Pantagraph.com | News | Judge won't reduce sentence for Ecstasy smuggler

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

IDOC webpage wrote on Aug 21, 2007 11:33 AM:

" If you want to know how much it cost for real, then you can go to the Illinois Department of Corrections and search for the inmate, then you can see where they are being held at. Then click on facilities and read about that facility, what they house, what they offer, and each one tells about how much it costs to house an inmate per year, every one of them is DIFFERENT. "

To: Math wizzard wrote on Aug 17, 2007 7:30 AM:

" Umm last time I checked it costs $68,000 to house an inmate per year. That does not include violent offenders who continue while locked - up, nor does it include their medical treatment. Try doubling that figure and then you will be in the ballpark range. "

1500 saved wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:22 PM:

" It has been reported as a Date Rape Drug by law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada, as it has been given unknowingly to many victims since its appearance in the mid-1980s. "

40 Xs' $30,000 wrote on Aug 16, 2007 5:13 PM:

" comes to precisley $12,000,000, (not considering inflation, so on). I'm so blessed that my kids enjoy "peanutbutter", (I prefer 'crackers"). "

Fred wrote on Aug 16, 2007 4:54 PM:

" Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. The doper should stop whining. Those who feel sorry for this person don't understand the transporter/dealer in this case got caught this time. She may have transported drugs (of all kinds) hundreds of times to our cities used by our kids. She should have gotten a real job and work hard like the rest of us. I don't feel sorry for her or her partner at all. "

Bored wrote on Aug 16, 2007 4:14 PM:

" Wow, some of you need to do some research on this drug. It's not always made to a high standard. It could be made with any number of chemicals and thats the reason why its so deadly. Shall I link stories of people who died off their first pill? "

Just another wrote on Aug 16, 2007 12:53 PM:

" waste of taxpayers money. "

To: what if it was you kid wrote on Aug 16, 2007 10:44 AM:

" This pill is the same as prescription drugs. You must be the type that thinks that any substance that is not government approved is bad for you. Well since you are into healing everyone start by demanding that any and all harmful substances be banned and treated with a 40 year sentence and start with you for poisoning the Earth with your smog from your auto, because a billion cars burning fuel all at the same time is more dangerous to health than a billion pills passed out amongst youth. People like you disgust me and you goody two shoes way of thinking when your actions are worse than a drug dealers. At least this person does not force their poison on a person like you. Better yet make you suck on your tail pipe for a while ...... "

oh god wrote on Aug 16, 2007 9:53 AM:

" one, many more drunks have wondered out and died in the cold then drug users. Two, these are not drug pushers, the reason that they have so many pills is simple supply and demand economics. Now all drugs are bad (except for one) and demand action. However 40 years is too much. I belive that ten years hard labor with a chance at parol after 6 would have be sufficient. "

To:Today Show wrote on Aug 16, 2007 9:48 AM:

" Blowing a hole in someone's back while they're in bed is self-defense? I wonder if gang members can use her defense of "years of abuse"? Sometimes they can't "get out" of a bad relationship (gang membership). I can see it now: "Your honor, I blew all those people away in self-defense because my fellow gang members forced me into a position of comitting murder. I had no choice." "

To: Stupidity runs rampid is right wrote on Aug 16, 2007 9:44 AM:

" The naive people will think "this will send a message and drug smuggling will stop or be reduced." No way, it just ups the ante. People doing this type of work have nothing, so with this kind of consequence, they will have nothing to lose. I'm pretty sure others engaged in the trade are well aware of this. This only sent a message to "do anything to avoid being caught." "

Russian Roulette wrote on Aug 16, 2007 9:12 AM:

" Wasn't the college couple that died of hypothermia tripping on ecstasy? These were otherwise good kids with a future ahead of them that hallucinated themselves out of the safety of their car into a blizzard because of ecstasy. Deaths from ecstasy frequently occur in occassional users due to hypothermia or heart problems (it is a hallucinagen as well as "speed".For frequent users their livers end up having problems. Just cause this isn't the date rape pill, doesn't make it any better. It's a party pill. There's nothing medicinal about the drug. "

To:Today Show wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:52 AM:

" I wouldn't liken that story to this debate. Obviously you should have paid more attention to the trial of the Preacher's wife. She was convicted of basically self defense after the fact. I don't disagree that this does appear excessice compared to the prison sentences that some murders and rapists receive. I think the answer isn't to let drug dealers get off easily but to place the blame on those handing out the sentences for murders and rapists. "

to 1500 saved wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:47 AM:

" Your argument might have merit if Ecstasy was a date rape drug... its not. "

Meh wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:46 AM:

" If he wanted to commit a crime, he just should have killed someone. In our backwards legal system, he would have been out in less than 5 years. "

Stop and Think, as the Judge did wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:37 AM:

" Thank you for looking out for my kids, Judge. This should send a strong message to potential pushers and if it scares them into a real job that's great. My child is one of those who if just one of these pills was slipped unknowingly into a drink, could have a fatal reaction.These pills do deserve to be treated as weapons of mass destruction.Nothing justifies their existence and I have no problem with my tax dollars keeping these varment locked up for the next 40 years.Good call. "

Today Show wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:33 AM:

" Before I left for work this morning I saw a story about a preacher's wife who cold-heartedly shot her preacher husband in the back while he slept with a shotgun. She was just released from prison (which happened to be a mental facility) after only 60 days served! This woman was convicted of murder (nothing less) and only served 60 days! Let's give the ecstacy carrier a break, even the Bible Thumpers and Former Drug Addicts in Central Illinois should understand that this punishment is ridiculous for our judicial system. "

Tobacco and alcohol executives wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:11 AM:

" How many years should they be sentenced to for the drugs they traffic? Lives ruined? The justice system has gone insane. "

What if it was your kid? wrote on Aug 16, 2007 7:32 AM:

" Oviously Stupidity and ??? don't know much about Ecstasy. Speaking from someone who as a high school and college student actually tried ecstacy a few times, it is absolutely nothing like taking prescription pills. I'm not sure they sell prescription meds that have coke, heroin, mdma, etc all mixed together in the form of pill. All 1500 pills he had could have killed someone the first time they tried it. It's an incredibly dangerous drug to use regularly or even try. Thankfully, I saw the light. Don't make light of something that you don't understand. I agree that it is silly to get a longer sentence for dealing drugs than rape or murder but that just means we should make sentences longer for murder and rape. Also keep in mind it's easier to prove intent to distribute than it is to prove rape or murder. "

Bluegrass American wrote on Aug 16, 2007 7:24 AM:

" If he only had an Illinois address he would have gotten 6 years. Everyone that gets busted for drugs in Illinois.......... I guess all these drugs are being made in the good ole state of Illinois, not smuggled in. 40 yrs...Illinois is starting to sound and look like eastern countries with their punishments. When traveling, they will just go around Illinois or pack heavier guns, and use them, then the do goodies will scream "out law guns" thinking that will change it, but really it's only Blago that can change it It's a viscous circle. Drug dealers, judges, Blago. "

Krusty Krab wrote on Aug 16, 2007 5:39 AM:

" ??? wrote on Aug 15, 2007 9:40 PM: " Rape, and murder don't get these types of sentences. This is beyond insane... " DUUUUDE, ALL THAT MEANS IS THEY NEED TO RAISE THE PENALTY FOR RAPE AND MURDER... SO PUT AWAY YOUR GLOW STICKS. "

need more of this kind of punishment! wrote on Aug 16, 2007 5:38 AM:

" " Rape, and murder don't get these types of sentences. This is beyond insane... " Hardly.. the fact that rape and murder don't get higher sentences is insane!!! "

suicide pact wrote on Aug 16, 2007 2:29 AM:

" with a sentence like that I would rather hang myself. "

1500 saved wrote on Aug 16, 2007 2:04 AM:

" On the other side of this situation: what if these 1500 pills were used to seduce and rape 1500 people. Better one person loosing than all the damage these drugs could have caused. "

The Cost wrote on Aug 16, 2007 1:39 AM:

" Who's paying for all the prison time? For 40 years of room and board? Shouldn't prosecutors be graded on how effectively they use the resources we give them with our tax money? Shouldn't they be responsible for prioritizing? It seems like they just try to see how much of our future money they can spend. "

??? wrote on Aug 15, 2007 9:40 PM:

" Rape, and murder don't get these types of sentences. This is beyond insane... "

Stupidity runs rampid wrote on Aug 15, 2007 7:42 PM:

" Stop and think about this for one second. If a drug dealer is looking at 40 years for a few pills that have the same effects as allot of prescription pills do, and knows if caught, do you not think that the people who are dealing the drugs see it as well if I got caught I do not have anything to lose, other than 40 years behind bars? I think if I were a police officer exessive sentences like this would make me a bit worried about my safety, you know because that pill pusher has nothing to lose...... "

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