*POLL* Would you let him out ?

[rh71]

Watching the John Walsh show...

26 years ago, a "hippy" drug dealer got a knock on the door... he thought it was someone coming to rob him. He claims he picked up his gun ready to protect himself and it discharged, going through a closed door, hitting a Texas Ranger on the other side, killing him. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in Texas.

He's been up for parole a couple times now, but denied twice, because the Texas Rangers found out he was about to be released on parole and called up the warden. Parole withdrawn... twice.

He is a documented "model inmate" on his best behavior and seems extremely sorry for his actions. Again, not sure if the Ranger announced he was such... he was shot through a closed door. Keep in mind back then, hippies doing drugs wasn't exactly out of place... not sure about dealing though.

They just mentioned a website... so this is prob easier --> http://www.parolegregott.com/

Do you think he should be paroled now ?

EDIT>> Details from the site:
The officers were all out of uniform.
They didn?t announce their identity as they surrounded the house.
There had been considerable beer drinking at the Ramada Inn prior to the trip out to Twin Pines Ranch to bust Greg.

 

[amcdonald]

If he wasn't a drug dealer, he wouldn't be paranoid enough to shoot someone through his door.
He's a killer, and whether or not its because of his environment there's no justification for blindly shooting someone through a door.
If you want to live the life of a drug dealer you deal with the consequences.

What an idiot.

 

[Joker81]

You need another No option. I wuuldn't keep him in jail just for being a cop killer. It doesn't matter to me since he didn't even know it was a cop. I wouldn't let him out because he shot through a door without knowing who it was.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Joker81
You need another No option. I wuuldn't keep him in jail just for being a cop killer. It doesn't matter to me since he didn't even know it was a cop. I wouldn't let him out because he shot through a door without knowing who it was.

Yep very true.

How about this. If you can convince the family of the cop who was murdered by this idiot to let him go free, then let him out.

 

[vi edit]

What if it had been a 7 year old girl selling cookies instead of a cop?

Would things be any different?

 

[conjur]

I vote "No - he is an idiot for firing a gun through a door."

 

[StageLeft]

Yes; time served.

 

[JHoNNy1OoO]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
What if it had been a 7 year old girl selling cookies instead of a cop?

Would things be any different?

Unless the whole girlscout troop had been surrounding his house then no. It wasn't a lone policeman but a raid.

From reading the parole page, a lot of mistakes were made and he takes responsibility for the incident. Police not announcing themselves was a BIG SCREW UP and from the sounds of it he shot his gun after someone from inside his house shot at him. They also said the bullet was fragmented and unidentifiable so it also could've been from another gun. Sounds like a complete screw up and he's served more than enough time for the shotty investigation.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Yes, he's served his time

 

[StageLeft]

Well, the fact is, if your original sentencing called for parole eligibility at a certain time, then granting it should be based on standard parole indicators, such as being a model prisoner. So, based on his original sentence and common guildeines of parole there is no reason he should still be in.

 

[matt426malm]

Originally posted by: JHoNNy1OoO

Originally posted by: vi_edit
What if it had been a 7 year old girl selling cookies instead of a cop?

Would things be any different?

Unless the whole girlscout troop had been surrounding his house then no. It wasn't a lone policeman but a raid.

From reading the parole page, a lot of mistakes were made and he takes responsibility for the incident. Police not announcing themselves was a BIG SCREW UP and from the sounds of it he shot his gun after someone from inside his house shot at him. They also said the bullet was fragmented and unidentifiable so it also could've been from another gun. Sounds like a complete screw up and he's served more than enough time for the shotty investigation.

Yeh, I agree they surrounded his house unannouced a bunch of adults. If he saw this he would have paniced and went to the door with a gun. When you see a group of men approach you house who you don't now, I can see this guy going to the door with a gun.

Some of the blame goes to the cops too. I'd say 26 is enough considering the circumstances.

 

[rh71]

Honestly, seeing the way this guy speaks and acts, I highly doubt he would've put up any fight had they announced it was the cops and the place is surrounded. He was a hippy for Christ's sakes.

BTW, how long is a sentence for possession/selling drugs ?

 

[arcenite]

Everyone deserves a second chance... the purpose of jail is to make you think about what you did, is it not? It's obvious that if his outside life reflects his inside life, he's changed.

Bill

 

[Wallydraigle]

If I were on the jury and the evidence on that website werer presented to me, I wouldn't have voted guilty in the first place.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: aRCeNiTe
Everyone deserves a second chance... the purpose of jail is to make you think about what you did, is it not? It's obvious that if his outside life reflects his inside life, he's changed.

Bill

No, you're talking in an ideal world. In our world people want to see criminals punished, rehabilitation be damned. And we wonder why the recidivism rate is so high? Society works better on turning the other cheek than "eye for an eye".

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: conjur
I vote "No - he is an idiot for firing a gun through a door."

 

[pyonir]

I saw an hour long special on this on CourtTV or Discovery or something. There is a lot more to the story than is stated. I don't remember what all happened, but I sided with the courts/Texas Rangers. He shouldn't be let out.

 

[MacBaine]

Why doesn't life in prison ever mean life in prison? He will have served his time when he is dead.

 

[Warthog912]

Originally posted by: MacBaine
Why doesn't life in prison ever mean life in prison? He will have served his time when he is dead.

I kinda agree with you. My little brother don't understand what a "life" sentance is- as well as how they can get out after a "life" sentance.

google where are you...

Oh to answer the question, I'm more of the "eye for an eye" kind of person, so no, he should not get out-

 

[nan0bug]

I think he should get out. I might not if the cops had announced their presence, but as it stands he made a mistake that he as paid for more than enough. Not to mention he has been a model prisoner, something not many people can do. Jail eats away at you, it keeps you on edge 24/7 and not many people can go through that long of a bid without getting some kind of major infractions. The fact that he did is evidence enough that he is ready to be paroled.

Oh, and I read he has been writing high school students about the dangers of drugs. It sounds like he would be more useful to society on the outside if he kept that kind of behavior up.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

He shouldn't have been in jail in the first place.