re: #228 AlexRogan

According to the Consumerist and Waco Tribune-Herald articles, Willie Smith Ward also had 5 previous felony (and 4 misdemeanor) convictions, not to mention that he threatned an employee who followed him out to the parking lot with a knife (though he apparently didn’t brandish it).

He also rejected a 20-year plea deal before trial; guess he should have took it, eh?

If I’m reading the charges right, he would normally have faced five years. It’s the habitual criminal sentence that does him in.

And even so, all things considered he probably did better with the habitual. Eligible for parole in 12.5, able to appeal conviction as excessive and judicial bias/influence on jury. (Judge recommended sentence to jury, prosecution did not request it.)

He may be scum. He may a personification of ValJean. Doesn’t matter. He got 50 for a rack of ribs, and that seems a bit excessive.