Man gets life in prison for selling $20 worth of weed to undercover cop

[(oYo)]

http://boingboing.net/2015/02/27/man-gets-life-in-prison-for-se.html

A homeless and hungry man agreed to purchase $20 worth of weed for a stranger in exchange for a $5 finder's fee. After the man received his $5 (marked by the police) he was arrested and jailed.

"Six months later, a jury found him guilty of distribution of a schedule I substance (marijuana). Three months after that, a judge sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labor, without the benefit of parole."

I am appalled by the fact that someone can get a life sentence for this. The US three strike rule is ludicrous. The above article has very little details. It was after reading the article linked below that I learned it was his third strike.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/27/fate-vincent-winslow-got-life-in-prison-for-20-worth-of-weed.html

[BitMos]

1 man in jail for a victimless crime equates 1 woman more available. furthermore it provides Keynesians values chain creation, that permits said real criminals apes to profit even more.  . 

[mishax1]

A homeless and hungry man gets a room and a hot(cold?) meal in prison for life out of the tax payers money.

[BitMos]

Wow, how can someone get a life sentence for trying to sell 20$ worth of weed. Thats crazy

yes they did it. date=1425156546 (what ever that means). Because it's the law, that's the new (in fact old) scam of the so called democratic west. as it's law it must be followed, what ever you feel, because it's an order, the law, the supreme law... legalistic empires crumble the faster. paper burns so fast. and the pro of moving it, will have left before you realize there are paper smokes. It's impossible in a demo - cracy to make toxic food legal. 101. But what is this "demo"? What are the criterions to take decisions that will affect my will to live? nothing, to be born and vote. What I love is when those "demo - cracy " do secret laws or so complex that one persons can't read it. so there is always legal insecurity, that they exploit. finally it's demo cracy, in the sense of idiots are exploited to jail themselves. wonderful creation.

[Chef Ramsay]

Where I live (northern state), this would be considered a misdemeanor and carry a punishment of a year on probation, drug counseling and fines. The southern conservative states typically are ass backwards when it comes to drug sentencing. I've seen cases of meth dealers in Oklahoma serving over a 100 yrs as a sentence yet someone convicted of 2nd degree murder would get life w/ parole. In most cases, whenever state try to loosen certain drug laws the police chiefs show up in force and fearmonger and legislatures always cower to them. weak

[BADecker]

Time to make your public defender into your co-council by noticing the bench in writing, and then stating it. This way you are not represented by him/her, and yet you can keep him as someone who can help you through the rigors of court when you need him, like for legal advice.

Then, notice the court that you are standing as a man. If you have time to file with the court clerk ahead of time, do it. If you don't, in court require 3 minutes leave of court, pen and paper, and write your notice. If you can't write, your co-council can write it for you.

What do you write on the notice? Three sentences. In simple words, state that you are a man (woman), present, not being represented by anyone, nor representing yourself. On a second sentence, write wording wishing and requiring any man or woman that you have harmed or damaged to appear, show, and press into the record (speak it on the stand) the damage and harm you did to them, with witness and evidence that you were the one who did the damage or harm, so that you can reimburse them for the damage or harm. A third sentence would be that you require the one accusing you to appear.

These three sentences will throw the judge and the prosecutor into such a tizzy that they will attempt all kinds of things to intimidate you into changing your notice by verbal or written statement. Remain firm, however, stating that you stand by your notice. That's all you state. You never state any more except that you may be required to read your notice aloud. If you can't read, this is the only time your co-council speaks in court, and then immediately stand up and state that he is misreading if he does.

The plaintiff must appear. This is a long-standing legal requirement. A lawyer can't represent the plaintiff if you stand as a human being. The one who is written on the complaint must appear. If it is THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA or THE STATE OF XXXXXX on the complaint, it must be Mr., Mrs., or Ms. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA or THE STATE OF XXXXXX who appears. If the plaintiff doesn't appear, no case.

If the judge dismisses the case, require the case to be discharged so that they can't come back after you in the future by reopening the same case.

If the judge doesn't do the things you require under a circumstance like this, you will need to ask him if he is perpetrating fraud upon the court. If you do this, you will need to file a claim against the man acting as judge (not on the judge - not on the position) for personally not following the rules of court and thereby doing you harm or damage.

Four places you can go to start your training on what to do if the government takes you to court are listed below. Start now. You aren't going to learn this stuff overnight.

http://voidjudgments.com/ which will show you the basic things that they don't want you to know.

http://1215.org/ for an understanding of how the law really works, if only you use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOkAHRzuiOA&list=PLHrkQxgz0mg6kUBciD-HIvTXByqjcIZ-D start here for info about Karl Lentz. We all need to study his methods, because he isn't a fearful pussyfooter when it comes to standing in court.

Some of the best info about Karl and his process can be found here http://www.myprivateaudio.com/Karl-Lentz.html.

[BitMos]

Where I live (northern state), this would be considered a misdemeanor and carry a punishment of a year on probation, drug counseling and fines. The southern conservative states typically are ass backwards when it comes to drug sentencing. I've seen cases of meth dealers in Oklahoma serving over a 100 yrs as a sentence yet someone convicted of 2nd degree murder would get life w/ parole. In most cases, whenever state try to loosen certain drug laws the police chiefs show up in force and fearmonger and legislatures always cower to them. weak

to make them pay their sins, theirs rain will become corrupt, their soil will become corrupt, their air will become corrupt, the sun will not warm their heart and for generation they will see their children and the children of their children being born corrupt. This is the gift they deserve, and it will be endless.

Have fun all, I leave this forum as there is absolutely no point in saying anything anymore. Alea Jacta Est.

God is the Greatest, and those aren't his Children, or if it so be (which isn't the case), I prefer to stay with the Unbowing (determination, perseverance, only before God, I know, Angel too can lie), to the End.
 
hf & gl with the population retracement...

edit: posted on the first hours of what they call march 2015.

[bitgeek]

Where I live (northern state), this would be considered a misdemeanor and carry a punishment of a year on probation, drug counseling and fines. The southern conservative states typically are ass backwards when it comes to drug sentencing. I've seen cases of meth dealers in Oklahoma serving over a 100 yrs as a sentence yet someone convicted of 2nd degree murder would get life w/ parole. In most cases, whenever state try to loosen certain drug laws the police chiefs show up in force and fearmonger and legislatures always cower to them. weak

Some EU countries are slowly legalizing it (I think the last one was Czech Republic in 2013). The others treat it as light offenses. In Poland for example the case is sent to court, that drops it if it's the first time and the guy isn't a dealer. If he was selling the verdict will most likely be a suspended sentence.

[ObscureBean]

Life sentence for $20 worth of weed is certainly questionable. However you'd expect someone who's been convicted 3 times already to have come to terms with the shortcomings of his/her particular lifestyle. I'd imagine that after serving his first sentence, he would've already decided that going back to prison is an acceptable risk when it comes to fulfilling his needs.
Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. I understand that the guy might have been dealt a particularly shitty hand from the start but that's no excuse for not taking full responsibility for one's actions/choices.

[Jeff Chang]

I am appalled by the fact that someone can get a life sentence for this. The US three strike rule is ludicrous. The above article has very little details. It was after reading the article linked below that I learned it was his third strike.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/27/fate-vincent-winslow-got-life-in-prison-for-20-worth-of-weed.html

Agreed. I can't believe this is actual practice in the States. I could understand maybe on your third strike you get a small prison sentence - and I mean small - but not life. If it was a serious crime maybe but not for silly little ones like this especially when it looks like entrapment as well.

Life sentence for $20 worth of weed is certainly questionable.

Questionable? He sold some weed. Who the hell would think this is an ok sentence or the right thing to do?

However you'd expect someone who's been convicted 3 times already to have come to terms with the shortcomings of his/her particular lifestyle. I'd imagine that after serving his first sentence, he would've already decided that going back to prison is an acceptable risk when it comes to fulfilling his needs.
Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. I understand that the guy might have been dealt a particularly shitty hand from the start but that's no excuse for not taking full responsibility for one's actions/choices.

But there shouldn't be any 'time' for selling a small amount of weed especially not a life sentence or anywhere near it. Some people don't have many options to survive and if that's the case then selling small amounts of drugs may be his only recourse.

[neoneros]

Life sentence for $20 worth of weed is certainly questionable. However you'd expect someone who's been convicted 3 times already to have come to terms with the shortcomings of his/her particular lifestyle. I'd imagine that after serving his first sentence, he would've already decided that going back to prison is an acceptable risk when it comes to fulfilling his needs.
Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. I understand that the guy might have been dealt a particularly shitty hand from the start but that's no excuse for not taking full responsibility for one's actions/choices.

He's homeless and out of a job, so plenty of time. But it is backwards, he's just a small catch in a much bigger scheme, it does not solve the crime, he will be replaced with yet one of the many stumped down people that got bitten by the economic crisis. He might be better off, food and shelter for the rest of his life for only $20,- of investment, that is a bargain.

The real criminals still go on doing their business. This man serving his time will not make the world a better place. It will not get rid of other small crumb dealers, they should focus on the real crimes behind it and spend the tax money there, not on a life in prison.

[ObscureBean]

Who the hell would think this is an ok sentence or the right thing to do?

Obviously some people think it's ok, laws are made by man you know 

All I'm saying is it doesn't matter how trivial you think your crime is, you just can't live the way you want while expecting life to go easy on you. The minute you do something, anything, you no longer have a say or choice, your past/reality already contains that action and any series of events unfolding from that point in time is completely independent of your plans or your idea of fairness. It's about taking full responsibility for everything you do. You can't for instance go to buy weed while ruling out the possibility that you might get shot. It doesn't matter that chances you get shot are less than 0.001%.

Any action is a testament to one's acceptance of the myriad of possible timelines stemming from that point.

Humans seem to have lost this primordial synchronicity with themselves. They do whatever they please but then are filled with regret or are shocked by the consequences of their actions.

[grendel25]

Bill Maher made a really sharp point at the end of his most recent Real Talk show.  Basically encouraging POTUS to pardon all non-violent drug offenders.  I am hoping that actually happens.

[Swordsoffreedom]

It just goes to show the difference between the rich and the poor
If your extremely poor they will find any excuse to keep you in there for life and off the streets.

[patt0]

^ Yes and being exploited for your work in prison too.
And the rich bankers that laundered billions of dollars for drug cartels got away with it because no one wants to touch them. : /
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/03/us-bank-mexico-drug-gangs

[Silly Money]

Bill Maher made a really sharp point at the end of his most recent Real Talk show.  Basically encouraging POTUS to pardon all non-violent drug offenders.  I am hoping that actually happens.

Ha, yeah right. He'll likely pardon a few white collar crooks like they usually do. Would be cool if he pardoned Snowden but that;s not going to happen.

It just goes to show the difference between the rich and the poor
If your extremely poor they will find any excuse to keep you in there for life and off the streets.

What sort of rules are there to this three strikes and you're out? Does it have to be a serious felony crime and then any two smaller ones or is it any three crimes no matter how small? If the latter there's plenty of celebs that get let off numerous times.

[(oYo)]

Who the hell would think this is an ok sentence or the right thing to do?

Obviously some people think it's ok, laws are made by man you know 

All I'm saying is it doesn't matter how trivial you think your crime is, you just can't live the way you want while expecting life to go easy on you. The minute you do something, anything, you no longer have a say or choice, your past/reality already contains that action and any series of events unfolding from that point in time is completely independent of your plans or your idea of fairness. It's about taking full responsibility for everything you do. You can't for instance go to buy weed while ruling out the possibility that you might get shot. It doesn't matter that chances you get shot are less than 0.001%.

Any action is a testament to one's acceptance of the myriad of possible timelines stemming from that point.

Humans seem to have lost this primordial synchronicity with themselves. They do whatever they please but then are filled with regret or are shocked by the consequences of their actions.

Laws aren't made by regular people or their peers, they are made by a very select (often very well off) group.

I'm sure you've heard the expression, "Let the punishment fit the crime." A trivial crime deserves nothing more than a trivial punishment. This IS what is expected. Going by your logic, "taking full responsibility", you should also get a life sentence for collecting rain water illegally, if it's your third strike.

Getting shot has nothing to do with this. You can get shot by a stray bullet, while sitting in your own living room. Just stepping out your front door is an invitation for any number of possibilities to occur. Still this does not justify any injustices that may be made against you.

While I agree that many people have lost touch with reality, I can't help but feel your own post is evidence of this. The OP is about a victimless crime for which there should be no other consequence other than a 'thank you' from the buyer. Any other consequence is completely unrelated except through unjust laws, made by self-righteous elitist douchbags acting as though they are doing a public service, for the purpose of stealing more tax dollars from the poor (middle class) to feed the artificially bloated criminal justice system. In Common Law, there must be a victim for there to be a crime made. The only victim here is the poor guy in the OP.

[BADecker]

Who the hell would think this is an ok sentence or the right thing to do?

Obviously some people think it's ok, laws are made by man you know 

All I'm saying is it doesn't matter how trivial you think your crime is, you just can't live the way you want while expecting life to go easy on you. The minute you do something, anything, you no longer have a say or choice, your past/reality already contains that action and any series of events unfolding from that point in time is completely independent of your plans or your idea of fairness. It's about taking full responsibility for everything you do. You can't for instance go to buy weed while ruling out the possibility that you might get shot. It doesn't matter that chances you get shot are less than 0.001%.

Any action is a testament to one's acceptance of the myriad of possible timelines stemming from that point.

Humans seem to have lost this primordial synchronicity with themselves. They do whatever they please but then are filled with regret or are shocked by the consequences of their actions.

Laws aren't made by regular people or their peers, they are made by a very select (often very well off) group.

I'm sure you've heard the expression, "Let the punishment fit the crime." A trivial crime deserves nothing more than a trivial punishment. This IS what is expected. Going by your logic, "taking full responsibility", you should also get a life sentence for collecting rain water illegally, if it's your third strike.

Getting shot has nothing to do with this. You can get shot by a stray bullet, while sitting in your own living room. Just stepping out your front door is an invitation for any number of possibilities to occur. Still this does not justify any injustices that may be made against you.

While I agree that many people have lost touch with reality, I can't help but feel your own post is evidence of this. The OP is about a victimless crime for which there should be no other consequence other than a 'thank you' from the buyer. Any other consequence is completely unrelated except through unjust laws, made by self-righteous elitist douchbags acting as though they are doing a public service, for the purpose of stealing more tax dollars from the poor (middle class) to feed the artificially bloated criminal justice system. In Common Law, there must be a victim for there to be a crime made. The only victim here is the poor guy in the OP.

Why do laws apply to you?

Imagine that a small group of kids down the street start a club. They make laws that they say apply to you. Do the laws they make apply to you? Why or why not?

Make them show why their laws apply to you as a man/woman. There has to be harm or damage done. Do it in the courts so that there is much less chance that one of their stray bullets comes after you.

If you stand present in court, demanding that your accuser come forth onto the stand so you can question him regarding the validity of harm or damage he is making against you, they can't do it.

1. There is no harm or damage done.
2. The State or Federal can't get on the stand.

Case dismissed.

But if you don't do it this way, you have condemned yourself.

[Gyfts]

Complete and utterly useless. A pointless imprisonment will now cost tax payers hundreds of thousands over his life time while he's sitting there for a non-violent crime. Completely uncalled for.

[Swordsoffreedom]

Complete and utterly useless. A pointless imprisonment will now cost tax payers hundreds of thousands over his life time while he's sitting there for a non-violent crime. Completely uncalled for.

That and reading up more on the topic the justice they interviewed called it a great success having the mandatory minimums set up to catch these latent criminals and pile them all up to go to jail for life.
Because they were abandoned by the system itself and the justices never face the consequences for their actions

--
Winslow, a middle-aged black man with a “prolific criminal record,” is the program’s bread and butter. It’s people like him who Brown believes need to be “treated more seriously.” Just because they’re imprisoned for nonviolent offenses doesn’t mean they’re nonviolent people, he says. Smaller charges, with the help of mandatory minimum sentencing laws, give him the opportunity to lock people up for good.

Mumble this and shootings all over no wonder they riot.

[Troonetpt]

this is why I think old sociopaths need to be killed. They'll do too much harm if we just wait for them to die.

[LeoN147]

20$ got him in jail for life, sh/t I'm better start cleaning my emails lol.

[Silly Money]

20$ got him in jail for life, sh/t I'm better start cleaning my emails lol.

Only if you're on your final warning, but I wouldn't ever keep or send anything incriminating in your mail box. You not heard of Edward Snowden? 

[sickhouse]

What is it they say? Cruel and unusual punishment.

[sickhouse]

20$ got him in jail for life, sh/t I'm better start cleaning my emails lol.

You got 2 strikes? Fuck me I wouldn't want to live in the US... Bullshit kid rule "you get 2 chances than you are out".

[bigkahuna]

The home of the free! 

[pattu1]

There is no sense of proportion!!

[leopard2]

So lesson here is, if you commit a 5$ victimless crime in the US, you should be ready to kill rather than be arrested?

Shooting the cop wouldn't have made any difference in terms of sentence

Now on the other hand innocent people are shot by US cops daily 

Who is going to liberate the US now, aliens?

[Inotanewbie]

This must be bs so i call it, (a friend) of mine got caught with over 50 plants and was given a hefty fine an probation etc no he is not a snitch he is a decent man who just happens to like to relax with a smoke.

So one dude gets slap on the wrist for multiple plants and this is not a first i read about it a lot with other people who get similar punishment and another who dabbles with the crumbs gets life? come on!

On the bright side he is no longer homeless and he has food... 

[patt0]

This must be bs so i call it, (a friend) of mine got caught with over 50 plants and was given a hefty fine an probation etc no he is not a snitch he is a decent man who just happens to like to relax with a smoke.

So one dude gets slap on the wrist for multiple plants and this is not a first i read about it a lot with other people who get similar punishment and another who dabbles with the crumbs gets life? come on!

On the bright side he is no longer homeless and he has food...  

I think it depends on the state where it happens. I'm not American but at least that is what someone said above. Some states consider it just a misdemeanor but more conservative states give tougher sentences. It doesn't help that he was already on his third strike. : /
And he has food and shelter now, but the money they spend imprisoning people for these non violent crimes could be spent to help them while they are free. It could even be cheaper.

[picolo]

http://boingboing.net/2015/02/27/man-gets-life-in-prison-for-se.html

A homeless and hungry man agreed to purchase $20 worth of weed for a stranger in exchange for a $5 finder's fee. After the man received his $5 (marked by the police) he was arrested and jailed.

"Six months later, a jury found him guilty of distribution of a schedule I substance (marijuana). Three months after that, a judge sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labor, without the benefit of parole."

I am appalled by the fact that someone can get a life sentence for this. The US three strike rule is ludicrous. The above article has very little details. It was after reading the article linked below that I learned it was his third strike.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/27/fate-vincent-winslow-got-life-in-prison-for-20-worth-of-weed.html

The US justice system can be very very tough. It oppresses poor people the most. It is not all bad though.

[koshgel]

Not mentioning the fact that it is ridiculous to get a prison sentence let alone life in jail for a PLANT.

I couldn't help but think he would definitely be black before opening the article.

[BADecker]

Up to 44 years for man in fatal Pittsburgh police dog stabbing

https://www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/172188-2015-03-11-up-to-44-years-for-man-in-fatal-pittsburgh-police.htm

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/man-who-killed-pittsburgh-police-dog-be-sentenced/nkR3d/

[BitMos]

Not mentioning the fact that it is ridiculous to get a prison sentence let alone life in jail for a PLANT.

I couldn't help but think he would definitely be black before opening the article.

understand that most of those people supporting that believe that on the night of the 24 dec comes a man wearing a red costume to give them gifts if they have followed authority... they even prepare a glass of milk and cookies... then... the sky is the limit.

edit: until gravity kicks in... 

[BitMos]

Americans are totally crazy. the most uncivilized nation in the world, covered by a bunch of shit-shiny-looking shield.

This is completely disgusting.

relatively excluding China Mainland most are worst.

[BitMos]

Americans are totally crazy. the most uncivilized nation in the world, covered by a bunch of shit-shiny-looking shield.

This is completely disgusting.

relatively excluding China Mainland most are worst.

At least China Mainland says publicly that they are a republic-dictature. The disgusting side of USA is that they shows themselves as the good guys when they then act as the worst.

outside of China resides only barbarians... even the "Khan" wanted to be "chinesed", how not once war is mastered... For brief period the USA could have made it... but the c and bor stayed on papers. that's the diff, far from saying that everything is perfect in China... losts of hard decisions and works still to be made, but at least problems are recognized, as opportunity to be solved, and not to be hidden.

[Lethn]

this is why I think old sociopaths need to be killed. They'll do too much harm if we just wait for them to die.

They don't need to be killed, they just need to be ignored, the problem is they deliberately target people like their own children who aren't really able to ignore them so they end up getting force fed their bullshit.

[BitMos]

How to love a society that does all we discuss here. Isn't sociopath in a way the best response in survival mode that the society promotes? How to survive with trusting society - authority?

[BitNerd]

A homeless and hungry man gets a room and a hot(cold?) meal in prison for life out of the tax payers money.

Governments are so altruistic, aren't they? What a beautiful story.