Accused killer's bond reduced: You'd think with all the commotion in the news the last couple of days about an accused killer Uptown killing again while out on bond that Judge Lynda Van Davis would have applied lessons learned to Nathaniel Payton.
But no. Payton's lawyer managed to sweet talk Judge Van Davis into reducing P
ayton's bond Tuesday (6.23.09) from $1.5 million to $1 million. No trifling amount, true. If the Uptown thug could round up that much to get out of jail, who's to say Payton can't?
Until last Wednesday (6.17.09)--when he was arraigned in Judge Van Davis' court and was jailed in OPP under the $1.5 million bond that had been set earlier by Judge Camille Buras--Payton has been roaming the city. He had no trouble making the $220,000 bond put on him in February when his victim died, nor the $75,000 bond when he was only charged with attempted murder.
Guilty, guilty, guilty: A good number of suspects rounded up by 8th District cops have pled guilty to numerous charges:
ayton's bond Tuesday (6.23.09) from $1.5 million to $1 million. No trifling amount, true. If the Uptown thug could round up that much to get out of jail, who's to say Payton can't?Payton, 27, was charged with 2nd-degree murder in February and indicted in May after a guy he allegedly pumped 7 or 8 slugs into early one morning last August at Bienville and Decatur streets in the French Quarter died in the hospital after 6 months of lingering on life-support in the hospital.
Until last Wednesday (6.17.09)--when he was arraigned in Judge Van Davis' court and was jailed in OPP under the $1.5 million bond that had been set earlier by Judge Camille Buras--Payton has been roaming the city. He had no trouble making the $220,000 bond put on him in February when his victim died, nor the $75,000 bond when he was only charged with attempted murder.
Even in these economically distressed times, the drug trade must be good. But let's hope it's not been that good and that he'll remain behind bars--despite Judge Van Davis' aid.
We've got to start remembering judges like this when they come up for re-election and make sure they have an opponent.
- Walter Black: Black, 41, may have gotten off easy last week despite his outla
ndish behavior after being arrested last October for attacking a man with his gold-lame boot outside the Double Play bar, 439 Dauphine St.
To avoid a lengthy sentence as a repeat offender, he pled guilty to assault, resisting arrest, and escape; charges of soliciting prostitution, lewd conduct, and loitering fell by the wayside. Judge Karen Herman sentenced him to 5 years in jail.
Not much of a sentence, considering when he was arrested in October, Black lifted his red dress despite being handcuffed to pee in the direction of arresting officer Brandon Ludwig. Then hauled in he peed again all over the floor of the 8th District station.
Black first achieved infamy in 2002 when he was convicted of extorting a priest with whom he was having a sexual affair.
- Kermit Ramagos: You don't hear much about canings these days, but Ramag
os, 45, pled guilty last week to aggravated battery for using his during an argument one evening last March in Jackson Square when he struck the other fellow in the head. The blow was severe enough to send the victim to the hospital for treatment.
Judge Frank Marullo Jr. sentenced Ramagos to the time he's served since being jailed 4.1.09.
- Joshua Roden: Talk about dodging the bullet. Roden, 21, was originally charged wi
th attempted murder after he got into a fight last February with a co-worker at Fiorella's Cafe, 1136 Decatur St., and cut him on the neck.
But he was allowed to plead guilty to a charge of aggravated battery last week. He was sentenced to prison for 5 years by Judge Lynda Van Davis.
- Ryan Toombs: If the wages of sin are death, what's the penalty for shooting at a po
lice officer? Not much, if you go before Judge Julian Parker.
Toombs, 18, was arrested on Halloween last year after he fired at officers pursuing him. Lt. Otha Sandifer of the NOPD's 8th District came upon a fight at S. Peters St. and Julia Street around 3 a.m. As he went to intervene, he saw a muzzle flash and notified the dispatcher of shots fired and an officer's life in danger.
An untold number of other cops responded, and a foot chase ensued as the combatants fled with the officers in pursuit of the armed man who turned and fired at them, but missed the officers.
Toombs was apprehended and charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, and single counts of resisting an officer, illegal use of a firearm, and being a felon with a firearm. (The last charge was later dropped.) He managed to post a bond of $35,000 a few days later and walked free until his court date last Thursday.
That's when Toombs pled guilty to resisting an officer and Judge Parker sentenced him to 7 days in OPP, but gave him credit for the time he had already served. Then Toombs pled guilty to the more serious charges of illegal use of a weapon and 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer with a firearm. For those 3 charges, Judge Parker gave Toombs 2 years in prison--then suspended the sentence, putting him on 2 years probation instead.Total disregard for the cops who put their lives on the line every day! Another judge to remember in the next election.
- Kentrell Finister: This defendant didn't fare as well in front of Judge
Karen Herman last week when he pled guilty to 5 charges of attempted armed robbery. She sentenced him to 7 years in prison "without benefit of probation, parole or suspension."
Finister, 18, and an accomplice tried to rob a man walking in the 100 block of Chartres Street but were scared off by another person walking by. They took off running and found another victim a few minutes later at Burgundy and Ursulines streets and took his money.
Police caught up with the duo and the victim positively identified them. The DA, for some reason, decided not to prosecute Finisher's alleged accomplice, Daryl Galle, 21, for the crimes.
- Terry Gibson: Gibson, 32, knew a good deal when he saw one. The DA agr
eed to not charge him as a career criminal despite amassing over 40 charges in the past 13 years, so he agreed to plead guilty to attempted simple robbery and attempted pursesnatching last week.
Judge Camille Buras gave him 7 years in prison on the first charge and 3 years and 6 months on the second charge, to run concurrently. Kind of like getting a free ride--if you commit one crime, you might as well commit another because it's not going to cost you any more time in the slammer.
Gibson was arrested in January for attempting to snatch the purse of woman walking near Conti and Burgundy streets in the middle of the afternoon. Failing at that, he went down a block on Burgundy and tried to rob a black man there.
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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.comThom Kahler
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