Pantagraph.com | News | Defense goes after police sources as cocaine case heads to jury

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.

OGS wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:26 PM:

" If y'all want a quick education on the availability of drugs in this country do a quick google search on "Mena." Enjoy! "

BigBrother wrote on Jul 25, 2008 6:51 PM:

" You people don't really believe this load of cr@p you are posting do you? I want you to look up every arrest reported in the pantagraph each day for one month. Look on the McLeancountyil.gov web site under public access. Come back in a month and tell me how many people that are arrested for violent crimes have histories of drugs. There is a direct corolation between drugs and violent crimes. So for every dealer we get off the street we benifit 20 fold or more. "

The Dean of Mean wrote on Jul 25, 2008 6:41 PM:

" I've known Chris(George) Hursey since grade school. He has always been a menace to society. I hope he never gets out. Have a Nice Day ! "

lore63 wrote on Jul 25, 2008 5:48 PM:

" To Only in America, get your head out of the sand and quit living in a fairy tale world. Have you or anyone you know ever been molested, it stays with you for years and years. Do you actually know how much money we put into the war on drugs and to house them for 30 years. Give me a break , lock up the ones using and telling and then the drug dealer will not have a job anymore. Majority are not violent they just have to have a way to pay bills, try getting a job after you are a convicted felon, it dosent happen, so we pay for them to be locked up and then have to pay for them when they come home because they cant get a job. Do you know anything about drugs at all. Drug Dealers do not make people buy from them, it is supply and demand. The War on Drugs has been drug out to death, it s not working.......Just costing money......... "

420 wrote on Jul 25, 2008 2:33 PM:

" 30 years @165k a year you do the math... What a waste of tax dollars.. I'm completly disgusted by the sentencing for drugs yet those whom hurt our children and the citizens of this country by means of violence and sexual crimes are always given less of a sentence that the drug user/pusher...
When will this nation wake up and understand that the problems we face with drugs are fueled by the irrational laws that keep drug users committing crimes to support their habbits as drug addicts are left with no choice but to commit criminal acts as they are unable to gain employment as this nations employers drug test prohibiting a persons abbilty to gain a decent job to support their habbits.
No matter how hard you want to make someone not use drugs if they chose to do them they will.
I see more deaths related to automobiles everysingle day than drugs, so lets make auto's illegal as they are far more dangerous than any drug known to mankind... After all this is why our nation claims drugs must be illegal, right.... "

110100100 wrote on Jul 25, 2008 2:17 PM:

" I agree. This guy was a low-level nobody. Sex offenders get months, dealers get years. This won’t even dent the market, just the taxpayers’ pockets.

Only In America – Seriously, that’s the worst catchphrase of all time. “Dumbing of America?” Is that supposed to be clever or something? I’m not even sure that “dumbing” is a real word. At least not in the context you repeatedly use. "

happyinillinois wrote on Jul 25, 2008 10:19 AM:

" Hello......They want to discredit the police informants because of their long history with drugs and drug use....would they be purchasing cocaine if they were not drug users??? What other kind of police informants are there? Usually they get busted for doing drugs or possessing drugs and to save their tail they roll on other people they buy the drugs from.....If they didn't do drugs they wouldn't even know this guy, seems they were pulling at straws with that defense. "

BNmama wrote on Jul 25, 2008 8:35 AM:

" Drug courts and treatment do work. But you know what works better? Prevention in our school systems - which thanks to Blago may be cut drastically. Parents have their job to do too, but reinforcement and the most up-to-date education on trends needs to continue. This is not your DARE program or the "just say no" of the 80s and 90s - these programs are much much more! "

who cares wrote on Jul 25, 2008 8:12 AM:

" i'm not condoning drugs by any means.it is everyones choice to use or not to use.most of the people that buy drugs are looking for drugs.it's not pushed on them.by the way did this guy grow the cocaine or does he have an air plain to smuggle it in,i'm guessing no.locking up 2 bit dealers for decades at a time is just a waist.what they're doing is wrong but not decades in the joint wrong.for crying out loud they were looking for drugs and if you're looking for drugs you will look till you find it. "

ONLY IN AMERICA wrote on Jul 25, 2008 7:15 AM:

" To: LifeisLife- THE DUMBING OF AMERICA CONTINUES AND YOU JUST PROVED IT... "

otis wrote on Jul 25, 2008 1:38 AM:

" we are all better off if he gets 30 yrs and the neighbor hood will be a better place "

LifeisLife wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:19 AM:

" I'm a person that grew up with illegal drugs all around me 24/7 and I have never tried illegal drugs, it is a persons choice to do drugs or not I have never seen a drug dealer hold a gun to a persons head and say smoke this crack! I have also been sexually assaulted when I was a child by a family member, he was out of jail before I hit puberty, I know drug dealers that won't be out of jail until they are great grandparents. I have daughters and I won't even go back to work after I have a child until they are out of pampers cause I am so afraid to leave them with anyone family or not. Now tell me who deserves to be in jail for 30 years. "

lore63 wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:02 AM:

" Unfortunately I agree with others, drug convictions are a steep penalty but child molesting and killing seem to be going lower. Yes drugs are illegal and it does hurt somebody everytime no matter what but when the drug dealer is not a violent offender why so much time all the time its called supply and demand, lock up the people that are buying it. In my opinion we are not making any kind of dent in the drug population so why keep spending so much money, one off the streets two back on, its going no where. Molest or rape a child and you will be out sooner, do you think that dosent hurt everyone and most of the times worst, the children didnt go and make the choice. "

jstsmone wrote on Jul 24, 2008 11:01 PM:

" I just wanted to say that I am in the drug court program, and there are all different kinds of qualifications to be accepted into that program. First and foremost, to be an addict of ANYKIND, whether it be acohol, marijuana, crack-cocaine or heroin, doesn't matter, but to be an addict and have the want and the willingness to change. Doesn't matter what kind of charges that you have... If you are serious about the drug court program and what they have to offer and are willing to do what they require and what it takes to completely change everything, that is what the program is about. They are very serious about helping people... and I am soooooo grateful to the team and all the people involved to make this program happen.... Thanks... "

bushIQis6 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:02 PM:

" the reason drug peddling and drug use must be dealt with severely is because it weakens this country. look at the statistics. The U.S. population is far behind nearly every industrialized country in math and sciences, especially to china, india and Iran. American kids are only interested in how to get their next drink or joint. (in addition to the latest iPod, fashion statement etc....) "

BigBrother wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:57 PM:

" Reality of lifes choices come slamming right back in your face sometimes. Although our community is going to be a safer place when we take this drug dealer off our streets his family and friends will be saddened. Don't ever say that drugs do no harm!!! "

albundy54 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:41 PM:

" HMMM: Sorry to disappoint you pal but you are dead wrong. One of my employees has been in drug court now for almost a year. He has been to prison twice and neither time was for drugs. He has two DUIs in his life and so you are dead wrong about what it takes to get in. The trick is to stay in once you get there. This guy has to call in everyday to see if he needs to give a urine sample (at his expense) or a blood alcohol reading. He must go in a court room once a week and talk with a judge to make sure he is complying with all of his requirements. He also must attend 5 AA or NA meetings each week, attend individual counseling sessions twice a week, and a group session once a week. It is not a picnic but you can most assuredly get into the program with prior arrests and prison terms other than just drugs. "

hmmmmm wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:00 PM:

" Bluegrass American, yeah, there is a drug court. But in order to qualify you have to have just drug priors, and alcohol does not count so if you have a dui you are out, no prior record of violence, not ever haven given a prosecutor the stink eye, not have green or pink be your favorite colors and have at least two webbed toes. If you meet those qualification, then they will consider you. "

willi wrote on Jul 24, 2008 1:56 PM:

" to who cares: AMEN! Sex offenders get a slap on the wrist for destroying people's lives, yet drug crimes get maximum sentences. Not trying to say that drugs and drug related crimes aren't a problem, but it's about supply vs demand and people making bad CHOICES. People don't choose to be the victims of sexual assault. "

Athena wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:44 AM:

" Yes, McLean County has a drug court, its fairly new. "

who cares wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:26 AM:

" yes cocaine is illegal but 30yrs?pelo will be out before this guy.this country has it's shoes on the wrong feet.our criminal justice system needs reworked. "

albundy54 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 5:15 AM:

" This is nothing new. When on trial and your case is looking weak attack the prosecutions witnesses. It temporarily takes the light off your client and casts a doubt on the credibility of those testitying against your client. Skelton is a master at doing this. "

Bluegrass American wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:53 PM:

" Confidential Source(s) = CS. I remember when people would put names with the initials CS. Did Bloomington/McLean County ever get a Drug Court? "

BigBrother wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:27 PM:

" The question is really did he sell drugs to anyone? Can that be proved? If so, what matter does it make as to who the buyers were? Selling cocain or even having possesion of cocain is illigal. DUH!! "

floyd wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:58 PM:

" Check the history. That's all that needs to be said. "

muttonhead31 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:11 PM:

" Just another case of THE MAN keeping them down. "

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