Two recent sentencings for crimes comitted in 2007 & 2008 here in the Valley of the Sun have left me wondering what kind of punishment will those that stole Gene Nolen's race equipment and Shane Hollingsworth's racing gear receive? Will the punishment fit the crime and will justice be served?

In the 2008 case a man stole a van with a three month old baby in it, for this action he has received 17 years in prison. The 2007 case involved a man speeding and running a red light, he was doing 65 in a 45, when he ran the red light he broadsided another vehicle killing 5 people. He hired Larry Kazan, the Valley's go-to attorney for bad drivers - the ones who can afford him, that is. They claimed Mr. Myers was only going 10 miles over the speed limit and everyone does it. They pointed the finger at the victim who didn't have a driver's license or enough seatbelts for the eight passengers in her car. Prosecutors called Myers "extremely reckless" and asked for the going rate for negligent homicide-21/2 years in prison per victim, 121/2 years in all. Instead he was sentenced to a year in jail and four years probation and ordered to pay $450,000 in restitution. The judge also ordered that Mr. Myers be released from jail seven days a week, from 6 a. m. to 9 p. m. for "work release." Do you think justice was severed in this case? Besides killing five people a little girl in the car has been left paralyzed for life and didn't speak for a year. Her family still hasn't told her she will never walk again.

So if anyone knows anything about how the justice system works in Oklahoma please share it with us. I know in an earlier thread many IOW members reported what they would like to see happend to the people that stole Gene and Shane's stuff. I refrained from posting in that thread, at the time my thoughts were anything but lady like and I hadn't read about these two cases. The earlier thread mentioned they were trying to catch this ring of thieves for ten years. I am guessing this should be a federal case not a local case and the punishment should be severe. What do you think?

Patti

PATTI-- we will never know or understand what maddness lurk,s in the mind ,s of mental midget,s -- no matter what justice we get here we all will have to stand at the right hand of god someday

Here bout's in Hoosierville we have the best justice money can buy !!

O.J. Simpson set the course for people beating the rap for the crimes they commit. Since then, people who can afford to beat the rap go free and those who can't get shafted. Te guy in the 2007 case should have received nothing less than life in a prison work camp. Not just prison where he can have air conditioning, three hots and a cot and all his medical provided for him I mean something like Maricopa County, AZ has. Now that is the way the jail/prison system should be.

Have they caught the people who stole the stuff ?

Yes they caught them I talked to Gene last week and they are still finding parts.
Posted via Mobile Device

Dear Patti,

I don't know if my example applies, but in the early 70's I hit a driver in a Volkswagon, very, very hard.
I'm lucky I did not kill him, myself or my passenger. We all walked away unscathed and unhurt. All cars were
totalled and a lot of property damage..i.e..a building was damaged.

It was my fault and I plead guilty and awaited my conviction in court. I chose not to have a lawyer, mainly because I was guilty...ie.. it was my fault and I felt there was nothing a lawyer could do for me. If I wanted to fight it anything is possible especially if you have money...lol! But I didn't want to fight this crime because I was guilty.

The judge asked "where is your lawyer?". I said "I don't have one". The judge asked "You came here today
with no lawyer?" I said "yes". The Judge asked "you mean you will accept any sentence I give you at this time?".
I said "Yes". The judge looked at me and said "your dismissed". I looked at the bailiff and he looked at me and said "Leave the courtroom, you are dismissed". I was not punished for this crime and walked away free and clear.

I was later told that the other driver did not have a license. He should of not been on the road. Second, I had full coverage insurance which payed for all damages and thirdly the judge felt if I went to jail I probably wouldn't of learned anything from it. It wouldn't of been of any good.

The thing I did learn was that I was not mature enough to drive a very fast muscle car on the street. It
was a 375 Hp, 1970, 402 big block camaro with a few modifications...lol! I never drove a fast car for 30 years after that accident.

Sincerely,

Larry "O"

Larry "O", thank you for sharing, it sounds like you learned a valuable lesson from your accident.

Patti

How far away did the crooks get. I sure would like to here their excuse for taking all the stuff well maybe they will be smart and cooperate and tell the cops where they sold the stuff. How much stuff have they recovered?