.jpg)
I think this is a record for Wise County.
Morris Scott Burcham, who had been scheduled for trial tomorrow in the 271st District Court in Decatur, accepted a plea "bargain" this morning of 40 years in the pen to the offense of Aggravated Sexual Assault of Child. He doesn't become eligible for parole for 20 years.
Such a plea of guilty to a very high sentence is yet another result of a change in the law from a few years back which created the offense for which Burcham had originally been charged with: Continuous Sexual Abuse of A Child (two or more acts of abuse within 30 days.). If he had been convicted of that offense, the minimum sentence was 25 years (maximum of life) and, get this, there is no possibility of parole. After looking at that, he decided that 40 years with at least a chance of getting out is a better deal. (So far the law has survived repeated attacks.)
He showed up for the plea in a jacket and tie, shed a few tears, and then took his seat with the inmates. He was indicted in March of 2009, and it sounded like he sat in jail for quite a while before making bond.
I remember a plea for 30 years back in 2000, but I'm not sure I've ever heard of one for more than that. Until today.
10 comments:
GOOD.
I am Law & Order Citizen #1, but a question comes to mind. With all the toughened sentencing laws in Texas, what is the forecast on available state prison bed-space? Remember when Governor Ann had to empty a few beds because of overcrowding? Some bad hombres were put back on the street. Just wondering. And will the Tea Party folks be willing to fork over tax dollars for more cells, if needed?
My Other Brother Darryl
12:57 That's always my question when they talk about locking folks up. My suggestion is to let those folks go who had crimes against themselves only, such as drugs. And don't lock up the first time offenders of DWI, etc. Get those folks HELP such as rehab instead of locking them away for years with hardened criminals. The system is BROKEN, people. Not everyone conviceted of wrongdoing needs prison!!!!
I hope Bubba love him long time...
That's the problem with our society.
We hae no sympathy for kiddie rapists.
Should be life. Or bring a firing squad!
12:57, Raising taxes is always a liberal weenies answer, isn't it? The answer to your question about Tea Partiers is that we want the money that you give in entitlements to pay people to stay at home and sit on their ass and have babies given instead to build more prisons.
It's been my impression that there is a surplus of beds in (certain parts of)Texas due to both a decline in crime and an increase in prisons built to take prisoners on contract. Grits has some good stuff:
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2010/04/doomsday-deal-prison-for-profit-scheme.html
So it doesn't look to me like the issue is forking over more "tax dollars" to pay for new prison beds, but rather that maybe the Justice machine is trying to fill more beds that have already been paid for by the tax payers and bond holders. Feels like the incentive is pointing the wrong way to me. Shouldn't we be pushing for a lower prison population if there is less crime? Lower population = lower cost = more money for other programs, right?
Or more money left in taxpayers pocket. Why is that not your first thought 8:16?
I like the firing squad idea...just sayin..bast*** also should have bubba loving him long time, too, first as CF said.
And 8:40--priceless!!!
Post a Comment