Fatcow Icon
Why the difference in bonds for youths charged with crimes?
Nov 30, 2012 | 3527 views | 16 16 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

To the Editor,

My concern lies with the way bonds are set. In the past few months, I have seen a rash of crimes, from arson, to assault, to animal cruelty and breaking and entering. I have also noticed a higher bond rate for Native Americans than non-native people.

The kids who broke into Hilly Branch where wrong. Their bonds were set extremely high; the four kids who set fire to hay bales and burned down the historic house in Fairmont and broke into the fire house, their bonds were ridiculously low.

What is the precedent? Are Native American youths being targeted? Is there a precedent on how bonds are set? We all, for the most part, love our children and we want the best for them, but when they do wrong, don’t let your influences cover for them.

I am placing this on our judicial system. If the charge is arson, set the bond accordingly; if the charge is assault, likewise.

These kids need to be in school, not behind bars, but when you set a bond at $25,000, you are telling me you want them to be part of the system.

Jeff McNeill Sr.

Maxton



Share This Article |
similar stories

2 facing drug charges | 11 days ago by Adelina Shee
Staff writer

Local man faces drug, gun charges | 24 days ago by Adelina Shee
Staff writer

Car dealer charged with drug crimes | 10 days ago by Kelly Mayo
Staff writer

Pharmacist charged with drug crimes | 3 days ago by Adelina Shee
Staff writer

Council tables permit request for youth center | 11 days ago by Bob Shiles
Staff writer

Comments
(16)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
lumbee06
|
February 09, 2013
Come, come now people. WE all know the history of Rob.Co. Written and otherwise. Especially if you're over a certain age. I'm sure most of us know of more than a few native and black (and occasionally white) families with eerily similar stories. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...well you know the rest.
Reply
Report Abuse
Cathenia
|
December 06, 2012
Just wanted to follow up to see if the bond for the kids who broke in the school got reduced at all. The amount does seem a little excessive. Just seems if they were arrested, they should already be scared about senseless. At least take into consideration the parents are the ones who have to come up with this money. Isn't it also at the discretion of the magistrate as to whether or not their bonds can be lowered?I say give their parents a financial break now cause this is definitely gonna cost the family anyways. Sometimes when you're a person in a position of power and kids appear before you, you have to visualize your own child'face on the other child's body. From a sappy Moms point of view.
Reply
Report Abuse
Ex-Lumbertonian
|
December 04, 2012
It's been a looong time since I've posted here but I've always been reading along each day. The fact of the matter is I know a crippled man who was busted with a 1000 hits of ectasy, an employee of mine years ago. He is still in prison. I know another guy who was busted for almost exactly the same crime but actually attempted to run away and was caught. The crippled guy, public defender, still in prison for some 8 years. The other guy, $7500 attorney, was given 6 months house arrest and 6 months halfway house. He ended up only doing 2 months of house arrest and that was all. This has always been a sore point to me and our judicial system but it shows a key positive point as well. If you work hard and get caught making an idiotic choice you will end up in a better place than one who does not work hard while making an idiotic choice. Freedom isn't free or perfect.
Reply
Report Abuse
Equalrights&legalbud
|
November 30, 2012
Kudos for shedding light on this issue Jeff. It's ashamed but that's the way the legal system works nowadays. Mainly 3 factors determines what happens to you in the legal system. Race,networking "who you know", and wealth. For example if you were a young white male and your father was a well known car salesman. The young white male gets busted with a pound of marijuanna. His dad makes some calls throws a couple grand and poof abra kadabra never happened. Now had that been a young minority (black,Hispanic,native American,etc) he would've been locked up with a ridiculous bond. There house probably would've been raided shortly after. I wish we had more unbiased people in the legal system so everyone could get fair treatment across the board. No special treatment just fair treatment. But never fear regardless of what is done or how unfair it is karma will always get the last laugh. So just remember that you reap what you sow
Reply
Report Abuse
ROSSisRIGHT
|
November 30, 2012
Equalrigtbud: Bud, you are not telling the truth. You are making that crap up. PROVE TO EVERYBODY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS TRUE! Show proof, that racism excists in the judicial system. What you are accusing people of IS AGAINST THE LAW. They can't do what you say and get away with it.

But if you believe the system is rigged against minorities, you want to know how to beat it?....... DON'T COMMIT CRIMES IF YOU ARE A MINORITY! There.........
Report Abuse
SportsJunkie
|
November 30, 2012
I agree partially with Ross on this one(I can't believe I said that)!!!! While I don't think race is a determining factor in the judicial system; money surely plays a HUGE role when it comes to convictions!!! O.J. had money so he beat the rap; Lindsay Lohan had money so she constantly got lighter sentences. My point being, the only thing that tips the scales of the Lady of Justice is "money". The more you got, the more likely you are to get off, or get a lighter sentence. While crime is committed by all races the conviction rates are higher for those of lesser wealth no matter what the race is. I agree with Ross, don't commit crimes and you don't have to worry about whether its fair or not!!!! If the men who committed these crimes need to be in school now, why did they not realize this when they were committing these acts Mr. McNeil?
Report Abuse
Dajead
|
December 02, 2012
Partially agree with what you are saying, but there are always extenuating circumstances that have to be considered..not to mention there is also a range of punishment. It doesn't have to be the same judgment even if the crimes are the same. First time offenders shouldn't necessarily be treated the same as career or repeat offenders, etc. The only issue is that punishment should be fair, not necessarily equal. Racism, prejudice, and corruption exists in all walks of life, including the judicial system, but it is no more of a problem in Robeson County than anywhere else. I am a minority and I am a law-abiding citizen so I have not faced the judicial system. If I ever committed a crime, I am concerned that I would be treated fairly, but only because of what I have read, seen, or heard about others. I don't know the circumstances of why sentences are different and neither do most people, as long as it is legal, you can't really complain too much. And by the way, those that think setting fires and the like are mistakes are just making excuses for bad and illegal behavior.
Report Abuse
msbige
|
December 06, 2012
I don't know how long you folks have been in Robeson County, but maybe you will remember the burning and vandalism of Lumberton High school? Way the county knew that white kids were behind it was because no one was ever charged. Rumors had it that there was a plan made by some very prominent families to pay for the repairs. No proof though. Another prominent young white boy was caught stealing guns from a now defunct department store and renting a house there in Lumberton and growing and selling weed. ATF involved, but never served a day. He was soon shipped off. Now tell me the legal system isn't biased. This has always been life in good old Robeson County.
Report Abuse
orighawk
|
December 06, 2012
@msbige...bull...while there has been corruption in law enforcement to claim the ATF (a federal entity) bows to local politics is both irresponsible and plain ignorant...if the "white boy" walked away scotfree its because he helped provide evidence for the state...Robeson cty has always been full of rumors and supposition. Dont commit a crime and there wont be questions about fair. I stole from my family @15 yrs ago, i am white, from money, and my parents stood by me in court after 2 months of "cleaning out" at the county jail...I served 1 yr 3mnths 25 days in state prison...time given to me by a "native" judge. So I will submit that no one on here knows everything that is said or done when it comes to court cases...
Report Abuse
ROSSisRIGHT
|
December 06, 2012
msbige: You are spreading lies and rumors. And people wonder why Robeson county is thought of as ignorant.... Your biased opinion is obvious. You are full of anger. You should not have that kind of mind set around here about your fellow Robesonians, you wouldn't want people to feel that way about you, would you? Anger, it's a terrible thing to be obsessed with.
Report Abuse
ROSSisRIGHT
|
November 30, 2012
Mr. McNeill Sr..... Would it make you feel any different to know that the judge who sat the bails for the native kids was himself a native american?

Bud, get over this stuff, it's a figment of your imagination.........

The only way to end this whinning is to have race based arrests, the same race for jurors, and the same races for the judges for criminals. C'mon fella.

When you dial 911, the person must ask what race so they'll know who to send out to arrest, yeah, right.

Excuses, excuses....

Reply
Report Abuse
americanheart
|
December 01, 2012
Ross

Either.way...white black native american

.hispanic....presidence shoukd be.set on bonds...doesnt matter what race the.magistrate was...let the punishnent fit the.crime...all races committ crimes....poor and.wealthy alike...but when we are dealing witb kids...is posting.a ridicilous bond gonna keep.them out of.trouble...no..they made.a.mistake...some more.than.others...but a.mistake.all the.same...we afe not.making this about race...yes racism exits..sad but true...kids.set.fire....give.them due.justice...kids break and enter.. give them due.justice...punishment for.the.crime......
Report Abuse
ROSSisRIGHT
|
December 03, 2012
Americahart: We should treat crime like God treats sin. A sin is a sin... A crime is a crime... 20 years to life if you kill or steal... or in this case set fires.

Crime solved. Steal a pack of smokes, 20 years. kill, 20 years. This way noone can be treated "unfairly".

Ross, attorney at "fair" law.
Report Abuse
Weather
Sponsored By:

Lottery
Sponsored By:

Stocks
Sponsored By:

Gas Prices
Sponsored By:

Featured Businesses
Recipes
Sponsored By: