Skip to main content
  • IetpShops STORE , Nike ACG GPX DOLPHIN HOODIE "GREY HEATHER" , DH1574 - 050 , nike mens air prestige iii 3 low power
  • Where To Buy , 100 - Jordan 1 High OG Japan Midnight Navy , Nike Air Max Lunar 1 JCRD Winter Black Flash Lime Hyper Cobalt , DC1788 , IetpShops
  • Nike Air Jordan 1 Mid Black Red Mens Basketball Fendi Shoes AJ1 Sneakers 554724 - Men's Fendi shoes , London Stopper Boot - 009 - 95731 - IetpShops - 4000 Cognac 6300 - Martens Combs Fleece - 315 - lined Boot Black Womens New - Jackboots
  • Best shoes IetpShops - Calções adidas Techfit Badge of Sport azul claro mulher - adidas Originals ZX 2k Boost Utility Gtx GV8051 shoes
  • Women's shoes - Tommy hilfiger rain boots - Sneakers - Adidas adizero takumi sen 8 shoes legacy indigo turbo sky rush gz0182 , IetpShops - Low shoes
  • adidas yeezy boost 350 v2 salt
  • girls air jordan 1s og valentines day black hyper pink white 881426 009
  • jordan kids shoes jordan 1 retro high white university blue black
  • Why So Sad Nike SB Dunk Low DX5549 400 On Feet
  • Air Jordan 4 Military Black On Feet DH6927 111
  • Home
  • Calendar
  • About Us
  • Watch/Listen
  • FOIL Docs
  • Editorial Policy
  • Log in
  • Publish Article

Upcoming Events

No upcoming calendar events.

Drunken driver court-ordered to read the Bible - conservative extremism in sentencing criminals

Primary tabs

  • View(active tab)
  • Devel
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 2012-07-07 03:49

Judges see all types of crimes and criminals during their time on the bench. At times they get creative with sentencing if they see a specific need that may be fulfilled by the court’s ruling. Court-ordered Bible study is going too far. This crosses a line that seems inappropriate and out of line.

Cassandra Belle Tolley, 28, pleaded guilty to drunken driving. Tolley was given an eight-year sentence to be followed by five years probation as well as substance abuse counseling. Her sentence did not end there, however, because Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles also sentences Tolley to read the Book of Job from the Old Testament and submit a report on what she read.

The Charlotte Observer reports, “Similar sentences have raised constitutional concerns, but Tolley’s case is special. ‘Under normal circumstances, the judge wouldn’t have the authority to do that,’ said Kenneth Gaines, a University of South Carolina professor of law specializing in civil and criminal litigation. ‘You can’t just arbitrarily add anything you want to a sentence. But if she consented, it’s really not an issue. It’s critical that the defendant was in entire agreement with it.” This is a rare type of sentence, according to legal experts.

Amy Sikora, the public defender assigned to Tolley’s case, has stated that Tolley was thankful for the assignment and she has already begun working on it. Sikora also reported that Tolley had been a victim of abuse as a child from a family member who had poured gasoline on her when she was 11-years-old before setting her on fire. Tolley has clearly visible scars from being burned on her face. Sikora said that Tolley had turned to alcohol following years of repeated abuse.

On Nov. 12, 2011, Tolley was driving in the wrong lane and she was intoxicated. The York County solicitor’s office reported her blood alcohol was over four times the legal limit at 0.333.

The Charlotte Observer reports, “In prepared statements read in court, the victims said the injuries have dramatically altered their lives. One of the men can’t sit for more than an hour at a time. Rods and screws were surgically implanted to support his spinal column. He relies on family to care for him. The other man has undergone six surgeries and could lose his left foot.”

The Herald Online reports, “The charge Tolley pleaded guilty to, felony driving under the influence causing great bodily injury carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in jail. Jack Swerling, a Columbia defense lawyer who has been trying cases for 40 years, said he hasn’t witnessed a ruling quite like this one. Swerling isn’t connected to Tolley’s case, but he said he has argued cases before Nettles. ‘He is very well respected on both sides of the fence,’ Swerling said. ‘He enjoys a really great reputation. My feeling about Judge Nettles is, he really tries to be fair.’ Given Tolley’s background, the ruling ‘is entirely appropriate,’ Swerling said. ‘It’s pretty clever and creative.”

Although some may support this sentencing, others are opposed. Think Progress reports, “Tolley undoubtedly deserved a stiff sentence, but sentencing someone to a religious activity clearly violates the Constitution’s ban on laws ‘respecting an establishment of religion.’ As conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy explained in Lee v. Weisman, ‘[i]t is beyond dispute that, at a minimum, the Constitution guarantees that government may not coerce anyone to support or participate in religion or its exercise.”

Anti-homophobia / Anti-transphobia
  • Facebook logo
  • Google logo
  • identi.ca logo
  • Twitter logo
  • Digg logo
  • del.icio.us logo
  • Reddit logo
  • StumbleUpon logo
  • Yahoo logo
  • Log in or register to post comments

Comments

ValerieKLazarus's picture

Pathetic

Permalink Submitted by ValerieKLazarus on Sun, 2012-07-08 10:25
To me, it's the height of lilly-livered cowardice to publish an article on this site that you stole off the AP and then not even put your name or any kind of slant on it. Do you really expect people to read it and comment?
  • Log in or register to post comments

Search form

Local News

Did District Attorney Sandra Doorley Violate Ethics Guidelines While Attending a Local Republican Fundraiser in May?
Jim Goodman - Sleeper Cell for the Revolution!
The Press as Powdered Donut with Blue Badge in the Middle
Blueprint for Engagement: Evaluating Police / Community Relations Final Report (2017)
The Police-Civilian Foot Patrol: An Evaluation of the PAC-TAC Experiemnt in Rochester, New York (June 1975)
Police Killing of Denise Hawkins (1975)
Complaint Investigation Committee Legislation (1977)
Race Rebellion of July 1964
Selections Regarding the Police Advisory Board (1963-1970)
Prelude to the Police Advisory Board
A.C. White (January 26, 1963)
Police Raid on Black Muslim Religious Service (January 6, 1963)
Rufus Fairwell (August 12, 1962)
Incarcerated Worker sheds light on Prison Labor Conditions during Pandemic
Police and Political Commentary
BWC video indicates Mark Gaskill was holding his phone as police shouted "gun"
How the NY Attorney General's defended the police who killed Daniel Prude
Hats off to Kropotkin!!
Agreement between the City of Rochester and the Rochester Police Locust Club, 2016 - 2019
Facebook Posts Lead to Federal Rioting Charges for Justice for Daniel Prude Protester

Recent Comments

Any status on FOIL request?
Media's Goebbels
Related
Related
USA as NAZI criminals
oops
PS
A message of Truth from Geral
Fyi
See related data...

Syndication

  • Feature Stories
  • Local News

Account Creation Policy Change

Rochester Indymedia is now requiring editor approval for account creation.

We came to this decision after we had repeated spam posted to our website that caused difficulty with the website's functioning.  We will still have open publishing and keep our site as nonrestrictive and accessible as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.  As before, we will continue to be Rochester's grassroots news and education site.  Thank you for your continued support and remember, "Don't hate the media, be the media!"

Editorial Meeting Times / Locations

The Rochester Independent Media Center (R-IMC) is no longer meeting regularly.
We will set up meetings by necessity and appointment. Please contact us at rochesterindymedia@rocus.org.
Our home is still the Flying Squirrel Community Space at 285 Clarissa St. Occasionally, we hold meetings at RCTV located at 21 Gorham Street.

Global IMC Network

To be downloaded