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I'm saying this from experience as I just got out of a 7 month court battle. October 2001, my fiance and I were driving home from a dinner party that we left early because she had a horrible case of food poisoning. I was driving my old 1994 Volvo 850. I pulled over like 5 times for her to get sick and she just couldn't. So we're cruising down the highway about 2 miles from our exit and I notice she's pale white and very sweaty. So I start to go a bit faster (about 75-80mph) and head for the offramp before she blows chow. All of a sudden, this car full of little punk kids cut right in front of me and slam on the brakes...I almost lost control and went into the wall. I swerve to the other lane and they did it again, back to the other lane...they did it again. They start to creep off the ramp at like 5mph and come to a complete stop. Oh yeah, the fiance threw up all over the inside of the car due to the swerving around. So they're sitting there pointing at us and flipping us the bird. I sneak around them on the shoulder and stop in front. Got out of my car, went up to his window that was down about 4" and said "you stupid little prick, she's sick as can be and we were just tryin to get home, what is your problem???" A few "FU's" back and forth and I finally left.
So now it's July 2003 and I'm in a gun store selling a pistol back to them because we are getting ready to move back to CT from Denver and I can't take it over state lines. Store had to do a background check on the gun to make sure it wasn't involved in any crimes...etc. About 20 minutes later, 5 deputies from the county here walk in, ask my name, and then knock me to the ground, search me and then cuff and stuff me in the back of the cruiser. Next thing I know I'm being hauled off to Arapahoe county jail here, w/o any explanation except that there was a 2 year old warrant out for my arrest. Now, during that time, I bought the pistol, served jury duty and have had a speeding ticket...nothing ever came up about it. Three hours later I'm so fed up and asking what this is all about...deputy responds "well this is what you get for draggin a kid out of the car and beating him on the side of the road. BTW...your bail is posted at $10k" and into lockup I went.
I got charged with first degree felony assault, and first degree felony tresspassing. Got a copy of the police report and it was the most rediculous thing i've ever read. Turns out the police came to my house that night to talk to me...well, they had the wrong address and went to someone else's door. That's the only attempt they made to speak with me.
So, I get an attorney and he has a private investigator interview the kids in the car. They basically admitted to lying..."we were stupid, it was in the heat of the moment...etc". Now all of a sudden I just punched him in the face as opposed to the first report, which by the way said there was no visible damage to the victim. These kids contradicted each other back and forth, and contradicted their own statements from 2 years prior on the original report. They even said that they want nothing to do with it and do not want to testify.
So, the District Attorney here STILL wants to prosecute just to get some sort of conviction. I pleaded not guilty and was getting ready for trial this April. I've already dished out close to $5k in fees for the lawyer, bail bondsman...etc. Had to get permission from the state to go on our honeymoon...state has a restraining order against me where I couldn't even have a beer. Just a complete mess. So, I just finally took a plea becuase I was told that it would cost about $10k for trial. I ended up with a year probation, a petty offense for breach of peace, and now anger management classes. For something I didn't even do. Our justice system is the most corrupt thing I've ever encountered. It's a complete joke, especially since these kids are on tape and a transcript saying they lied.
So as I said, IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!! Just let it be and ignore the idiot on the road. You never know what can happen.
Be careful.
posted by 24.8.7...
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