19 August 2010

I had a probation violation hearing in Jasper County this afternoon. My defendant admitted that he had used alcohol contrary to the terms of his probation. He is already doing six months. The county attorney recommended 30 days to run consecutive. I told the judge I didn't have any quarrel with the 30 days as long as it ran concurrently. My opinion, expressed, was that if he doesn't learn his lesson in six months, he won't in seven and since he would remain on probation after his release, the court can always throw him back in. The judge gave him 30 days contempt to run concurrently with the six months contempt is he serving now. The judge's opinion must have been the same as mine. The problem with the whole thing, as I see it, is that the entire procedure took over an hour to accomplish. Much time wasted.