Strung Out

Josh Keene has a bit of a heroin problem. The first time he had court for his possession of heroin case was about three weeks ago. He showed up in court just as he was supposed to. Then he proceeded to nod off throughout the day in court. I called his name out a couple of times and he did not respond. I assumed he wasn't there. Toward the end of the day, the DA told me that he was there in courtroom and pointed him out to me. He was asleep, and very pasty looking. I woke him up, told him his case had been continued, and sent him on his way.

Josh had court again yesterday. He called the office first thing in the morning to tell me that he could not make it to court because his child was sick. It is simply amazing how often people get sick, have deaths in the family, etc., when it is time for their court dates. Shockingly, I have never received a copy of a death certificate after asking for one. And the only medical proof I ever get is some sort of outpatient bill that shows essentially nothing.

I mean, what would it take to keep you from making it to court for your felony? Wouldn't that be a pretty big deal? Wouldn't you be there unless you were literally physically prevented from being there? Well, that is not the case with real criminal defendants. They have other things to do.

He called the office late yesterday afternoon to ask what had happened in court. My secretary, Apple, told him that an order for his arrest had been issued because he missed court. Just like I told him would happen when he called that morning. He asked what he had to do to get the order for arrest stricken by the judge. I told him to be in court first thing this morning and we could ask the judge to strike it.

Judge Cribble did not strike the order for arrest (and I do not blame him for letting the order stand) and Josh was taken into custody and made to post a 2,000 dollar bond. He will likely not be able to post that bond and will remain in custody until his next court date in two weeks.

Josh was simply beside himself that Judge Cribble would not strike the order for arrest. He couldn't understand it at all. I explained, "You can't just show up for court whenever you want and get a new court date. You have to go when they tell you to." He wasn't happy. He apparently goes to the methadone clinic for his heroin addiction and is terrified of going without it over the next couple of weeks. It will be hell for him, I am sure. I am not sure what the jail does with people in that situation, but I do know that they definitely don't give them methadone.