Comedy | March 27, 2011 | 56 comments

Kentucky passes HB 463 and Texas passes one to Willie. - Lexington courts | Examiner.com

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Monkey_Films
Kentucky becomes the latest state to reign in corrections costs by enacting sentencing reforms. Not to be outdone, a Texas county has gotten creative with drug sentencing in the case of Willie Nelson.

Governor Steve Beshear signed Kentucky's HB 463 into law on March 3. "This overhaul of Kentucky's penal code is the result of a multi-year effort involving members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches," said Gov. Beshear. "Over the last three years, we've made headway with aggressive efforts to bring common sense to Kentucky's penal code, and our prison population has dropped each of the past three years. House Bill 463 helps us be tough on crime, while being smart on crime."

Kentucky's law calls for probation for small time drug possession charges. It also calls for drug treatment to be mad available. The law reduces penalties for small time drug dealing while increasing penalties for large-scale trafficking. It also decreases the drug free zone from 1000 yards to 1000 feet.

"Today, if you sell half a gram of rock cocaine, that's a Class C felony," said Van Ingram, director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. "When the new law goes into effect in 90 days, you will have to sell more than four grams to get Class C. That means instead of a five-to-ten-year sentence, you'll be looking at one-to-five," he told the Chronicle.

The new law lowers possession of less than an ounce of marijuana from a Class A misdemeanor worth up to a year in jail to a Class B misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of 45 days in jail, if any jail sentence is imposed.

In November, Willie Nelson was pulled over at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Hudspeth County, Texas. Officers smelled marijuana and when a search of the tour bus was performed, they found 6.2 ounces of weed.

According to the Big Bend Sentinel, the case is about to be resolved in a very creative way. The Hudspeth County attorney has decided to make a plea deal with Willie.

“I’m gonna let him plead, pay a small fine and he’s gotta sing “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” with his guitar right there in the courtroom,” County Attorney Kit Bramblett said this week. “You bet your ass I ain’t gonna be mean to Willie Nelson.”

Bramblett oversees 10 to 12 personal use case per month. The 6.24 ounces that Willie Nelson was caught with is above the amount Bramblett can handle in his jurisdiction. Bramblett has found a way around this...

“Between me and the sheriff, we threw out enough of it or smoked enough so that there’s only three ounces, which is within my jurisdiction,” Bramblett said.

I'm not sure how much of that was a joke or not but I know that our overcrowded prisons are no laughing matter. Kentucky's prison population has increased fourfold in the past two decades, from 5,000 in 1990 to more than 20,000 now. Drug offenders account for 25% of the prison population, but 38% of inmates admitted since 2000.

Maybe Gatewood Galbraith could represent Willie Nelson in Lexington and we'll all get treated to a duo of "The Green, Green Grass of Home". That's one concert I wouldn't want to miss.

Read more at the link: http://www.examiner.com/courts-in-lexington/kentucky-passes-hb-463-and-texas-pas...

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved. Christopher Hignite
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56 comments // Kentucky passes HB 463 and Texas passes one to Willie. - Lexington courts | Examiner.com

  • punisher68
    • 0
      punisher68  
    • Although this was about drug laws, freedoms, and a little penal system, I only have one thing to say about the situation.
      Atleast the court will have a good show on the books when Willie comes through.

    • 1 year ago
  • unimatrix0
    • unimatrix0  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • Monkey_Films
  • LexiLeaks
    • +2
      LexiLeaks  
    • unimatrix0:

      That's funny. You pretended to review an article written by MonkeyFilms earlier today like you had read it. The funny part is that the article describes exactly the history of the statement you misquoted. Thus, proving that you not only did not read the article you pretended to read before falsely attacking it but that you are a troll.

    • 1 year ago
  • TheFiveCalloways
  • TheFiveCalloways
    • +1
      TheFiveCalloways  
    • unimatrix0:

      So, I read his bio and that's not at all what it says when not taken out of context. I also read the article he wrote on Examiner explaining what he says in his bio. He has been jailed and attempts made on his life for trying to expose prostitution links to local police. Additionally, a woman was murdered for trying to expose this story and he stuck his neck out to seek justice against the officers that murdered her.

      Nowhere, not even in the bio, does it state that he ever hired prostitutes. He has been willing to defend one at the risk of his own life. That's admirable. What's your problem with this author? It's obviously personal.

    • 1 year ago
  • dreamsenvoy
  • SHAWN_RITTIMAN
    • +1
      SHAWN_RITTIMAN  
    • Shit....Willie was almost out of weed! Check out Ode to weed on youtube w Willie and Steve Colbert Christmas! Seriously though these laws have got to change...free the weed!

    • 1 year ago
  • katsmetalarmy
  • grammabet
    • +2
      grammabet  
    • Willie is my man and a lot of people know he's famous for relaxing with a joint after work. Some folk have a beer. Not like he was driving or jeopardizing lives.Go after those that are transporting tons of the smoke by planes,boats etc. Legalize it and let the government get their share of the funds, not that they're not already getting some by supplying the funds to purchase it.Go Willie!!!

    • 1 year ago
  • mitekillem
    • +5
      mitekillem  
    • Seriously? -It's Willie Nelson. He's going to have weed.
      Give the man a personal mandate that allows him to carry the stuff in his home state, and you won't have to bust him anymore.
      Seriously. The guy is a living legend, are you going to let him die in jail because you're too up-tight about letting musicians smoke a little pot?
      It's fucking Willie. Give the man a pass and go home.

    • 1 year ago
  • Jennifer_Guinn
    • +4
      Jennifer_Guinn  
    • Georgia has the largest percentage under "state supervision". One in every 13 people in Georgia are either in prison, in jail, or on parole or probation.

    • 1 year ago
  • damush
  • Monkey_Films
  • extracrazykiwi2008
  • bailey78
  • hunzedog
  • August_K
    • +4
      August_K  
    • The lobbyists, judges, sheriffs and even politicians who benefit from "For Profit" prisons aren't going to like this at all.

      There are tons of stories about corruption involving private prisons....from Alaska to Florida. And after watching this it does leave one wondering if Gov. Brewer from Arizona tough stance on undocumented workers (illegals) isn't really just about the "money".

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMcgXxzcBeY

    • 1 year ago
  • telcod
    • 0
      telcod  
    • Who gives a F--K. Anyone, yeah and I mean anyone who can sing "Always on my mind." or "Georgia." Like he does, gets a free pass. Leave this soul alone. If you have any doubts, reflect on your own life. My does not measure up and I am pretty F__King impressive.

    • 1 year ago
  • chief_longhair
    • +7
      chief_longhair  
    • funny how these states once awash in cash and lining the pockets of the private prisons all the while screaming about the terrible evils of marijuana,,, and now that they claim the are broke,, maybe that weed aint so bad after all huh.... sing it Willie

    • 1 year ago
  • COMMONSENSEFORCOMMONGOOD_COM
  • NC54
  • artemis6
  • remanns
  • Schnookums
    • +9
      Schnookums  
    • Something that would immediately save every locality, state, and the federal government money would be to decriminalize pot. Release all the prisoners, stop monitoring people on probation for marijuana charges, and stop investigating growers.

      If you drive, show up at work intoxicated, or sell to underage persons, you're out of luck. But if you are a responsible adult who chooses to smoke, ingest, or drink marijuana, that's your choice.......or at least it should be.

    • 1 year ago
  • simplecj
    • +5
      simplecj  
    • Schnookums:

      Regulate it like alcohol for sure. Seattle currently has a bill on the table that the Seattle Times came out in support of that would dispense cannabis in state liquor stores and regulate it much like we already do with alcohol. My only concern is testing for current intoxication. This works for alcohol, but not with pot. UA's can pick up and show you are dirty 30 days or more after the last use. They need a better way for testing otherwise you effectively can't drive for a month after your last use without risking a DUI or Metabolite charge. This is the primary problem I see as far as legalization goes...

    • 1 year ago
  • NC54
    • +1
      NC54  
    • Schnookums:

      how do they treat/test pharmaceuticals like Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, Seroquel? even with a 'Rx' they impair driving as does over the counter meds like Benadryl.

    • 1 year ago
  • extracrazykiwi2008
  • Jennifer_Guinn
    • +1
      Jennifer_Guinn  
    • Schnookums:

      My only concern would be that the pot would be irradiated, full of pesticides and maybe even GM before it was over. Not to mention what chemicals would be added by the agri-businesses that produce, especially the low cost version. If you wanted good quality, it would be extremely costly, like fine wine and liquor. So then, the option is to buy organic/local. Isn't that what we already do now? Would there be "revenuers" like in moonshiner days. People that want to grow their own being jailed for tax evasion?

    • 1 year ago
  • alterfox
    • +1
      alterfox  
    • Sweet. Celebs always get more justice than commoners. Ominous, isn't it? If he were some African American, he could have been beaten by the cops, and put in prison for years.

    • 1 year ago
  • twinite
    • +7
      twinite  
    • Of all the stories I thought I might wake up to this morning....this is a utter surprise. The south ?? Yea, sing it proudly Willie!!

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • irie_ojo
  • PeteLeS33
    • +6
      PeteLeS33  
    • It's about time some senseability came into the judecal system. Considering that the national average is over 70% of incarcerated is of the non violent type, and 100% of that is for recreational drug use.( 10 grams or less). Prisions are supposed to be for VIOLENT OFFENDERS not small shit.

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • simplecj
    • +2
      simplecj  
    • Just a note, felonies are rated 123, not ABC. Misdemeanors are ABC... This is how it is in Utah anyways, pretty sure it's a nation wide system. Not sure why the article is referencing a "class C felony"??

      Anyways, it's good to see that they are trying to move towards a more rational system.

    • 1 year ago
  • PeteLeS33
  • neocongo
  • simplecj
  • Angeliron
  • Monkey_Films
  • bailey78
  • simplecj
    • +9
      simplecj  
    • bailey78:

      In my distribution case in 2000, I received a discovery report clearly stating that the evidence in the Utah State Crime Lab was recorded as "1.3 grams of crushed marijuana", interestingly enough, when I showed up for my initial hearing, the detective on the case presented the judge with a report claiming the evidence was "6.0 grams of marijuana", conveniently making my case look a degree more severe. I was also ordered to pay $50 restitution for the "evidence", even though I know for a fact it was only $10 for a half eight of brick weed. They also did not record the wired transaction. To get around it, they had three officers listen in, the word of three officers takes precedent over actual audio recordings, but actually conveniently leaves it up to the officers to say what ever they want to about what they heard...

      Luckily due to the fact this was a first offense and I presented numerous good character references from known members of the community, I "only" did 2 months in jail, 6 months (out of 3 max years) of probation, completed drug counseling (before getting out of jail), and paid $1050 in fines. Charge was a 2nd degree felony dist (school zone), plead to a 3rd degree, later reduced to a class A misd via 402 motion. Will be expunged entirely this year.

      Our criminal justice system is broken and tampered with constantly, especially when it comes to drug law. I was no criminal, I was a POW forced to live with hardcore meth addicts, rapists and murderers. That isn't justice...

    • 1 year ago
  • Monkey_Films
    • +4
      Monkey_Films  
    • simplecj:

      The new laws and prosecutorial reform will eliminate that type of behavior, I hope. What you talk about is common in every courtroom in America. They will just turn their devious ways towards other "criminals".

    • 1 year ago
  • TheNotGuiltySite
  • mapczar
    • +4
      mapczar  
    • Image
    • The United States has more than 2.2 million people in prison [2006-2009 figures], more per capita than any other country in the world.

      Our ratio per 100,000 is 748 persons. The next highest is Russia with 598

      For comparison:

      China 120 [1.6 million out of 1.4 BILLION people]
      Cuba 531
      United Kingdom 152
      Ireland 93
      Canada 117
      Australia 134
      New Zealand 199
      Norway 71
      France 96
      Brazil 243
      India 32
      Iran 223

      The lowest is East Timor [Timor-Leste] with 20 per 100,000. [Does not include San Marino with 2 prisoners]

      http://chartsbin.com/view/eqq

    • 1 year ago
  • TheNotGuiltySite
  • trut
  • bailey78
  • Tsuki_Yo
    • +10
      Tsuki_Yo  
    • Image
    • Holy shit. When a Kentucky judge is the voice of reason for American drug policy, we have definitely dropped down the rabbit hole into a parallel/opposite universe. Mad props to Kit Bramblett and the Sheriff for their cool, modern attitude, and a great song choice.

    • 1 year ago
  • Milieu
  • WeAreChangeKy
  • wayseeker
  • Monkey_Films
  • wayseeker
  • remanns
    • +9
      remanns  
    • WeAreChangeKy:

      Hell man,....I would do the Judges unwed homely daughter in front of bright lights, jeering crowds, and cameras to get my sentence reduced,....but, uhm,....I suppose singing might be embarrassing and socially painful.

    • 1 year ago
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