February 7, 2006
What Should Barry's Sentence Be?
Marion Barry has gotten into trouble time after time. This time, the former mayor-for-life is being tried for not paying his taxes for six years, and, by extension, violating the terms of his plea agreement by testing positive for cocaine and marijuana use. Though he served six months in jail for cocaine possession in the early 1990s (and, somehow, was elected as mayor for a fourth term thereafter), it seems that he has yet to learn his lesson.
How is it that other public officials are accosted for both major and minor blips on the radar screen are usually not re-elected to represent their constituencies, yet Barry seems to have a never-ending supply of second chance cards? He is a public official who is supposed to serve the interests of the citizens of Ward 8 and, once upon a time, that of the District as a whole. But he keeps getting caught in various predicaments. Of course, part of the issue are the citizens who continually support Barry and elect him to public office.
That aside, do you think that, perhaps, Barry should go to jail for 18 months and get the $100,000 fine? Besides his disregard for drug laws, he didn't pay taxes for six years. If any "regular folks" did that, they'd most certainly end up with some time in the slammer. Should this wayward public official be put away in hopes of finally coming out clean? Or is mandatory substance abuse counseling coupled with probation something that might better serve that purpose? What do you think Barry's sentence should be?
Image courtesy of NBC 4.
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He should get the 18 months and $100,000, but not for the drug use. The income tax evasion is a far more serious offense. The cocaine merely nullifies his plea bargain for that particular crime.
Maximum penalty and DC should institute ban on returning to public service.
I was struck by fliers posted outside my building by a group called something like DC Democracy Now! stating that Barry was being unfairly targeted by the government, he should be let go, etc., etc., etc...
I think he should go to jail for the children. Not only do you have these seemingly normal organizations out there irrationally stating that Barry does no wrong and should apparently be able to pick and choose his laws (like G. Bush), but you have little kids actually believing that he has been setup by "them" (whoever "they" are). Then you have Barry acting as their role model. Showing that if you haven't paid your taxes, you should then outright refuse to if the gov't requests that you do so. He shows kids that disregard for the law in the cases of drugs an taxes is something to be looked up to. Is he helping to push those kids not to grow up like the ones that robbed him? Not in the least. As usually it is all about him, his pride, and his ego. The people who follow him suffer and blame it on the man. The kids deserve better. He needs to go to jail again to demonstrate to the kids that love him that if you act that irresponsible, there are consequences.
he should be required to live in a halfway house for 10 years and required to attend aa/na meetings
sorry to be naive about this, but if convicted he won't be able to vote, right? if he can't vote, he shouldn't be able to run for office.
If he is convicted of a felony charge he would automatically be required to give up his Council seat, but as part of the bargain he plead guilty to lessear, misdemeanor offenses that do not disqualify him from Council service, and certainly not from voting. Of course, the positive drug test calls into question the terms of his plea, so he may end up being tried and found guilty on the original charges, in which case he would have to step down.
As far as what the penalty should be, I'm all for finding ways to ease Hizzoner out of public service for good, but think serious prison time would be pretty harsh for someone that old and frail. And if you read last week's City Paper cover story, it sounds like he really does need to get himself into more serious treatment. Finally, despite DCist Nicole's certainty that "regular folks" would serve "some time in the slammer" for similar offenses, I would guess that probation is actually quite common in cases of unpaid taxes ... after all, the government can't get ANY of the money they're owed if you're locked up and not working.
Also, for accuracy's sake the former mayor is not currently "being tried" for anything. He was charged with tax evasion last year. He arranged to plead guilty to lesser charges, based on certain conditions, and that plea was entered. Now, he is just being sentenced, and prosecutors are urging that additional conditions be attached to any sentence that includes probation, namely that he be drug tested regularly.
I realize that the only real point of this post was to roll our collective eyes at Barry one more time, but it wouldn't hurt to use accurate language.
fry him.
Here's some 'fun' info on what can happen if you don't pay your taxes.
http://www.irstaxattorney.com/penalty.html
Word choice duly noted.
Why waste tax dollars to send Barry to jail? I think he should keep working and pay the taxes and fines back to the IRS. Garnishee his wages and get some money. Sending Barry to jail will only make him more popular east of the river, where is still loved.
Perhaps some kind of community service could be required. I’d like to see him in Chevy Chase, Foxhall, or Georgetown scooping up dog poop and cigarette butts in the parks with a bright orange safety vest with TAX CHEAT on the front and back.
Mr. West has it right: 18 months plus the full fine, and his positive drug test nullifies any plea deal.
Let's face it: Barry has had enough second chances, and he's doing Ward 8 more harm than good these days. As Kelby notes, he's setting an especially had example for the children.
It's time that Ward 8 - and DC, as a whole - moves on from Barry. He's doing more harm than good to the causes he purportedly support (e.g. DC voting rights, etc.).
Nicole, since there wasn't actually information on that page about criminal penalties, I'm not really sure why you sent me there . . . we already know that tax evasion is something you may be prosecuted for, after all.
On the topic of not paying taxes, it’s sad that our spineless, whimpy city council has not spoken up on this issue at all. But it is an election year isn’t it… Even at the mayoral debate in ward 8, Cropp and Fenty were practically licking his boots.
The City Paper piece on him provides a good glimpse of the current state of Marion Barry. His life is becoming more and more tragic because of his drug addiction.
The best thing for him to do is to step down from office, and get back into rehab.
Leave Barry alone. All you people sending him to the cell block should remember that Barry represents hope to a lot of the underpriviledged masses in DC.
You can never take Barry out of DC, no matter how hard you try. Its the real deal DC that will embrace him regardless of his wayward self.
Hope for what? Going to jail? Man, if Marion Barry is your role model, you really should be looking elsewhere.
Marion Barry represents hope to a lot of the underprivileged masses in DC? Why? What has earned him that unique distinction?
He has done the city no favors. He was the worst mayor this city has ever had. Political corruption ran rampant during his first stint as mayor. And let's not forget that crack problem. After "doing time", he landed then abandoned his first try at City Councilman after only two years on the job to run, and become, mayor for a second time. And we all remember how successful that was, don't we? Bankrupt city. Financial Control Board. Laughing stock of the nation.
A representation of hope? Hardly.
Failed politician. Unrepentant addict. Negligent administrator.
A far cry from what I would consider a beacon of hope. Unless, of course, your expectations run disgustingly low.
Robbie
http://beyondthemall.wordpress.com/
bitch set me up.
marion barry was our second mayor. first was walter washington. third was sharon pratt kelly.
he defeated mrs rolark for city council and got the sodomy laws repealed and got transgenders their civil rights. go be a transgender in virginia and see how long before you're civil rights gets violated.
bitch done set me up was his sentence :)
Barry is so pathetic that you can't help feeling sorry for him. What ticks me off is that he is NOT a good role model or representative of government for the people of DC. Whatever is done to him needs to be done to ensure that the appropriate message reaches impressionable people.
While I think it's time Barry spends some (more) time behind bars and in rehab afterwards, a bigger issue is DC Council. What a bunch of pansies-- not one of them will speak out about how ultimately Barry is responsible for this mess. Not one of them will point to this to show what happens when you commit crimes and smoke crack. Instead he gets vague praise and a weak defense by his former colleagues.
Same crap you come to expect from the Council. Totally unwilling to take the right stand because it's not 100% popular. A bunch of freakin' suck ups to the old school DC political machine.
Boooooooooooo. Hiiissssssssss.
(And now his stadium crap. Can we get a decent council next election please?!)
Judge not and ye shall not be judged.
Shut it JC! Barry is coming with me.
Yo! My man Da Mayor done lied nuf all deez years. Time for Da Man to get his sorry ass into jail like he shoulda been all deez years. Time and time agen he git into trouble and everyone done let him off the dam hook every time. Like dat time he got nailed on some dead end road in Southeast with dat white crap all over his mouth. Nobody in da police done nuthin bout THAT! He had every privilege under da sun for so long. No more seken chances for Da Mayor. Git your sorry ass into JAIL you arrogan racist jerk!
Hey booooooooooooooo. Here is a scary thought. You ask, (Can we get a decent council next election please?!)I think your wish will come to haunt you as I believe that we will be saying goodbye to Vincent Orange, Kathy Patterson, Phil Mendelson, Sharon Ambrose, Fenty will become a non player while he doctors his depression after losing to Linda Cropp, Jack Evans will probably resign or wind up in jail and that will probably usher in that Greek fellow in Georgetown who owns all the Benneton stores and where does that lead us? Oh yea, up there in ward three with three psychos Brooks, Gaull and Rees. Sorry Boooo another election but not this one.
Silence Satan....I want Barry. He owes me money too. Oooops he has not dropped any money in the collection box for years so I get the first 10% of whatever he has.