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Pre-sentencing

Interview with CC, Kurt, Kimberly, Karen, Ben, John, Ashley and Michelle

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
CC: back and forth to court several times before coping to a plea andserving time i could'nt afford an attorney, ended up plea bargaining to a crime i know i could of been reduced
Kurt: I was in jail until sentencing and then released on probation.
Kimberly: I had to meet with probation officers at the Justice Center. She asked me questions about my criminal past, any probation I might have been one. They also asked about familes and relationships, basically to see if I had a safe place to stay. Also what kind of education I had.
Karen: it was fast once pretrials were complete
Ben: Since I wasnt in the jail when I was sentenced it went pretty quickly but the first time I went to court for this they forgot I was even there I was the only one sitting in the court room and they had the nerve to ask me why I was there.
John: Was jailed entire trial. Very Little if any communication with public defender. Since it was My first caae I did not know what to expect. If I would have got out on bail might have sped up The process. I think it was a mental thing bad conditions make you want to rush to your next jail
Ashley: I was in court three times because of pre sentencing and I was looking at 2yrs in jail but the judge gave me a 1yr I was given a choice and made a decision to accept the sentence like I had a choice so I took the plead deal and moved on
Michelle: Well I had 13 pre trials before my sentencing sat in the holding cell all day never went to one of them it was horrible never knew what was going on I only went to court when they sentenced me. They never told me what my plea would be just that it would be 4-16 years.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
CC: no
Kurt: No.
Kimberly: No.
Karen: search warrant to my house
Ben: I was arrested at Richmond Mall for felony 5 theft I was a cashier and stole from my register. When Richmond Heights took me to jail I bailed out and did not go to the county until I violated probation.
John: Was arested at a bar three squad car transported me after being on The run for four days. Spent The night in district and was tranfered to county jail next day. Never bailed out atayed through entire case incarcerated. Never went ro city jail straight to The county on The floor
Ashley: No I did not have the police come to my house I was arrested in the streets of Cleveland , I was caught doing illegal activities and was escorted back to the jail I was in jail for awhile and then I was sent to the Cuyahoga county jail not long after
Michelle: No they came and arrested me tazered me gave me a black eye never asked me no questions they already arrested another girl for the charges and the victim said it was her they just went by the girl that already got identified saying it was me . then questioned me the next day in city jail

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
CC: nice, neat, i am a female hair, nails done, dresss suit
Kurt: I was pretty nervous. I had a lawyer who wasn't state appointed but worked pro bono. The trial went by passed by pretty quickly because I plead guilty to reduce charges.
Kimberly: i was appointed pd we wente into court, arriagng I was brought there from jail where I got arraigned and released on bond. When I went back to the trial, I met with the prosecutors to discuss my case. I pleaded guilty to the charges and had to then stand before the judge to ente the plea. I was sented to six months in treatment. It was very intimidating because the court house is so big and judge is sitting up high. There are also all kinds of people there watching you.
Karen: i spent very little time in the actual courtroom maybe ten min total
Ben: Court was.... fair I had a really good judge Ms. Nancy Fuerst to this day I believe she saved my life by not sending me to prison. They had Sheriffs there most of them were jerks and rude but the older ones were really cool. The room was very cold though. And no privacy
John: Court in My opinion was unfair. Yes I did commit a crime but I wasnt familar wirh The law. As a criminal I figured I had no rights. To My public defender trial was never an option. Plea plea plea. Guilty I was but knowing The law might have helped me a Little more.
Ashley: being in court was very scary because the court talks about you as if you are not in the courtroom and decisions are made without a clear understanding of the choices that are presented in front of you when you are in a situation where your life is on the line
Michelle: It was an experience ill never forget before the judge sentenced me he went off on my 70 yr old grandparents called four deputies on my grandfather that is in a wheel chair I was so scared I was going to get the max because he seemed angry that day

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Karen: recieving stolen property possession
Ben: My original charge was felony 5 theft I was given the diversion program I messed that up by not having a job and not going to see my P.O And then they gave me regular probation.
John: Three counts of Agg. Robbery. Convicted on one
Ashley: I was convicted of drug possession
Michelle: Aggravated robbery , kindnapping , gun specs I got charged with robbery and gun specs

Read about sentencing in the Cuyahoga County Jail