Monday, January 30, 2012

Bail for sale

Page Croyder: how a man can commit murder, walk free, and leave his mother on the hook for $13,645.

6 comments:

buzoncrime said...

I've seen many cases like this. Persons who get the "get out of jail" payment plan from their friendly bondsman sign papers which allow the bondsman to get a judgment against them for the amount of the "loan", whether loved one shows up for court or not--because you're paying the fee for the bail.

And, like in this case, neither mom nor the defendant have a particularly high probability that they can pay back this "loan". Thus, both mom and defendant are "punished" in advance of any finding by the court. I suppose we can all smirk about this "justice", but it could possibly happen to you.

Cham said...

Mom should be punished, she's the one that brought young Mitchell into this world and failed to drive home that pesky "Thou should not kill" idea. Of course, her $13K debt wouldn't be a problem if there wasn't a bail offering to begin. The kid is a violent problem and needs to be behind bars. Does this family actually believe he's going to get PBJ for trying to kill and then killing somebody? Brandon Mitchell could be getting credit for time served already. No matter what happens to him he's still going to be a little itty bitty white boy in a large black prison, there's no way around that issue.

Putting that aside, I've run into Howard Cardin before. Back in the late 1980s I was with a community group that ran into some legal issues and hired Cardin. He came to do a sales pitch, and he drove home the "friends in high places" point. All I remember about that case is he dragged out the case as long as he could, billed for as much as he could and his legal expertise proved futile.

buzoncrime said...

Interesting points, as always, Cham.

It was probably because he's a "little white boy" that the family, and, apparently, neighbors wanted to bail him out and yet, get fined again, by hiring the prominent defense attorney Mr. Cardin--who doesn't come cheap.

He may actually get off, given in some cases our poor success in prosecuting murders. However, if he doesn't watch out, he may get "offed" if he doesn't find new friends to hang out with and stopping lusting to become a street tough guy.

Interesting thoughts on Mr. Cardin: better watch out, he might come and sue you!

Cham said...

I don't think young Mitchell is going to get off. Omar Johnson's family seems highly motivated. The justice system has screwed up once and is paying the price. I don't think Bernstein is looking for round two with the Johnson/Anderson clan. Both grandma and dad have lots to say and have made plenty of friends within the media.

Get your popcorn out, this is going to be entertaining if nothing else. In the meantime, mother Mitchell should be begging for a line of credit with somebody, anybody. She's going to need the cash or her neighbors aren't going to be pleased with those liens.

Anonymous said...

Question: Most healthy communities impose some form of sanction on those who repeatedly advocate for and assist known offenders.

If they are neighbors, they may get the cold shoulder at the block party.

If they are storekeepers, maybe the locals terminate their patronage.

Private-sector employees may be asked by respectable employers to find another job.

Many in Baltimore either have no employment or are in the public/nonprofit sector and are immune. They therefore don't care how awful sonny-boy is to others.

Public housing has lately adopted regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of criminality. (Doesn't that sound absurd??)

How to punish them or otherwise exile them ???

- Galt

Anonymous said...

WHYYYYYYYYYY did someone get a bail for a murder charge anyway??? Come on!! We keep wondering why society is the way it is...if I felt I could get away with murder, all of my co-workers would be dead! This is just ridiculous!