newsobserver.com projects - A fair sentence? - Comments

Joe S. takes on Merritt

Anglico — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:34:56 -0400

Re: A fair sentence?

ljelley — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:18:15 -0400

TO THE GOOD OLE SOUTHERN BOY!!!! ENJOY ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL NORTHERN FOLIAGES..FALL IS A GOOD TIME TO BE IN PA. HOPE YOU ENJOY AT LEAST FIVE FALL SEASONS HEY MAYBE YOU CAN GET A JOB RAKING LEAVES THATS A GOOD EXERCISE....

Re: A fair sentence?

alvinrlewis — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:19:12 -0400

I also agree this sentence was not fair. Jim Black was a leader in North Carolina controlling both money and people. Even early in this Mr. Black continued to deny wrong doing and even the people around him denied any wrong doing. Would average Joe be treated the same if he cheated NC and affected as many people and families as Mr Black has.

A person such as Jim Black must be above all others and lead by example. Sometimes you have to go beyond party lines and do what is right. How could Mr Black lead the state doing some of the wrong he was doing. He even looked the people of North Carolina in the eye and stated many times I am doing no wrong.

Now now that Mr Black in out of NC politics, some have fell but some are still in Raleigh and the deeds done have been forgotten. I truly believe the people of North Carolina deserve more and better.

Re: A fair sentence?

belkie — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:23:14 -0400

Absolutely NOT!! The system is using Jim as an example. Jim Black didn't do any more wrong than the next crocked politician. That sentence was to harsh. Jim Black is not only a politician, he is a nice person. He is a husband, father, brother, etc.... He did do wrong and deserved punishment, but not to the extent he received. I have known him as my optometrist as well as an aquaintence from years back and what a shame to make such a nice guy serve such a ridiculous sentence. I sure hope he maintains his physical as well as his mental health so that he can enjoy what years he has left when his time is complete.

Re: A fair sentence?

ladybug1948 — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:32:38 -0400

AMEN!! Politicians and 90% of ALL attorney's are all beyond the law. When are they going to go after the attorney's who lie just to get a conviction and are involved in coercion inaddition to the lies. At the side table in the Jessica Lundsford trial one of the attorney's made this statement:

"It doesn't matter if a crime has been committed but if the attorney can convince the people that his/her client is guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt" (even if he or she is innocent). The reason they insist their client agree to a plea bargain is so they won't have to go to work and find the real truth. Ant the state allows them to do this. North Carolina is real good at this; then they want to scream and holler because the jails are so full.

When is something going to be done about the lawyers and attorney's who are guilty of a glass H felony which involves coericion?

Re: A fair sentence?

dancewiz — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:03:29 -0400

Certainly not fair. Crime does pay if you're a politician - big time in this case. Steal thousands of dollars from the people, pay a small fine and get a slap on the wrists and you're home free. This sentence is a travesty of justice.

Re: A fair sentence?

Betty2007 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:31:51 -0400

what i say is ... you do the crime ...you do the time..!!

Re: A fair sentence?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:01:31 -0400

Again, please watch your language in the future.

— RTB

Re: A fair sentence?

FFC1304 — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:38:29 -0400

He got off light as hell...dude...he is but the tip of the icebergs...just the tip end...

who's NEXT?

Re: A fair sentence?

fishtownealley — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:20:21 -0400

63 months...no parole. That would be fair. $50,000 is more insulting than no fine at all....kinda says 'crime pays' after all.

He should be required to pay a fine equal to every corrupt penny he took with 15% penalty added.

Want a deterrent? Make the pocketbook moan.

Re: A fair sentence?

JBClark1 — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:51:08 -0400

I would have preferred something like 63,000 months but this is acceptable. I only wish that now we could reconsider the lottery vote that this corrupt weasel pushed through after midnight. Chances are it would not have passed if he had not been Speaker. In my opinion the numbers racket is the job of organized crime. It is the job of the government to shut down the activities of organized crime, not to muscle in and take over. In any event, Black got enough time to satisfy me, as long as he doesn't get out any earlier than the 15% reduction for good behavior or his natural life span provides.

Re: A fair sentence?

joeciulla — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:18:12 -0400

I would sure like to see our local officials subjected to the same amount of scrutiny, with similar sentences handed out to those that are guilty.

Re: A fair sentence?

bskeels — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:41:11 -0400

No argument that the sentence is appropriate, but there's a disturbing trend. By raising the spectre of his whole career, and by bringing in the $500k, commenters and the prosecution simply pile on, outside this conviction. If he took $500k illegally, prosecute him for it, but basic fairness and due process shouldn't allow consideration of other, unproven, acts.

A similar, more egregious, instance took place in the Alabama sentencing of former Gov. Seigleman, where the judge took into account factors relating to counts FOR WHICH HE HAD BEEN ACQUITTED. Leaving aside anything else about the case, this is just wrong.

Re: A fair sentence?

sdls03 — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:26:42 -0400

The federal sentence is much too short. Perhaps a state sentence will be consecutive rather than concurrent.

For years Black was supposed to do what was right for the citizens of North Carolina. For years his arrogance and hunger for power cheated all citizens, including me. Given his general attitude during his specious career and throughout this federal legal process, he will never serve enough time to suit me.

Re: A fair sentence?

Manfred — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:24:32 -0400

That is exactly right. There is one consolation: When you are 72 years old, 5 years is a probably big part of what you have left.

A fair sentence?

bkrueger — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:21:45 -0400

So, is 63 months in prison and a $50,000 fine an appropriate sentence for former House Speaker Jim Black?

Joe Sinsheimer, for the Democratic political consultant who aggressively pushed the the case against Black, called it "a fair outcome."

Republican activist Claudia Rogers said it was not inconsistent with the punishment given to former state agriculture commissioner Meg Scott Phipps and former U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance.