Only(?) in Texas: the 4060 year sentence.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:01 pm

Link

WEATHERFORD, Texas - A man was sentenced to more than 4,000 years in prison Wednesday for sexually assaulting three teenage girls.

A day after finding James Kevin Pope guilty, jurors sentenced him to 40 life prison terms â€” one for each sex assault conviction â€” and 20 years for each of the three sexual performance of a child convictions.

At the request of prosecutors, state District Judge Graham Quisenberry ordered Pope to serve the sentences consecutively, adding up to 4,060 years. He will be eligible for parole in the year 3209, according to the Parker County District Attorney's Office.

"We believe it was a just result," prosecutor Robert DuBoise said, adding that he was "overwhelmed" with the judge's decision to stack the sentences.

Pope, 43, abused the girls for nearly two years. It came to authorities' attention earlier this year after Pope made several inappropriate comments to a friend, who notified Child Protective Services.

During the trial, the teens testified about the abuse, and their sexually explicit photographs were shown as evidence.

'Traumatic'
But Rick Alley, Pope's defense lawyer, told jurors in closing arguments that the victims were incapable of understanding what happened, the Weatherford Democrat reported in its Wednesday online edition.

"If it was as traumatic as they indicate, they would be able to give you (specific dates and times of the incidents). Simply because it's shocking doesn't make it true," Alley said.

During the sentencing phase of the trial, a U.S. Secret Service agent testified that while examining Pope's home computer, he found more than 200 images of child porn.

Later Wednesday, some jurors said the case was difficult because of the subject matter.

"We were careful not to make any mistakes in viewing and evaluating the evidence," said juror Dale Lewis.

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Me, I think this is what a molester of his level of achievement has earned for himself. I found this on SD.net/SDN and some commentators there felt differently so I wondered how opinions over here might pan out.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:03 pm

It's just stupid. 'Life Without Parole'. Okay? It's not hard. Don't wank off to thousands of years in jail. You sound like a fucking prick when you rule like that. In four thousand years, you and he will be fucking dust and no one will care.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:14 pm

Life without Parole requires a different set of legal hoops and can be overturned in a single appeal. Here he has to pretty much get every single sentence reduced. That's going to be harder.

This isn't the first time this has been done and it has been done by every single state in the union. It's when they decide they really don't want you to ever get Parole.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:17 pm

SirNitram wrote:It's just stupid. 'Life Without Parole'. Okay? It's not hard. Don't wank off to thousands of years in jail. You sound like a fucking prick when you rule like that. In four thousand years, you and he will be fucking dust and no one will care.

Meh. In practical terms it makes no difference (or maybe it's better, according to frigid's post betwixt ours), so who cares if you sound like a prick? I would expect you of all people to understand the desire to sound like a prick now and then

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:30 pm

I didn't know the mechanics behind it but the way frigid explains it DOES make sense, and I DID know it has been done before. I guess now I know why

And sorry, I couldn't agree more. See you at the Enterprise-Ys christening ceremony, bastard.

Derek Thunder · Post by **Derek Thunder** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:52 pm

This is a serious punishment in Texas, where 4060 years... I mean, that's 2/3rds of the age of the earth.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:59 am

It's relevant because "Life without Parole" doesn't REALLY mean "the rest of your natural life with a 0.0% chance of being eligible for parole" anymore.

Comrade Tortoise · Post by **Comrade Tortoise** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:32 am

Um... yeah, it does. Without parole means no parole. Now, a regular life sentence is a tad different, as there are usual parole conditions. Now, if you mean appeals... yeah. If they get rid of one conviction, the others stick. However with the appeals, if he wins those it typically means the entire trial was bupkiss, and he should not remain imprisoned. So the 4 thousand year sentence is still a bit silly

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:00 pm

Actually no. Life without Parole means something like 50 years or so. Most prisoners don't live that long.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:44 am

frigidmagi wrote:Actually no. Life without Parole means something like 50 years or so. Most prisoners don't live that long.

And if they do, should they get to go free? I say no (and personally, I'd rather be executed than live the rest of my life in jail. Hell, anything over 10 years and I'll take Ol' Sparky).

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:51 am

If you've done something that damn bad, I'm in favor of letting you rot in a jail cell until you die in it.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:35 am

The Death Penalty is not barbaric, given the precautions involved.

Leaving someone to slowly rot away, mind and soul, with all the dangers of prison, is pretty barbaric.

So it's the logical punishment for barbarians in society.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:56 am

Nitram, for once we are in full agreement. It's a mad, mad world...

Devonie · Post by **Devonie** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:57 pm

And then, of course, you need to add in the fiscal cost of keeping someone in prison vs executing them. It's a lot cheaper to just pull the switch.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:58 pm

And then, of course, you need to add in the fiscal cost of keeping someone in prison vs executing them. It's a lot cheaper to just pull the switch.

Actually it's been proven all costs considered it's cheaper to imprison them for life.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:42 pm

frigidmagi wrote:
And then, of course, you need to add in the fiscal cost of keeping someone in prison vs executing them. It's a lot cheaper to just pull the switch.
Actually it's been proven all costs considered it's cheaper to imprison them for life.

If he's imprisoned, you have put him to work and get some use out of him.

General Havoc · Post by **General Havoc** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:42 pm

frigidmagi wrote:
And then, of course, you need to add in the fiscal cost of keeping someone in prison vs executing them. It's a lot cheaper to just pull the switch.
Actually it's been proven all costs considered it's cheaper to imprison them for life.

It's been proven that the way we do it, with 20 years of appeals and the like, that it is cheaper to imprison them for life. The Chinese, who basically sentence you to death, then shoot you in the head the next day and charge your family for the bullet, find that execution is very cost-effective.

Not that I'm suggesting that...

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:38 pm

Considering we cannot and will not use the frankly savage and repressive methods of Chinese makes whatever they do irreverent in a discussion about the US Justice system.

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Only(?) in Texas: the 4060 year sentence.

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