Does this prison sentence seem absurd to you at all?

Christine M

Double homicide and 10-15 is ridiculous. If someone could get away with double homicide and get 10-15 trafficking cocaine shouldn't be 30 years. Anything doing with cocaine has high charges. Only way i can see it as being more is because cocaine on the streets effect a lot of lives, that being side if your dad wasn't there the next guy would have been.

rickinnocal

Maybe your Dad should have considered the effect on other peoples families of selling coke to other kids parents.

While you're wearing nice clothes paid for by his drug dealing, there are children going to bed hungry because their parents blew the grocery money on coke.

Do they not bother you at all?

Richard

grannynightgown

The prison sentence sounds perfectly correct to me.

The person who did the double homicide likely had less evidence against them and a better attorney. The attorney was able to get the district attorney to agree to a plea of third-degree murder or manslaughter, rather than first-degree murder. Your father probably did not enter into a plea agreement because the evidence was either overwhelming, or his lawyer was terrible.

Your father should have thought of his family before he decided to sell drugs.

I'm sorry that you will have to live without him.

evilattorney

He knew it was a possibility when he chose to get into the drug trade. And, I'm sorry but lots of men manage to feed, clothe and house their families without selling drugs. As to the effect on the family, it may dissuade any of the family from following in his footsteps.

Kaden's Mommy

Just because the laws are illogical in other fields (murder, etc), does NOT mean your dad should get a break.

Perhaps you should think of the families your dad ruined. Husbands, mother, etc. What if those people who got cocaine from your father went home and beat their children, killed their wives, etc?

Drugs are typically the problem in a lot of abuse/murder cases, so wouldn't it be killing two birds with one stone to keep your father locked away?

G O

How many families did he destroy by trafficking Cocaine. Your family made out well when he got away with it now he has to pay the price of Breaking the Law.

And just because these other people got off easy doesn't mean everyone is.

And you can't say that your Fathers crime didn't lead to the death of someone else. Who is to say a crack head didn't kill someone for $20. at the 7-11

Happy Camper

I've used cocaine and know what a devastating drug that it can be. He did the crime - now he should do the time. Period. Your foolish dad should have been the one to think about his family and all of the lives he was affecting when he was dealing a dangerous drug. Your logic is convoluted and idiotic.

musicman812

...and what about the effect access to cocaine has on families? That's personal experience talking as I've had a few people in my family/friends destroy their lives w/ cocaine...including death.

So, as for your Dad getting 30 years -- it's probably a mandatory sentence as the war on drugs dictates Illicit Drugs should be intolerable. He needs to take responsibility for his actions -- just as someone toting a gun has a mandatory sentence. These things are not tolerated by the U.S. Government and they're throwing millions of dollars at them every year. When they catch people, they don't mess around.

If you know people who shot other people -- turn them in...that's what responsible people do. After all, those families who are missing loved ones are probably now destroyed as well.

The very violent lifestyle that you're being exposed to should be used as some sort of reality in the drug running world. Innocent people get caught up in the crossfire just so others can make a quick buck. It's sad.

Sorry to hear that you'll be without a father for a while but there are consequences for your actions -- he knew that and took the risk.

The Worlds Darling

Oftentimes murder, DUI, theft and abuse stem from drug dependancy.

You get someone hooked on drugs, the work goes down, the parenting fails, the "accidents" happen,
people sell or rent their children for money or for drugs. Kids selling drugs for money instead of a real job that contributes in a positive way to society?

30 years AT LEAST sounds perfectly feasible to me.

NOW as this persons child and KNOWING what the families have to go through when the parent fails them and others, are YOU going to justify drugs in ANY way?

Are you more likely to justify drug use and sales if he got a slap on the hand or if he got life? Cause he sure affects many peoples lives in direct and indirect ways in a negative manner every day.

Yeah he needs life.

Sorry for his kids, but how many kids and parents has he harmed?

Also, do you punish the murderer more or the person that got them hooked on drugs that helped the cause?

The X

The system we have here is completely screwed up, but there is nothing we can do about it but resort to cliches.
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Nighthawk

If your dad felt that selling drugs was a honorable way to make a living maybe the 30 year sentence will make him understand that there are much more acceptable vocations.

Drug dealers rarely care whether it is adults or kids that are purchasing their product.

Maybe if he shows an understanding that he chose the wrong profession, when he faces the parole board he may be able to have his stay in the lockup reduced. There are however many who have shown remorse in order to gain a reduced sentance then went right back to their old ways.

Drug trafficing does kill others and leave still others handicapped. There is no comparison between the crimes that you have identified and that which your father committed. Both are criminal acts and are dealt with accordingly. Trying to justify one because you feel it may not be as bad as another is a poor defense.

now what should i do?

personally i think its kinna high BUT you have to consider the following.... lets say your dad has been getting away with this for some time.... or lets just say this was his FIRST time... what IF the coke he was going to sell caused 3 or 4 people to over dose and die?

what about all the coke he moved before this time? what if those "willing" adults ALSO did too much and a few died... dont that sound like murder in a strange but odd way?

dont wanna sound like the bad guy here but the sentence seems fit.... and I myself have done 3 years prison time for GTA's and illegal firearms and I personally think I deserved it as well. To be perfectly honest, I deserved MORE time then that considering ALL THE STUFF I DID GET AWAY WITH...

Chaosblazer

It may seem like a good idea at the time, but it is almost as bad as murder. And he was spreading it around like a an addictive disease that you pay for.

I'm sorry for your loss, but it was the proper treatment.

RchHlm

Hello there my name is Richard and I seen you on Yahoo! Answer and thought I'd come answer your question. It's very troubling what happened to your dad. But think about George Jackson and how he got sentenced to life for stealing and robbing nearly $70 at a gas station. That was at the middle of last century, and Eldridge Cleaver got a similar sentence for having a shopping bag full of marijuana. I'm not trying to make light of a very serious issue but before the RICO act, he probably wouldn't have gotten that much time.

Tikikay C <3

These days, the judges are cracking down on drug trafficking. I agree that there should be harsher sentences for murder, however, it does go back to the evidence and plea bargains. There is too many flaws in the justice system. It does depend on how many times a person has been arrested, how much cocaine was in his possession, etc. And ultimately how good of an attorney he had during the trial. If he has a 30 year sentence he should be able to get out much sooner than that with good time and time served in jail.

Isabeu O (Finally a mummy!)

I only think it's stupid, in the sense that yes you are right, there are murderers that have gotten off lighter.

Having said that though, they put these laws into effects for reasons.
Getting Cocaine of the street is a fantastic reason to throw someone behind bars.
If it was not your father in the situation, I think your stance would be a little different.

I'm very sorry about you not being with your father for a while, I really am, but it's the law.

There are other ways to get money, rather than drug trafficking, I do not know why people use that as a defense.

I earn money to pay for my sons clothing, and it most certainly is not due to any amount of drug trafficking.

jthach

Although 30 years is a harsh sentence, trafficking or any sales of cocaine is strictly illegal.

Your Dad should have known that.
Who were his customers?
Druggies and teenagers or college students looking for a high?
Sure, double homicides and murderers do take people's lives.
Selling drugs does too.

Right, it's not as severe.
But selling drugs, he's not only stimulating the drug trafficking market, but he's doing something illegal.

SINCE your Dad seems like he has a good conscious.
I hope that he can get tens of years off with probation and that he will be out as soon as possible.

You should bring it up. If you really think it's unfair, try to make a change.
Write letters, try to appeal for a lesser sentence.
Visit your Dad, take care of yourself.
I hope that you will be okay.

Brian P

First of all I would like to say I am sorry to hear about you having to deal with your father going to prison. I know this has to be hard for you and the rest of your family. It would be easy for me to sit here and judge your father for selling drugs. The way you put it on here makes us wonder why he could not just get a job to support you like most other fathers do. I am going to assume that he is really a good man who just got caught up in a bad situation. With the economy being what it is, I could see how this could happen to someone. Did he have a regular job and loose it because of the bad economy? If that is the case and he just couldn't seem to find any other work, maybe he done this out of desperation. I guess that could have been the case and maybe he thought this would only have to go on until he could find real work. Even if that is the case, we still have to be realistic about what he was doing. Every time he sold cocaine to someone he was taking a chance of that person killing him or somone else. People taking cocaine do not think logically at all. When you are coming off of the high you start feeling like you will do what ever it takes to get some more. This is what causes a lot of murders. Now with that being said, I feel like selling the drugs that lead to a murder is just as bad as selling a gun to someone who goes and kills someone with it. So, to me, selling the drugs or actuall committing the murder should be punished the same. The system we have is very flawed when it comes to sentencing people for crimes. As you said, someone who committed a double homicide only got sentenced to 10-15 years. I think that sentence should have been a lot longer. In my opinion, they should have got the same amount of time your father did, 30 years. On the other hand, I know that everyone is sentenced differently for the same crime. This leaves us wondering why some people only get a few years while others like your father get 30 years. It should be straight across the board. Each crime has a certain amount of jail time and no judge gets to decide more or less for anyone. If any of what I said offended you, I am sorry. My intentions were to try to help you see the situation from an outside perspective. Even with yours and your dad's sitations being as they are, I know someone that can help you both have peace about it. His name is Jesus Christ. God can give you both comfort and strength through whatever you have to face as long as you ask for it in Jesus' name.

expressmyself

Drugs in the land of milk and honey is more about politics than drugs. Especially illegal drugs that make our politicians look like they are cracking down on crime.

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