Introductory Musings...

And here is the link to the forms necessary to appeal property tax assessments:
http://www.indygov.org/eGov/County/Assessors/County/Appeals/home.htm

The HB mentioned the case of Dion Wright and his probation violation. If you want to read the actual opinion, it is here: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/11160703jjr.pdf.

I wonder who is the best judge in Madison County?

I wonder who YOU think is the best judge in Madison County?

I think it's a good thing I have little experience with the MadCo court system, OWO. Warmed a seat as a prospective witness in Spencer's court, but never testified. He cuts to the chase fairly quickly. With only that experience to base an opinion on, I have to say I'm clueless.

So what makes Newman and Spencer better than the others?

If you want to see the Indiana Supreme Court's opinion in the Arron Ried case, it is here: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/11280701rts.pdf. This was the case where the man tried to have his wife killed from the jail, and Newman gave him the max of 50 years, but the Supreme Court reduced it to 30 yrs. The Court concluded that he was mentally unstable, no one was murdered, the informant was not really trustwothy, and this was not a case of the worse offender. This, however, is the same court that would allow a mentally ill person to be executed.

A judge with a common touch is necessary in the rendering of justice, and these two possess that touch more
than the others, I think. My thinking on the issue is nothing exotic.

Well let us discuss for a moment how both judge Spencer and judge Newman have helped my family over the past few years.

Everyone who knows me, knows that my mother has mental illness in the worst way. She is bi-polar, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenic.

This combined with drug abuse is a lethal combination. A few years ago, she began down a path of committing felonies to support her habit. In a year's time frame, she had been charged with 4 felonies and was in and out of jail and in Spencer's court several times. Each time, Spencer felt sorry for her and gave her numerous chances to clean up her act and he also felt because of her health problems ad her age, she didn't belong in jail but even with 8 family members at her trial, telling him she is a danger to herself and to others and needs to be in a mental health facility, he refused to send her.

She continues her cycles to this day, even after serving 6 months in jail and over a year on house arrest.

Sounds like a great scenario doesn't it? Well, now it's get worse. She is married t a man who is a thousands times worse than she is and guess where they met? You guessed it, A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY!!

Spencer has let this man off the hook numerous times also but he finally got sentenced to 6 years with 4 years served.

A blessing right? WRONG!! Judge Newman decided to let him out on some new mental health program he implemented and he was supposed to be watched closely especially since the two of them have a long violent history with each other.

You know the typical scene, hubby and wife beat the crap out of each other and when police get involved, claim nothing happened. My mother even ran him over in her car 2 years ago but he lied for her and said it was an accident.

Long story short, her hubby was suppose to be in a mental health facility after he was released early as ordered by Judge Newman.

The Anderson Center didn't want him because he had been there on numerous occasions and stayed long enough to get the prescriptions he wanted and cut out on them. They sent him to a Kokomo facility who set him free due to the same reason. In fact, my mother's insurance had paid out over 1 million dollars in mental health claims over the past 3 years just on her husband alone and now no facility will take him because of an ongoing investigation of insurance fraud.

Then my mother calls me and tells me how he has changed and he is doing good and this whole town is out to get them...yad yada, yada!!

My point to this story? If her SOB of a husband had never been released from jail early, this latest round of violence would not have occured. I called my mom to check on her but as usual, she claims the police report is wrong and she never said those things. BTW, she can barey speak now because of a crushed windpipe, but NOOOOO, it was an accident.

This was in this evenings newspaper about my mother and her husband. I know it's not right to blame the judges but how much more is it gonna take before they order them both to a facility so they can't do these things anymore? I already know I am going to have to bury my mother because of him but to add the fact that the system is fully aware of what is going on and turns a blind eye to it, really is like rubbing salt in a wound.

Gary K. Paul, 45, was arrested in suspicion of domestic battery, a Class D felony; strangulation, a Class D felony; and invasion of privacy, a Class D felony.

Anderson police found Paul’s victim at a home around 8:30 p.m., in the bathroom with injuries to her right hand, her neck and her face. The victim told police that Paul had bitten her hand, then placed a belt around her neck, briefly cutting off her air supply, according to a police report. The victim said that when Paul removed the belt from around her neck, he used it to hit her in the face, according to a police report.

Paul is being held on a $5,000 bond.

It sounds like a case of 'mutual violent control' between the two. This is when both partners are violent and controlling and they possibly battle for control in the relationship and violence is one form of control used by each abuser. Neither Spencer or Newman are perfect judges, and cases like this are probably difficult for them as well; not only just for the families. Was the prior case where the man was run over outside an insurance business -- if so I remember it from the HB. Is alcohol involved? Drugs? Sexual control? Or is it solely mental ailments as you seem to believe it is. A person with a Class D felony can get up to three years on each one. Gary Paul was charged with three of them. Maybe this is the case where the system will show its ability to tire of repeat offenders. Be prepared, however, for him to use his prior mental committment as a defense, i.e., "I did not know what I was doing!" Along with "I love her so much, and she loves me too -- just ask her..."

Miss Wickey, I am sorry that this is happening in your life. You may have to become a loud squeaky wheel down at the courthouse on this, but in the meantine, remember:

Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.