Man Jailed for Over a Year Saw No Lawyer

[DoYouEverWonder]

December 23, 2005, 3:20 PM EST

DALLAS -- A man was jailed for more than a year without ever seeing a lawyer as he waited for a repeatedly postponed court hearing, gaining release only after a cellmate told an attorney about the case.

Walter Mann Sr., 69, was released Dec. 16 after a year and three months -- more than twice the time he would have served if he had been convicted in his contempt-of-court case.

Mann's legal troubles began in 2002, when his 13-year-old son assaulted him and was sent to a juvenile detention center. Mann, who was unemployed and on disability benefits, was ordered to pay $50 a month for the boy's housing but never did, according to court records.

Prosecutors sought to have Mann held in contempt of juvenile court, which led to an order that he be brought before a judge.

The judge then incarcerated him in September 2004 for three warrants alleging that Mann wrote bad checks. Then he waited more than a year as his contempt case was postponed again and again.

"He wasn't lost in the system," said Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. Don Peritz. "We knew he was here ... we hold them until the judge says to hold him no longer."

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-left-in-jail,0,2459777.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[baldguy]

1. He wasn't lost, they just mis-placed his papers

After all, paper is more important than people.

[Ezlivin]

2. Yet Texas allowed Tom "Rictus" Delay to avoid even a perp walk

I'm sure that if Walter Mann Sr. had just been a Pioneer or a Ranger his story would have been much different.

He just doesn't quite understand that it's an Ownership Society™.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. What a system we have

[shenmue]

4. The thing that's special...

about America is its unique and flawless justice system, which always defends human rights.

:sarcasm:

:puke:

[BikeWriter]

11. And innocents...

[0007]

15. After all God did bless America and ........justice for all as long as

ya have the money to buy to it!

[Toots]

5. This was Texas and they didn't hang him..I'll be darned...

:shrug:

[BikeWriter]

12. Well, yeah, so he was lucky, a;right?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. No surprise that it was Texas

[zann725]

7. A Disabled (and therefore) unemployed guy's son beats him up.

The beaten Disabled (unemployed) man is unable to, or decides not to pay rent for his son who battered him. And the Disabled man is kept in jail for OVER a year WITHOUT an attorney? And the "bad checks" were "ALLEGED"...I note?

Tell me again WHY we're fighting, and spilling blood in other countries so that THEY might "experience" similar Democracy as ours?

Where's the A.C.L.U. when you need them? And how about Public Defenders? I'm assuming with all the state budget cuts, there are NOT nearly enough to go around...even IF local "law enforcement" would allow one near you in 'some' parts of these here UNITED States.

[BikeWriter]

13. I can't even play anymore. Let's hope he sees some justice!

[rocktivity]

8. He had to support the person who assaulted him? Out of his disability?

Is that supposed to be "paying the price" for being a bad parent?

Let's hear it for smaller government...

:headbang:
rocknation

[Miss Chybil]

9. He is his son's victim, then has to pay for his son's crime.

That's absolute fucking bullshit. I wouldn't pay it, either. Would I sit in jail over a year? I suppose I would - if I had no choice.

[BikeWriter]

10. his 13-year-old son assaulted him

Oh, fuck.

[wakeme2008]

14. Picture of him

who would have guessed that he was black and in jail in Texas.. :grr:

[xchrom]

16. but at least we're a super power and don't have no gay marriage.

[Nomen Tuum]

17. Deep in the heart of TEX ASS...

Another reason why I would shed no tears if Texas was let adrift and floated out to sea.

[No Exit]

18. "See? We don't need that stupid habeas corpus stuff!"

Sincerely,
Your friend,

Sen. Lindsay Graham

[bermudat]

19. The man must have been black.

You would have thought this was Guantanamo instead of Dallas.