What an unfortunate moment for our justice system. Do you believe this? And Clemmons had already been locked up at least once after his initial release by this time!
Clemmons also had the backing of Pulaski County Circuit Judge Marion Humphrey, who urged the board to grant clemency. Humphrey later presided over Clemmons' 2004 wedding in his court chambers.
Ironic that oh so religiously intolerant Huckabee went running to an old Jewish guy for salvation, don't you think? I'm sad to see Fox so quick to cover for one of their own, but what would you expect? O'Reilly did the same thing when Rivera insulted Michelle Malkin. O'Reilly must be their go to guy for absolution.
What I most want to know about Huckabee's statements on Larry King is, did the prosecutors really not speak out against Clemmon's commutation? Yes, he did get a terrible sentence for a 16 year-old. I understand that. But he began getting in trouble almost immediately. And let's not forget Wayne Dumond, among others, who appealed to Huckabee's religious beliefs to gain their freedom. A one off might be excusable, this was a clear pattern with Huckabee.
Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley, whose office opposed Clemmons' parole in 2000 and 2004, said Huckabee created a flaw in the Arkansas justice system by freeing the number of prisoners he did.
"(Clemmons) should have stayed locked up like the jury wanted him and we wouldn't even be having this discussion," Jegley said.
"I just have been figuratively holding my breath and hoping something like this wouldn't happen," Jegley said. "I just think that a lot of the people that were subjects of clemency during that period of time were some very dangerous people who didn't need to be let out."
And this below was before the judge married Clemmons in his chambers.
Clemmons didn't stay out long. He was convicted of robbery in Ouachita County in 2001, but was released again in 2004 by the parole board. Little Rock police say Clemmons also faced charges here in 2001 but prosecutors dropped the additional charges when Clemmons was released a second time. Months after his 2004 release, Clemmons was named as a suspect in an aggravated robbery at a hotel in Little Rock but he was not charged.
I'm not making an apologia for the Huckabuba. However at the time of his sentence commutation he then became eligible for parole. So the parole board is more liable than Huckabuba. After he was paroled he was arrested various times and at no time was his parole rescinded. Major screw up by the prosecutors, the judges and the parole officers, each of which could have possible prevented this.
Posted by: cubanbob | Monday, November 30, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Huck is toast. As for screw-ups, I can attest to the fact that our justice system is absolutely broken. We lost an immediate family member to a violent crime 4 years ago due to multiple screw-ups and what even the D.A. (since resigned because we had pledged to create havoc for him if he ran for re-election) called a "perfect storm" of errors by police, the court, the state troopers, victims' rights advocates and various and sundry interconnecting systems between the above.
Again, our justice system is BROKEN. We no longer believe in it.
Posted by: Peg C. | Tuesday, December 01, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Huck’s a schmuck- with this Dukakis moment, he’s done for 2012
Mitt is in a political hole with conservatives for his failed Massachessets HC plan that’s hardly any better than Obama’s… and a pitiful response to NY-23’s special election drama (if there was ANY response, I sure don’t recall it).
Meanwhile, the Arctic Fox’s book is #1 while crowds swell at her signings… and a poll now shows her vs Obama’s approval numbers closed within the margin of error… I think we all can see where this is headed
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | Tuesday, December 01, 2009 at 12:38 PM