Wtf? Hang the s.o.b.!!! [Archive] - My Hattiesburg Community

BlueDogDemocrat

10-25-2007, 02:28 PM

I would like to know why the reduction in bail. I'm sure there is a good reason behind it. It seems crazy though.

I'm with you. There must be some rational explanation.

Can our resident attorneys opine on why the Judge might do this?

Also, why isn't this in Circuit Court?

TDaleBeavers

10-25-2007, 02:34 PM

Justice Court Judges set initial bond in felony criminal cases, so that's why Judge Bustin has this. Having not heard the case, I am not going to get into a game of second guessing her.

BlueDogDemocrat

10-25-2007, 02:36 PM

the question, though, is the reduction of bond soley within the discretion of the judge, or do other legal issues influence this decision?

aaron

10-25-2007, 02:40 PM

I saw on the news where local authorities were playing the Dateline bait game now, wonder if this has something to do with the methods used or evidence in the case.

amanda

10-25-2007, 02:42 PM

the question, though, is the reduction of bond soley within the discretion of the judge, or do other legal issues influence this decision?

A combination of both really. We don't know sitting on the sidelines what brought about the reduction, but generally its because the felon has helped in other capacities. It mentions in the article that he assisted in another case on the same issues, so I'm assuming (be assumption) that it warranted the consideration of a bail reduction. Doesn't get him off the hook, but the Judge could be more inclined at reducing bail if someone helps apprehend an even worse felon. Again, just a guess on my part since I'm not involved. But, people, this kind of thing is really typical and really doesn't warrant the call to hang the judge.

BlueDogDemocrat

10-25-2007, 02:53 PM

given, she was just reelected, but this will be fodder for any future challengers.

SoMissTV

10-25-2007, 03:00 PM

given, she was just reelected, but this will be fodder for any future challengers.

Nah, not in four years.

bpitt

10-25-2007, 03:01 PM

Okay, maybe I was harsh in saying 'hang the judge', but, why was the bail reduced?

amanda

10-25-2007, 03:01 PM

given, she was just reelected, but this will be fodder for any future challengers.

Why? Especially at this stage in the litigation? What if it gets to the Circuit Court and they let him go? Does that end the Circuit Judge's career? Have we forgotten the adage of "Innocent until PROVEN Guilty"? I'm one of the biggest supporters of cutting of a molesters private parts and feeding it to them slowly, but let's get more details before we start in on the Judge. :smt023 They really do have thankless jobs.

IGID

10-25-2007, 03:09 PM

amanda

10-25-2007, 03:11 PM

Okay, maybe I was harsh in saying 'hang the judge', but, why was the bail reduced?

"Authorities say Craft provided information during the investigation of his then girlfriend, Lola Marie Hulsey, who pleaded guilty to similar charges in April.

Defense attorney Chris Farris says officials from Jones, Marion, and Lamar counties signed off on an immunity agreement that prohibits Craft from being tried on any charges arising out of the Hulsey case."

Per information just from the article, and consider the source, there was obviously something going on behind the scenes....to me the worse thing is that there is a possibility that he could walk all together.

BlueDogDemocrat

10-25-2007, 03:12 PM

Why? Especially at this stage in the litigation? What if it gets to the Circuit Court and they let him go? Does that end the Circuit Judge's career? Have we forgotten the adage of "Innocent until PROVEN Guilty"? I'm one of the biggest supporters of cutting of a molesters private parts and feeding it to them slowly, but let's get more details before we start in on the Judge. :smt023 They really do have thankless jobs.

I'm not arguing the rightly, wrongly, but these are the things that make for excellent campaign snippets.

Just watch.

Maggie-Doodle

10-25-2007, 03:18 PM

According to the article Farris said "officials" in about three counties signed off on an agreement not to prosecute Craft IF he gave the goods on the woman....WHO in their right mind would do that on a child abuse case? IF the DA's actually did such a thing, THEY should be booted out of office A.S.A.P! I can see maybe letting some things "slide" a little on some cases but when it comes to abuse/neglect of children or the elderly who CAN'T do anything for themselves there is a limit!

I really don't think Judge Bustin had a choice in the reduction... according to the law a person has the right to reasonable bail... the officials who took the easy way out and signed a get out of jail free pass is the ones who I would be pissed at! WHO EVER THEY ARE! (if indeed they did such a thing)

amanda

10-25-2007, 03:19 PM

I'm not arguing the rightly, wrongly, but these are the things that make for excellent campaign snippets.

Just watch.

In four years? I'm sure there will be many opportunities to gather "snippets" but the informed electorate shouldn't be fooled. That is why the question was posed - right? I think the "officials" that have signed off on the so-called "immunity agreement" will have a tougher job explaining why they allowed an immunity deal such as this.

threekidspa

10-25-2007, 03:19 PM

Even at $400K, he evidently still couldn't make bail, since according to the story, his sorry arse is still sitting in the hooscow. Or am I missing something?

gine

10-25-2007, 03:45 PM

Even at $400K, he evidently still couldn't make bail, since according to the story, his sorry arse is still sitting in the hooscow. Or am I missing something?

Exactly. Bail Reductions are common in criminal cases. In fact the bond that the Judge set at 1 million was astronomical, and when presented with the "reduction petition", she obliged, still making the bond $400K. He is still in jail and I doubt very seriously he will have the means to bail out on $400K. The issue is this:

1. plea agreement/immunity - he testified against the "mother". Usually plea agreements are contingent upon the "provider of the information" providing the absolutely total truth, even as to his part in the "crime".

2. Obviously, he was not honest with law enforcement because they have now arrested him for actually "molesting" and "photographing" the four year old. Therefore, his immunity should be and has been revoked and he is charged with the crimes.

3. Just because his attorney is yelling at the top of his lungs about the immunity, doesn't mean that the SC will overturn. It is the process . . . .

There is another thread on this matter located HERE (http://www.myhattiesburg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22887)

XC9

10-25-2007, 03:55 PM

Even though I think they should cut his nuts off, I think Lamar County is going to have egg in their face after this. They signed off on a immunity agreement with him to prosecute the girl. Now they're charging him. I hate to say it, but I think the Supreme Court will find in his favor. I agree with you IGID but it shows how sad it is that they knew he was involved and to cut him a deal-this isn't a juvenile who burglarized a business. This is a pervert who can harm other defenseless children. The scum of the earth. I blame everyone involved for making a deal with him to begin with. People like this should not be able to have deals made.

countrygirl

10-25-2007, 05:25 PM

A combination of both really. We don't know sitting on the sidelines what brought about the reduction, but generally its because the felon has helped in other capacities. It mentions in the article that he assisted in another case on the same issues, so I'm assuming (be assumption) that it warranted the consideration of a bail reduction. Doesn't get him off the hook, but the Judge could be more inclined at reducing bail if someone helps apprehend an even worse felon. Again, just a guess on my part since I'm not involved. But, people, this kind of thing is really typical and really doesn't warrant the call to hang the judge.

What crime is worse than being a child predator?

pooker

10-25-2007, 05:28 PM

You wanna know what else I think is bad, is when he gets out and moves into someones neighboorhood and noone knows. I once looked up a logical sexual offenders registry and found out I had a few living around me, not once did they ever knock on my door with the police to say that they were moving in. I thought they were supposed to do that???????? I sure do hope there is more to the story then just letting him off like that, for our law enforcements sake I hope also. I don't want this guy roamin'

pooker

10-25-2007, 05:30 PM

You wanna know what else I think is worse, people "cutting deals" with sex offenders if they tell them about other sex offenders. How bout this, if you rape a child and you know other people who do it, I think we should just stab them with knives until they tell us the other people who rape children also. Not "cut them a deal" if they do decide to tell.

kevin

10-25-2007, 05:32 PM

I think perhaps a Million dollars is fair considering this is a sick,perverted sexual predator of children!

RGDoherty

10-25-2007, 05:43 PM

Well, I really doubt he wants out. His face is plastered everywhere and there are probably some people that would LIKE to see him out in a clear and open environment and he probably knows this. Since he would be bonded out on a felony charge, he would not be able to legally carry a firearm, so he would be without protection.......Lamar County Jail is probably the safest location for him right now.

aaron

10-25-2007, 07:05 PM

Let's just calm down. We do not know the circumstances surrounding this case, so assuming and blaming people will get us no where. I can't really tell, but I don't think this guy has been convicted of the crime.

RGDoherty

10-25-2007, 07:48 PM

No aaron, he has been charged of allegedly participating in pedophilia. I know he's not convicted. The evidence listed is pretty damning however, and I understand the people's frustration with the system.

bpitt

10-25-2007, 08:02 PM

Hhhhmmmmm.....it seems the comments I made, have been deleted. By whom, I wonder?

aaron

10-25-2007, 08:17 PM

Hhhhmmmmm.....it seems the comments I made, have been deleted. By whom, I wonder?

Me. You used profanity to describe another member of the forum.

amanda

10-25-2007, 09:28 PM

What crime is worse than being a child predator?

None. As I pointed out in my original post - I believe that child predators should all have their ______ yanked off by the roots and chopped up into small pieces....but many on here have convicted this guy and made wild accusations against a Judge sitting on the case without knowing ANY real facts. My main problem on this thread was the automatic assumption that the judge should be condemned for lowering his bail. Unless you are directly involved in the process - then its best to leave the rhetoric out of the discussion. He will get his due, in one court or the other. But this thread went from him being accused of being a Pedophile to being a child rapist, which he hasn't been accused of. Justice sometimes demand patience, that's all I'm saying.

Kitty

10-25-2007, 09:33 PM

Did this guy work for any other law enforcement agency besides HPD?

Just curious. He looks familiar and the name is familiar, but I don't think the connection is HPD.

gine

10-26-2007, 05:54 AM

But this thread went from him being accused of being a Pedophile to being a child rapist, which he hasn't been accused of. Justice sometimes demand patience, that's all I'm saying.

I agree with your post other than

Craft, 42, was arrested last week by Lamar County deputies on charges of child exploitation and engaging in sexual activity with a then 4-year-old child in August 2004.

It is my understanding that he in fact photographed/filmed himself molesting the child and that is what the forensics found upon further search of the computers he had access to - resulting in his arrest after his "cooperation" in prosecuting the child's mother - simply put - when he entered the plea agreement, the officers/law enforcement were not aware and of course he did not tell them that he had actually molested the child and kept "memoirs" of same - hence the immunity issue and thereafter revoked resulting in his arrest.

maxim

10-26-2007, 10:07 AM

There are two types of immunity.

Use immunity bars subsequent use of testimony for matters about which the accused is compelled to testify. Since a defendant cannot be compelled to testify if that would tend to incriminate him, a court may give use immunity if it compels one to testify. Use immunity only bars the use of the conmpelled testimony and any evidence derived therefrom.

Transactional immunity, OTOH, bars further prosecution for the offense to which the compelled testimony relates.

States generally specify one or the other in their criminal procedure.

The real question here is, are the crimes he is now charged with offenses about which he gave earlier testimony? Or, are they other, related offenses?

amanda

10-26-2007, 10:14 AM

It is my understanding that he in fact photographed/filmed himself molesting the child and that is what the forensics found upon further search of the computers he had access to - resulting in his arrest after his "cooperation" in prosecuting the child's mother - simply put - when he entered the plea agreement, the officers/law enforcement were not aware and of course he did not tell them that he had actually molested the child and kept "memoirs" of same - hence the immunity issue and thereafter revoked resulting in his arrest.

Again, since I'm not involved in any way in this case and don't have knowledge of the actual facts, let's go with some further assumptions here. If prosecutors and law officers didn't not know of the "memoirs" then they have a good basis to revoke their immunity agreement. However, they had to have had something that clued them in that this happened. Furthermore, the cops apparently had cause to feel that going after this child's mother was more important. And, given that the mother is the one that seems to have "given" her child to this man to do as he pleases (and again I'm going on a big guess here and basing that on the fact she sits in prison today) I can understand their reasoning.

The biggest thing everyone should remember is that the fat lady hasn't finished singing yet and we will just have to have faith that justice will be served on this child's behalf. I know in my heart that he will ultimately get his just deserts regardless.

H'burg Lady

10-26-2007, 12:25 PM

Even at $400K, he evidently still couldn't make bail, since according to the story, his sorry arse is still sitting in the hooscow. Or am I missing something?

That is what I was thinking; however!!... if he cant come up with either amount, why reduce?

I think that automatic remand should be in order in cases such as this... no bail! that poor girl for more than half of her life has been sexually abused...and authorities knew for years and "investigated" it for years before arresting him?!?!

Hang him by his nuts (or we could use a firing squad, either or)!:icon_snip:cussing:

dollfus46

10-26-2007, 12:42 PM

There is no room for child predators, NONE. Nor anyone who aids them.

"Farris said he will file papers with the Mississippi Supreme Court seeking Craft's release based on the immunity agreement."

Tut tut tut. Where is Expat when you need him? This gentleman has rights and may have immunity. If not, he's certainly innocent at this point, isn't he? And ya'll are already finding him guilty. How disgusting. Bunch of reactionaries. Makes me want to Expectoate.:smt086

dollfus46

10-26-2007, 12:44 PM

Okay, maybe I was harsh in saying 'hang the judge', but, why was the bail reduced?
Harsh?! Of course you were harsh. Just shoot the bastard, she won't be reducing bails anymore.

dollfus46

10-26-2007, 12:49 PM

Why? Especially at this stage in the litigation? What if it gets to the Circuit Court and they let him go? Does that end the Circuit Judge's career? Have we forgotten the adage of "Innocent until PROVEN Guilty"? I'm one of the biggest supporters of cutting of a molesters private parts and feeding it to them slowly, but let's get more details before we start in on the Judge. :smt023 They really do have thankless jobs.

One ATTABOY, GIRL for Amandah.:clap: you can fry him or hang him, or shoot the bastard, in some states, or gas him or put him back in jail and turn the other way while the inmates take care of him. But you can't feed him his private parts. He has rights.

XC9

10-26-2007, 03:08 PM