Introducing “Open Mike” thread

A while back I asked a management type at the Post Register why they don’t sponsor a blog. It seems the lawyers got there first and have scared off all the fish.

what?

I sent Joe an article on Sex Offender George Jones. It hasn’t been published. Joe, did you ever get it?

I would like to point out if you look at Jones criminal history it is pathetic how the local court system has dealt with him. You can check his activities out at http://www.idcourts.us . This site covers the Idaho Supreme Court database and clearly points out the only times Jones hasn’t been offending is when he was in prison for a long stretch from 2002 to 2007.

While I understand what Deputy Prosecutor Bruce Pickett is saying about charging him, one thing that Bruce and many of the prosecutors fell flat on was attending arraignments in Magistrate Court (misdemeanor level). They do a good job attending at the felony level, but if you spend any time in misdemeanor arraignments you won’t find Dane Watkins or any of his deputies attending. Now, I am not saying they need to attend EVERY misdemeanor arraignment……but in the case of George Jones, they SHOULD have and COULD have made a difference by attending his hearing and requested more than a measley $300.00 bond for this guy on the most recent arrest. Even if Jones had posted bond after his arrest, at arraignment, they could have requested an increase in bond due to Jone’s criminal history. Additionally, they could have requested his bond be boosted in the other cases he was also in trouble for…..perhaps they could have cancelled his own recognizance release…required bond or used this little gem in Idaho Code 19-2904:

19-2904. ADMITTANCE TO BAIL BEFORE CONVICTION. If the charge is for any
other offense, he may be admitted to bail before conviction, as a matter of
right. If a person is admitted to bail or released upon the person’s own
recognizance, the court making such determination may impose such reasonable
terms, conditions and prohibitions as the court finds necessary in the
exercise of its discretion, including electronic or global positioning system
tracking, monitoring and detention. The court may order a person subject to
such conditions to bear the costs of the conditions at the person’s own
expense.

Seems to me that Mr. Pickett and Mr. Watkins should seriously entertain this option and get more controls put on Jones. Then when Jones violates the terms he can be recommitted and have an even higher bond to keep him behind bars. Jones deserves more attention from the prosecutor’s office than he is getting. Additionally, why won’t Watkins submit an application for a Restraining Order Against Jones, or at least conditions of his bond that he not enter any public restrooms without an escort? Recall that a jurisdiction in California made headlines dealing with pedophile Jack McClellan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_McClellan

Do we have to sit around and wait for Jones to molest a child before we take him serious. As a parent, I don’t want to wait for George Jones to escalate his behavior. His actions are serious and should be taken as such. It is time for Dane Watkins and Bruce Pickett to take action and stop being lazy. We pay them to protect us. They need to do more and use the existing law before Jones can strike again!

Can you imagine Jones being free down at the river for the 4th of July festivities? I don’t want that creep anywhere near the river unless I can push him in!!! lol–nervously…………………..