Barbie Bandits

[CCTAU 2,346]

Why did the girls get a lesser sentence? Because they are white?

This is where the NAACP looks only at color and not at the measure of a man. At some point in time, each individual, regardless of race, must take responsibility for their past, present, and future.

NAACP alleges racial bias in Barbie Bandits' sentences

By TOM OPDYKE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 04/07/08

The head of the state NAACP on Monday called for a state investigation into racial sentencing patterns in Cobb County.

Edward DuBose said racial disparity in the recent sentencing of the four defendants in the so-called Barbie Bandits bank theft case prompted a request he intends to make to state Attorney General Thurbert Baker.

Jessica McGowan/AJC

Heather Lyn Johnston, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by taking, a felony and one count of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana, a misdemeanor. She was sentenced to 10 years probation.

"When four people are involved in the same crime and those who happen to be Caucasian receive much less time than those who are African American, this reflects a problem in the justice system that must be addressed," DuBose said at a news conference at the Cobb NAACP headquarters in Marietta.

The Feb. 27, 2007, heist at a Bank of America branch in Acworth involved four people: two young white women and a black male bank teller — who admitted their roles — and another black man convicted by a jury of planning the job.

Heather Lyn Johnston, 20, and Ashley Nicole Miller, 19, both pleaded guilty to theft- by-taking charges. Miller received two years in jail, followed by eight years probation. Johnson got 10 years probation.

Prosecutors had recommended both be sentenced to 10 years, three in jail and seven years' probation.

Bank teller Benny Allen III also pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to five years in jail. Prosecutors had recommended six.

Allen, 23, told the women what to write in their demand note and handed them the money, nearly $11,000.

He was on probation for a drug conviction when he was sentenced and the prosecutor in the bank case said he had not cooperated with authorities.

"He was not honest before his plea. He was not honest after his plea," prosecutor Bonnie Derrer said at his sentencing.

Michael Chastang, who is serving 15 years on drug-trafficking charges unrelated to the bank heist, received the most severe of the sentences meted out by Superior Court Judge Mary Staley.

She ordered the 28-year-old Chastang to complete the term on the drug charges, then serve 10 years for the bank theft.

Police found Ecstasy on Chastang when he was arrested.

Staley noted Chastang's role in the bank theft case —he was the one who put the women in contact with Allen, the teller.

Johnston started cooperating with police two days after the heist, and Miller, who also had a DUI arrest in Clayton County, began cooperating later.

Although DuBose said he recognized that both men had prior convictions for drugs, he maintained the sentences were inequitable.

"This is a case that clearly reflects unequal justice," he said. "These two women referred to as the Barbie Bandits should have received sentences equal to the African Americans."

Deane Bonner, president of the Cobb NAACP branch, said members have monitored sentencing in Cobb and believe African-Americans are sentenced more harshly than whites for the same crime.

She said she did not have statistics at hand but would provide them at a later time.

"We have the cases," she said. "We're just saying it is time to speak out."

link

[abrnfanatc 6]

I am sick and tired of racist judges.

[BZ770 2]

they should have probably got more jail time, but I don't think it really matters. Either way they are all criminals.

[TitanTiger 18,182]

I would have given the girls a harsher sentence than they got, but given the other charges the two black guys already had on their records and that they seem to have been the masterminds behind the thing, I have no problem with them getting harder sentences than the girls.

[AURaptor 1,113]

The NAACP has to do what ever it can to justify staying in " business ", even pulling stunts like this. Remember the clown who whined about there not being enough 'African Americans' on the Atlanta Braves? Never mind the FACT that fewer and fewer blacks of African descent are even PLAYING baseball anymore, and there's been an increase in Latin American , East Asian players taking up and exceeding in the game, the NAACP still wants there to be more blacks on MLB teams. And they won't take "no, there aren't that many playing " for an answer. Thus you have what the world is like when seen through the quota driven eyes like the NAACP.

[tiger88 934]

They're so cute. They should have gotten community service at The Bunny Ranch.

[AURaptor 1,113]

They're so cute. They should have gotten community service at The Bunny Ranch.

I second that idea!

[Wishbone 0]

The white trash parents obviously never instilled any sort of common sense in their daughters. Not only were they strippers but look at their boyfriends.

[Ranger12 42]

Yeah, the girls should have gotten tougher sentences, but I agree with Titan that I don't see a problem with the other two guys getting even tougher jail time. I would say that even if they were white because of their previous records. Obviously they can't stay out of trouble, so put them where they can't cause anymore. The girls are going to be on probation for awhile, so if they don't keep their nose clean in the next 10 years, they are going to jail regardless.

[bellefay1 1]

Why did the girls get a lesser sentence? Because they are white?

This is where the NAACP looks only at color and not at the measure of a man. At some point in time, each individual, regardless of race, must take responsibility for their past, present, and future.

NAACP alleges racial bias in Barbie Bandits' sentences

By TOM OPDYKE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 04/07/08

The head of the state NAACP on Monday called for a state investigation into racial sentencing patterns in Cobb County.

Edward DuBose said racial disparity in the recent sentencing of the four defendants in the so-called Barbie Bandits bank theft case prompted a request he intends to make to state Attorney General Thurbert Baker.

Jessica McGowan/AJC

Heather Lyn Johnston, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by taking, a felony and one count of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana, a misdemeanor. She was sentenced to 10 years probation.

"When four people are involved in the same crime and those who happen to be Caucasian receive much less time than those who are African American, this reflects a problem in the justice system that must be addressed," DuBose said at a news conference at the Cobb NAACP headquarters in Marietta.

The Feb. 27, 2007, heist at a Bank of America branch in Acworth involved four people: two young white women and a black male bank teller — who admitted their roles — and another black man convicted by a jury of planning the job.

Heather Lyn Johnston, 20, and Ashley Nicole Miller, 19, both pleaded guilty to theft- by-taking charges. Miller received two years in jail, followed by eight years probation. Johnson got 10 years probation.

Prosecutors had recommended both be sentenced to 10 years, three in jail and seven years' probation.

Bank teller Benny Allen III also pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to five years in jail. Prosecutors had recommended six.

Allen, 23, told the women what to write in their demand note and handed them the money, nearly $11,000.

He was on probation for a drug conviction when he was sentenced and the prosecutor in the bank case said he had not cooperated with authorities.

"He was not honest before his plea. He was not honest after his plea," prosecutor Bonnie Derrer said at his sentencing.

Michael Chastang, who is serving 15 years on drug-trafficking charges unrelated to the bank heist, received the most severe of the sentences meted out by Superior Court Judge Mary Staley.

She ordered the 28-year-old Chastang to complete the term on the drug charges, then serve 10 years for the bank theft.

Police found Ecstasy on Chastang when he was arrested.

Staley noted Chastang's role in the bank theft case —he was the one who put the women in contact with Allen, the teller.

Johnston started cooperating with police two days after the heist, and Miller, who also had a DUI arrest in Clayton County, began cooperating later.

Although DuBose said he recognized that both men had prior convictions for drugs, he maintained the sentences were inequitable.

"This is a case that clearly reflects unequal justice," he said. "These two women referred to as the Barbie Bandits should have received sentences equal to the African Americans."

Deane Bonner, president of the Cobb NAACP branch, said members have monitored sentencing in Cobb and believe African-Americans are sentenced more harshly than whites for the same crime.

She said she did not have statistics at hand but would provide them at a later time.

"We have the cases," she said. "We're just saying it is time to speak out."

link

The girls got a lesser sentence then the guys b/c they didn't have records and didn't mastermind the whole thing.

However they are pretty white girls and get an undeserved amount of attention for their actions. They also are bank robbers that well, robbed a bank, spent the money they stole and laughed about it while they were doing it. Don't forget they ran from the police and had x on them.

I'd be curious to see what people who had committed similar crimes got for their sentence. I do think race/publicity got these criminals a lesser sentence.

sidenote:

They were strippers at one of the trashiest, low end strip clubs in Atlanta. Shooter's Alley on Buford highway, a few hundred yards south of Tower Package store.

[tiger88 934]

They were strippers at one of the trashiest, low end strip clubs in Atlanta. Shooter's Alley on Buford highway, a few hundred yards south of Tower Package store.

Well, thats better than not stripping at all.

Oooh, I gotta stop. I'm killing myself here.

[bellefay1 1]

They were strippers at one of the trashiest, low end strip clubs in Atlanta. Shooter's Alley on Buford highway, a few hundred yards south of Tower Package store.

Well, thats better than not stripping at all.

Oooh, I gotta stop. I'm killing myself here.

I think Girls R Fun off Northside is hiring.

[tiger88 934]

I'm not sure that you got the gist of my jest.

Or maybe it's the other way around, lol.