Man spits on cop, gets life sentence

[hgc]

from MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.com/news/934094.asp?0cv=CB20)

All in favor of a life sentence for spitting on a cop, raise your hand.

I think it's cruel and unusual punishment.

[schplurg]

His lawyers said they plan to appeal.
Gee, ya think so?

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by hgc
from MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.com/news/934094.asp?0cv=CB20)

All in favor of a life sentence for spitting on a cop, raise your hand.

I think it's cruel and unusual punishment.


Be interested to see how the appeal plays out..


Why do I suspect, deep in my heart, that ' JOHN CARL Marquez ' is perhaps not a model citizen, unjustly railroaded by the corrupt U.S. legal system, and that the ' Complete Story ', is not?

Don't hate me for my cynicism... I'ts my job...

[Agammamon]

Sounds like the judge did this deliberately to force the guy to have to go through the hassle of an appeal.

[Segnosaur]

convicted of “placing bodily fluid upon a government employee,” a felony that can carry a life sentence because of the possibility of transmitting a potentially deadly disease

Welcome to the world of AIDS paranoia.

[hgc]

Originally posted by Segnosaur


Welcome to the world of AIDS paranoia.
I thought of that. And that it's never been shown (to my knowledge) that anyone got AIDS by being spit upon.

But I think AIDS paranoia is just a convenient entre into what's really bothersome about this. That's that the criminal severity and penalty of this kind of assault on a government worker is so far out of line with the identical assault on a common citizen. It's a blatant exercise and display of the power of the state over the individual, and extremely cynical.

I mean come on... the same penalty for spitting on a cop as for murder? That's shouting from the courthouse roof, "DON'T CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF THE POLICE STATE!"

[Segnosaur]

Originally posted by hgc

I thought of that. And that it's never been shown (to my knowledge) that anyone got AIDS by being spit upon.


I don't think anyone has caught AIDS that way either. (There are other diseases that are easier to transmit though.) That's why I called it 'paranoia'.

But, I ask you, if someone you knew had the HIV virus spit on you, would you be worried at all? Would you get yourself tested now, and in several months?

Originally posted by hgc

That's that the criminal severity and penalty of this kind of assault on a government worker is so far out of line with the identical assault on a common citizen. It's a blatant exercise and display of the power of the state over the individual, and extremely cynical.

I mean come on... the same penalty for spitting on a cop as for murder? That's shouting from the courthouse roof, "DON'T CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF THE POLICE STATE!"

I guess the difference is police officers (and some other government workers) deliberately put themselves in harms way on a regular basis. The risk to those people should be reduced as much as possible.

A life sentence does seem harsh, but I can see giving stronger pentalties when the victims are government employees (as opposed to civilians) as a reasonable measure.

[c0rbin]

And beating a woman only carries a fine or some small time.

What a country.

[hgc]

Originally posted by Segnosaur
I don't think anyone has caught AIDS that way either. (There are other diseases that are easier to transmit though.) That's why I called it 'paranoia'.

But, I ask you, if someone you knew had the HIV virus spit on you, would you be worried at all? Would you get yourself tested now, and in several months?
Yes, I may get tested. Depends on the actual circumstances.


I guess the difference is police officers (and some other government workers) deliberately put themselves in harms way on a regular basis. The risk to those people should be reduced as much as possible.

A life sentence does seem harsh, but I can see giving stronger pentalties when the victims are government employees (as opposed to civilians) as a reasonable measure.
Agreed. I don't have a problem with making assaults and murders of police officers more serious crimes or assigning aggravating circumstances in sentencing.

My complaint is that this is completely out of whack. This is not an injurious assault, and it has next to no chance of being one.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Segnosaur





I guess the difference is police officers (and some other government workers) deliberately put themselves in harms way on a regular basis. The risk to those people should be reduced as much as possible.

A life sentence does seem harsh, but I can see giving stronger pentalties when the victims are government employees (as opposed to civilians) as a reasonable measure.

But, what good is a law that has little likelyhood of being known by, much less being a deterrant to the perpetrator..



Scenario:

Sleazy wife beater gathers, big honker in preparation for spraying police officer.. Then suddenly stops.. Thinking... " Wait, I could get life for this ..! ".. And swallows..

[Dancing David]

The issue is that he spit on the officer, which if he had hepatitis could have been transmitted, it is the potential not the actual in this case. maybe you should get life for assaulting an officer.

Who passed the law in the first place that made it a potential life sentence?

[American]

You liberal jerks!

News Star (http://www.news-star.com/stories/051803/New_57.shtml)

"Assistant District Attorney Laura Farris had asked for a 25-year term based on Marquez's prior felony convictions in 1986, which included first-degree rape and first-degree burglary."


Oh the poor baby. Goes to show what MSNBC is worth, reporting half the facts.

[Mr. Skinny]

There really isn't quite enough information in the article to make a truely informed decision, but I'm totally torn on this issue, given what I know.

As a former police officer, I've been spit on before, and I can tell you it is unpleasant, and emotionally, you feel assaulted. Realistically, in my case(s) anyhow, it caused me no physical harm, and was no more disgusting than the prisoners that threw up, crapped, or pissed themselves in my cruiser, or that smelled so bad that I could hardly stand it, even with all the windows open.

As a safety engineer, my first thought is that, if spitting on a cop is recognized by the law enforcement profession as attempted murder, then they admit that this type of assault is likely to cause death or serious physical injury or long term health effects. If this is the case than all police officers, prision guards, etc. should be required to wear safety glasses and other protective equipment to protect them from the hazard. Either that or they must show that wearing the equipment is more hazardous than the spitting itself.

That said, I just can't see the life sentence, short of the officer contracting HIV or some other deadly disease as a result.

[Dancing David]

Originally posted by American
You liberal jerks!



Gald to see you are still taking your medicine.

What the hellk are you ranting about, civil liberties.

Can't expect you explain your nonsense can I?

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by American
You liberal jerks!

News Star (http://www.news-star.com/stories/051803/New_57.shtml)

"Assistant District Attorney Laura Farris had asked for a 25-year term based on Marquez's prior felony convictions in 1986, which included first-degree rape and first-degree burglary."


Oh the poor baby. Goes to show what MSNBC is worth, reporting half the facts.

His wife, Gayle, said her husband broke her arm and fractured her ribs.

The whole story sheds a bit more light on the case..

Everyone knows ' Life ' is usually not ' Life '...

Maybe the scumbag will actually do 10 years before he gets parolled, and another chance to punch a woman...

[American]

It's the battles people choose to fight when they could be putting their effort toward poor unfortunate people who actually deserve it, not convicted first degree rapist-thief/wife-beating cop haters.

[hgc]

Originally posted by American
It's the battles people choose to fight when they could be putting their effort toward poor unfortunate people who actually deserve it, not convicted first degree rapist-thief/wife-beating cop haters.
Listen, Dopey: Laws are for the protection of all of us. If the law allows that a person be sent away for life for spitting on a cop, it could happen to someone with no prior record. If this guy commits other crimes, then prosecute and punish for those crimes.

You're an insult to your avatar.

[American]

Originally posted by hgc

Listen, Dopey: Laws are for the protection of all of us. If the law allows that a person be sent away for life for spitting on a cop, it could happen to someone with no prior record. If this guy commits other crimes, then prosecute and punish for those crimes.

You're an insult to your avatar.

If I ever spit on a cop or commit first degree rape and robbery... then I'll care what you think and say.

[LeFevre]

Originally posted by American


If I ever spit on a cop or commit first degree rape and robbery... then I'll care what you think and say.

You aint interested in only yourself at all, are you?

[American]

Originally posted by LeFevre
You aint interested in only yourself at all, are you?

Only 50-50, roughly.