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WhiskeyGrinder

(22,147 posts)
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 09:12 PM Aug 2020

Louisiana SC upholds Black man's life sentence for stealing hedge clippers more than 20 years ago

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/us/louisiana-supreme-court-trnd/index.html

A Black Louisiana man will spend the rest of his life in prison for stealing hedge clippers, after the Louisiana Supreme Court denied his request to have his sentence overturned last week.

Fair Wayne Bryant, 62, was convicted in 1997 on one count of attempted simple burglary. In his appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Louisiana in 2018, his attorney, Peggy Sullivan, wrote that Bryant "contends that his life sentence is unconstitutionally harsh and excessive."

Last week, though, the state Supreme Court disagreed -- with five justices choosing to uphold the life sentence.

The lone dissenter in the decision was Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, who wrote that "the sentence imposed is excessive and disproportionate to the offense the defendant committed." Johnson is the only female and Black person on the court. The rest of the justices are White men.
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Louisiana SC upholds Black man's life sentence for stealing hedge clippers more than 20 years ago (Original Post) WhiskeyGrinder Aug 2020 OP
A bunch of ignorant mofo's proving BLM protests are necessary judesedit Aug 2020 #1
That is just plain criminal. OregonBlue Aug 2020 #2
So so sad...while the squatter in the WH pardons real criminals Thekaspervote Aug 2020 #3
What a travesty of justice, they should be ashamed. magicarpet Aug 2020 #4
Habitual Offender Law Delarage Aug 2020 #5
Can't even deal with this shit anymore. smirkymonkey Aug 2020 #6
As the full article noted, he was originally sentenced Disaffected Aug 2020 #7
That's what happens when - NotANeocon Aug 2020 #8
. WhiskeyGrinder Aug 2020 #9

magicarpet

(13,941 posts)
4. What a travesty of justice, they should be ashamed.
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 09:39 PM
Aug 2020

Less than $100 item that he stole. It costs the state $31,000.00 per year to lock this man up. It has cost the state $682,000.00 thus far. He is 62 years, if he lives another 10 years that is another $310,000.00.

$992,000.00 paid to lock him up for an item costing less than $100.

Delarage

(2,182 posts)
5. Habitual Offender Law
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 09:40 PM
Aug 2020
Bryant was convicted in 1979 for attempted armed robbery, in 1987 for possession of stolen things, attempted forgery of a check worth $150 in 1989 and for simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling in 1992, all before his 1997 arrest for the failed attempt at stealing the hedge clippers.

But still. Trump refuses to pay contractors (isn't that theft?), lies, cheats and steals, admits to sexual assault---habitually--and he's (technically at least) the President.

Disaffected

(4,508 posts)
7. As the full article noted, he was originally sentenced
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 09:42 PM
Aug 2020

under the habitual criminal statute (four priors).

I don't think that justifies a life sentence but it's a lot more than simply "for stealing hedge clippers".

I suppose the rational is that if he is let out, he will likely repeatedly re-offend so better off in jail.

NotANeocon

(423 posts)
8. That's what happens when -
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 01:58 AM
Aug 2020

- your judicial system is founded on vengeance and racism and not founded on justice.

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