Lynch at Large

I do not deliberately to looking for stories that make public officials look like idiots. They come looking for me.

Take, for example, the tale of a cunning Fort Smith woman, Maxine Laverne Holmes, who found a clever way to get around the criminal justice system. Gangsta's' take note, one way to beat the system is to have a stroke, get confined to a wheelchair, and sell all the grass you want. Just don't do it in Fort Smith.

In Sebastian County, they're WAY too smart for that action. The Southwest Times Record reports on the prison sentence given a disabled 51 year-old woman for selling marijuana from her home.

Holmes’ cooperation and medical condition were key aspects of the Blatts’ arguments on her behalf. Their witnesses included the police detective who arrested her, found her in a hospital-style elevating bed, and took her extensive statements in which he said she admitted to selling the drugs.

Another witness was a caregiver who said she helped Holmes dress, bathe, use the bathroom and change her diapers.

Holmes, who remained in her wheelchair while testifying for herself, said she had a stroke in February and began selling marijuana after she got out of the hospital in May. Upon repeated questioning, she swore she was through using and selling drugs. Her attorneys pleaded for a sentence other than prison, such as supervised confinement to her home, arguing that prison facilities would not be able to provide the care she needed.

But prosecuting attorney Patrick Flake, representing the state’s petition to revoke, argued that Holmes had managed to sell drugs in her current condition, only to “hide behind” that condition to avoid going to prison.

The accused does have a previous record. If it were for hard drugs, I suspect the Times-Record would have been all over it.
Anyway, sleep well. Arkansas is a little safer tonight because of our brave and intelligent prosecutors and judges.