Failure of the System

[TexasGal]

After reading this, the thing that struck me was how long a history of violent behavior the guy had and he kept just getting probation. We put people in prison who have done nonviolent crimes and yet sometimes leave the ones who have violent histories out on the streets. I just read another story where an 18 year old kid got in trouble for tagging a bunch of properties. He begged the judge for probation. He swore he would get a job, finish high school, etc. He got 8 years in prison. Eight years for spray painting property. But this guy got probation over and over for violent offenses, one for aggravated assault on a police officer. Being loose on the streets, he ended up trying to kill a woman.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/05/20 ... pe-of.html

Star-Telegram.com
Man arrested in beating, rape of woman found walking along I-20 in Tarrant County

Posted Thursday, May. 20, 2010

By DEANNA BOYD

dboyd@star-telegram.com

A 51-year-old man with a history of domestic violence was arrested Thursday in connection with the sexual assault and brutal beating of an acquaintance found walking partially nude on the shoulder of Interstate 20 early Wednesday.

Eddie Calvin Dorris, who is on deferred adjudication probation for assaulting a different woman in 2009, told the woman after sexually assaulting her that he would have to kill her to avoid going to prison, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Tarrant County sheriff's officers had been dispatched to the 12000 block of Interstate 20, an unincorporated section of the county, after a motorist called 911 about 1:23 a.m. Wednesday reporting a severely injured woman dressed only in shorts walking on the highway's shoulder.

The woman, who officials said suffered numerous blunt force trauma injuries, reported being raped and beaten by Dorris, the affidavit states.

"She was left pretty much to die out in the field and probably would have if this good Samaritan hadn't happened upon her and she hadn't been able to get to her feet," said Terry Grisham, a sheriff's spokesman.

According to the affidavit, she told investigators that she and Dorris used methamphetamine earlier in the evening and then went for a drive in Dorris' pickup. She said that Dorris told her he wanted to have sex and that when she refused, he raped her.

The woman said she told Dorris that she intended to file a police report.

"She said he told her that he already had a criminal history and would face 20 years in the penitentiary for raping her, so he had to kill her," the affidavit states. "She said he began to punch her, kick her with his work boots and pull her by her hair."

The woman told police she begged Dorris to stop but he would not. She said the man, after seeing some headlights, told her he would be back in 10 minutes to finish killing her. He then left in his pickup. The woman said she crawled away and then walked until getting help from the passing driver.

Criminal history

Tarrant County court records show that Dorris has a criminal history dating back two decades. His record includes misdemeanor convictions for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest.

In 1994, Dorris was convicted of misdemeanor assault with bodily injury of a family member and sentenced to 90 days in jail.

In January 1995, he was sentenced to six years' deferred adjudication probation for aggravated assault on a Fort Worth police officer.

Last year, Dorris was charged with two counts of assault causing bodily injury of a family member. He was accused of assaulting a woman on two occasions, including striking, kicking, choking and biting her, burning her with a cigarette and forcing a water hose into her mouth.

In September, he received eight years' deferred adjudication probation in the cases.

[Oldgringo]

I am a firm proponent of term limits for all elected AND appointed government positions at all levels. I further believe judges should be held accountable for their actions.

Juries, OTOH, who knows....?

BTW,

[seamusTX]

Term limits amount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Experienced, proven people are forced out of office to be replaced by inexperienced unknowns.

Would anyone favor term limits for surgeons or airline pilots?

Voters need to pay attention to the records of judges. They don't. Judges tend to be re-elected based on name recognition or party affiliation.

A judge recently came to my attention who would probably give probation to Bonnie and Clyde if they were in his courtroom. Hopefully he is headed for retirement after November.

- Jim

[JNMAR]

Term limits amount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Experienced, proven people are forced out of office to be replaced by inexperienced unknowns.

Would anyone favor term limits for surgeons or airline pilots?

Voters need to pay attention to the records of judges. They don't. Judges tend to be re-elected based on name recognition or party affiliation...

- Jim