for the crime committed. It wasn't an "accident". It was the outcome of several deliberate and intentional choices. We ALL make these choices every day. The punishment is encouragement to others to make better choices. I've never read and NTSB plane crash report where the conclusion was "accident". As a society, we have lost the benefit of cause and effect, of actions having consequences. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
well put Fatty... if he wouldn't have made the CHOICE to have a drink or smoke some pot... maybe, none of this would have happened | ||
| Jb2 |
>>> As a society, we have lost the benefit of cause and effect, of actions having consequences. Amen Fatty. The kid that killed my Dad got a whopping 45 days in jail. He was arrogant and defiant in the courtroom and was up on multiple charges. They lumped his vehicular manslaughter charges in with two other cases at his final sentencing. The court felt sorry for him and and gave him the leanest sentence on each charge. We have a president who chooses the laws he follows(defiance of the War Powers Act) backed up by liberal circuit courts who interpret the laws as they see fit. It doesn't set a very good example for people who have little respect for the laws of our country. | ||
| Britchri10 |
My father always told me that accidents don't just happen they are caused as a direct consequence of choices made. I'm no angel when it comes to making choices but I believe that I am responsible for my actions and I need to set a good example for my family & for society at large. Chris C | ||
| Pwnzor |
Harlan, This scumbag will serve almost 16 years. His crime, because it involves multiple victims and corresponding felonies, puts him in the 85% bracket instead of the 55% bracket. From the 15.8 years, subtract the amount of "good time" and "work time" he can earn during his stay, and it could be as low as 9 years, but ONLY if he can COMPLETELY avoid any gang affiliation or altercations resulting in write-ups while he is there. When he gets to the classification yard in Wasco, where he will sit for up to three months in an anything-goes gladiator arena, he will be forced to declare himself either a "Southsider", "Bulldog" or a "Paisano". This is a very dicey situation for someone like him, since Wasco is considered part of the southern California prison system and he has no idea what prison he will end up in for the majority of his sentence. Once he chooses a side (he has no choice but to choose), it will follow him everywhere he goes. If he declares Southside, he better get housed somewhere south of Wasco or he becomes a target. If he declares Paisano, then he better brush up on his spanish and be prepared to smuggle drugs inside his ass. If he declares Bulldog, he better get housed in a central California prison or once again be targeted by his own people. Yes, he can earn credit for good behavior, all the while being beaten and ridiculed regularly by other hispanics. He can earn time off for working, but those jobs are precious commodities and if he doesn't smuggle items into the barracks for the shot-callers, he will be beaten and ridiculed by other hispanics. He'll end up with crappy tattoos, and doing even crappier "jobs" to earn credit with the prison hierarchy... all to his eventual detriment. He's got a very rough road in front of him. Is it enough? No friggin' way. At least the judge did all he could under the law. In the end, don't forget, he has to answer to the ultimate authority. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
he likes drugs ironic he killed a substance abuse councillor. i say give him one last does..and call it good | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Wow Matt, how do you know so much about California prison gangs? Very interesting and a world completely foreign to mainstream society. Crazy to say the least. | ||
| Swordsman |
I suppose if you absolutely refuse to take sides, all three kick your ass. Scary thought. ~SM | ||
| Pwnzor |
Harlan, I spent 2007 in prison in California. SM, If somebody tries to "roll solo", they have two choices: 1) "PC up", ie: get into protective custody with the snitches and chesters. 2) take daily beatings from anyone who feels like throwing down. From any race. Could even end up as somebody's property in the most extreme circumstances. Choice 1 isn't as easy as it sounds, there is very limited space and the warden or steward has to make that decision based on the recommendations of the guards in his barracks. Good luck getting a guard to cooperate ... There is no easy path to take once the doors close behind you. You can't just sit on your rack and do your time. You will be seen as the weakest link and will be targeted for beatings or worse. Inmates have nothing better to do, and yes most inmates do belong in prison. |
