There's an out of control rightwing judge in Florida who is inflicted with the compassionate conservativism disease. Judge Sic Ric Howard needs to be stopped before he destroys any more young lives.
Adam Bollenback, a teen who is bipolar and has an ADHD, is serving a ten year sentence for stealing a six pack of beer!
At age 16, Adam stole a six-pack of beer from a neighbor's garage and then managed to slip away from a patrol car after being caught. Not only was he prosecuted as an adult; he was given a 10-year prison sentence. During the sentencing, Judge Ric Howard noted approvingly, "This sentence is going to break your spirit right now."
Following the sentencing, Adam's lawyer asked that the boy be segregated from adult inmates, but Howard rejected the request, stating, "He's an adult, and he's going to be treated as an adult."
In an interview following the sentencing, the garage owner, Charlotte Coadic, said, "If I had known [his age], I wouldn't have called the cops, I would have given him a good tongue-lashing and sent him home."
And:
After a year and a half in prison, a request was sent to have Adam's case reviewed. It was denied, stating that a minimum of serving two years was required before review. Within months, Adam was stabbed in the neck with an ice pick by a fellow inmate.
The case is now set for a Clemency Review meeting on Dec. 15 in Tallahassee.
You can send letters expressing your support for Adam to:
The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), P.O. Box 641312, Beverly Hills, FL 34465. Letters will be presented at the Dec. 15 Clemency Review meeting, where it is 'hoped that justice will finally prevail and Adam Bollenback will be released.'
Judge Sic Ric also sentenced a 17 year old to 30 years for his part in a tragic auto accident:
. .Circuit Judge Ric Howard is partial to unduly harsh sentences, particularly for juveniles. Howard sentenced [William] Thornton to two 15-year sentences to be served consecutively, the maximum allowable under state law.
Gov. Bush can look to his own family for an example of this kind of tragedy and how the legal system can deal compassionately with tragic traffic accidents. When his sister-in-law and our country's first lady was 17 years old, the then-Laura Welch ran a stop sign in Midland, Texas, striking a car and killing a young man. In that case, no charges were filed.
Sign this Petition: REQUEST TO FLORIDA COURT OF APPEALS TO REVIEW SENTENCING BY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE RIC HOWARD
Hat tip to Talkleft
Judge Sic Ric Howard Radical Right Compassionate conservativism Rightwing Judges Florida
