AUDub 11,184 Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Link What do Kim Kardashian, Joy Reid, and The Federalist have in common?They're all aghast at the case of Matthew Charles, a Tennessee man who was recently sent back to federal prison after two years of freedom when an appeals court ruled he had been released in error. Now criminal justice reformers and thousands of others are calling on President Donald Trump to commute Charles' sentence.Charles was released early from federal prison in 2016, having served 21 years of a 35-year sentence for selling crack to a police informant. Federal prosecutors then appealed, arguing that, because Charles had been originally been classified as a "career offender," he was ineligible for the retroactive sentencing reductions put into place during the Obama presidency.Despite a request from a federal judge asking prosecutors to drop their appeal, citing Charles' "undisputed rehabilitation," the U.S. Attorney's Office pressed on. A federal appeals court ruled that, by the letter of the law, Charles should never have been released from prison.A widely-read story published Friday by Nashville Public Radio reported in stomach-wrenching detail Charles' last days of freedom, as family and friends said goodbye and Charles boxed up the small life he had managed to build on the outside. Earlier this month, he turned himself in to the U.S. Marshals and was sent back to a cage for another decade.Charles was not a model citizen when he first arrived at prison. By his own account, he was right where he deserved to be. He had a serious criminal record including attempted murder and kidnapping. His crack cocaine sentence included an enhancement for illegally purchasing guns.But as the article details, Charles found religion in prison, became a law clerk and GED instructor, helped illiterate inmates decipher court documents, and served 21 years of hard time without a single disciplinary infraction. After his release, he held down a steady job, volunteered every Saturday at a food pantry, reconnected with his family, and found a serious girlfriend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ATX 13,654 Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 35 years for selling crack?! Holy crap that's asinine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDM4AU 336 Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 This is a travesty and something needs to be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKW 86 7,441 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 Thank the for profit prison industry. They have lobbyists now and they NEED convicts to house and get paid for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevon67 2,368 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 On 5/30/2018 at 9:24 PM, Brad_ATX said: 35 years for selling crack?! Holy crap that's asinine. According to the article he was a career criminal....kidnapping etc........whats unjust about 35 year sentence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ATX 13,654 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 2 hours ago, kevon67 said: According to the article he was a career criminal....kidnapping etc........whats unjust about 35 year sentence? People get less for manslaughter and rape in this country. 35 years for dealing some drugs is just far too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevon67 2,368 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 26 minutes ago, Brad_ATX said: People get less for manslaughter and rape in this country. 35 years for dealing some drugs is just far too much. I agree rape sentences are weak.....Just from the article he has a lengthy rap sheet, attempted murder, kidnapping, etc......35 years was for dealing drugs, illegal guns, and long criminal history? It is sad it seems he finally got his life in order and has to serve 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Tiger 4,261 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 7 hours ago, DKW 86 said: Thank the for profit prison industry. They have lobbyists now and they NEED convicts to house and get paid for. I thought they were overcrowded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShocksMyBrain 9,368 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 Sounds like rehabilitation worked. Give him time served and let him continue on his new life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homersapien 11,453 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 The so called "war on drugs" is more like a war on the American people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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