Politics & Government

Letter: Case Study of a "Criminal"

Letter's author believes punishment over recent offense was too harsh

Dear Editor:

I bring before you a "crime" case study before the citizens of Pickens County.

Characters: 18 year old female "criminal"
                    Male police officer, magistrate judge

Setting:  Well lit downtown Pickens city

Time:  approximately 10 pm

Crime: Headlights not on due to inadvertently hitting dial for auto turn on while helping mother with moving some items.

Background of "criminal":  Graduated 2013 a National Honor Society with a 4.0, attends more than full time, local community college for Computer Engineering, worked 6 days a week at local restaurant all summer, now works one day a week at same place due to school. Actively been seeking work, and has even recently took a job sign waving for a local furniture store so she can survive.

As a side note, a certain retired professor, recently gave her a large amount of money for her college education, after meeting her at the local restaurant over the summer including a letter of accommodation.

Never been in the slightest trouble. No past criminal record of any kind.

She has volunteered for the local hospital, and serves as a volunteer our great State of SC in the State Guard under our Governor Nikki Haley, when she enlisted on her 17th birthday with parental consent. She attends every military training and is on call to serve at a moments notice.

Case plead by 18 year old before the magistrate:

You honor I admit I did not have my lights on, I made a mistake, an honest mistake. The only defense I have is my lights are suppose to come on automatically, and I must have inadvertently taken them off auto, I was on a well lit street and and just honestly hadn't noticed. I was in the wrong. I ask the court to take into consideration I made an honest mistake.

I would also like to say I have never been in any kind of trouble. I attend college where I have an "A" average. I do volunteer work here in the county, I'm in the SC Guard, and I worked for several candidates in the last election.

I work 1 day a week at Jimmy's Resturant, where I earn minimum wage, just enough to pay gas and car expense to school.

While I can't tell you you will never see me in here again, I can promise you I will never violate the law intentionally.

I made a mistake I'm asking for mercy. If you would like, maybe I could do some community service, but I honestly am not a trouble maker. I'm just trying the best I can to serve my community, get an education, and be a good citizen.

Thank you for hearing me out your honor.

Decision of magistrate: $155 and 2 points

Background: magistrate did not look at defendant, and after defendant was done speaking her case, asking for mercy, only stated while then looking up at her: "$155 by December -- and if you don't pay your license will be suspended." Have a nice day.

On the ticket itself it says you can pay the fine or go to court and see the judge. My advice and other well respected folks of the community encouraged her to plead for mercy from the court.

Is this what our system is about? How are judges, judges? We know don't we?

 The police officer could have given a stern warning or of course the ticket as he chose. The judge is there to hear the case and use wisdom to decide what is just and fair in the circumstances and then make judgement.

It is one thing to willfully break the law and another to mistakenly break the law- is it not? Have we gone so far as to not care about our citizens as " people"- individuals, human beings?

I sat and watched our justice system...

This is the first experience of a young person who believes innocently and naively in a system we call Justice.

Signed,
Proud mother of the 18 year old young lady.

Michelle Wiles


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