Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fourth Pot Conviction: Fair Sentence?
SodaHead News
2011/05/09 20:00:00
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In New Orleans, it's four strikes and you're out.
At least if you're trying to deal weed. The city, still struggling to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, is meting out rough justice to Cornell Hood II for his fourth weed conviction. He got off with probation after three marijuana convictions in New Orleans.
But according to the Times-Picayune, following his move over to St. Tammany Parish, Hood, 35, could be headed to prison for the rest of his life. State Judge Raymond S. Childress brought the hammer down on Hood under Louisiana's repeat-offender law on Thursday after a jury found Hood guilty of attempting to possess and distribute marijuana at his Slidell home.
After moving from Eastern New Orleans to Slidell following a guilty plea to separate charges of distribution of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana on in December 2009, Hood received a suspended five-year prison sentence and five years' of probation for each. It was the same penalty he got in that court in February 2005 for the same charges.
An assistant DA used Hood's past convictions to argue he was a career criminal worthy of harsher punishment in the state, which allows for life imprisonment for drug offenders who've been convicted three or more times for a crime that carries a sentence of 10 years of more.
Does New Orleans man deserve life in prison for pot?
At least if you're trying to deal weed. The city, still struggling to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, is meting out rough justice to Cornell Hood II for his fourth weed conviction. He got off with probation after three marijuana convictions in New Orleans.
But according to the Times-Picayune, following his move over to St. Tammany Parish, Hood, 35, could be headed to prison for the rest of his life. State Judge Raymond S. Childress brought the hammer down on Hood under Louisiana's repeat-offender law on Thursday after a jury found Hood guilty of attempting to possess and distribute marijuana at his Slidell home.
After moving from Eastern New Orleans to Slidell following a guilty plea to separate charges of distribution of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana on in December 2009, Hood received a suspended five-year prison sentence and five years' of probation for each. It was the same penalty he got in that court in February 2005 for the same charges.
An assistant DA used Hood's past convictions to argue he was a career criminal worthy of harsher punishment in the state, which allows for life imprisonment for drug offenders who've been convicted three or more times for a crime that carries a sentence of 10 years of more.
Does New Orleans man deserve life in prison for pot?
Top Opinion
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Zach 2011/05/09 22:05:07
how many rapists got life? let's focus on real crimes...
They call it "certainty", they know that they can be immoral and unethical as long it is no longer illegal.
Why is it you do the crime knowing full well what the punishment is going to be then cry when you get caught and get the punishment you were told in advance you would receive?
You would think after the 3rd conviction he would have moved to another state avoiding if caught a 4th charge in LA. Idiot....
I don't think pot should be illegal but while it is we are a nation of laws and until it is over turned we are expected to follow it.
And who's FORCING--ANYONE to buy drugs anyways? Do parents actually raise there children anymore? Can teenagers make decisions based on a decent education--or is that not as important as crime and punishment for all you conservative/political or religious holy rollers? Wake up, get informed on what this "Drug War" actually is, how no one's ever died directly from usage of cannabis and all the other lies you believe!