Crime Time Central - 10/21/12 - Justice, Mercy, or Grace?

In 1975, Maury Davis, at age 18, committed a brutal murder.  He was later brought before a jury of his peers in a Texas Criminal Court, where his attorney relied upon the defense of "demon possession". He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Correction.   He found the Lord for the first time as he sat in that 5x9 jail cell, and he turned his life around.  

In 1983, Davis was released (after being denied parole many times before) on a prison over-crowding lottery.  Turns out, God had a plan for Davis that did not include him being on parole. 

So was that Justice? Mercy? Or Grace?

And whatever it was… which one would you rather have?

I met Pastor Davis at Cornerstone Church many years later.  1998 to be exact.  I was a former police officer,  was working at the District Attorney's Office, and about to open my own practice… and I thought to myself… "yea, right.  This preacher got some 'Jailhouse Jesus' and has 'really' turned his life around? I'm sure!"  

Truth is… Pastor Davis is the real deal.  He's not just "playing Church".  His number one focus is "souls".  And, he has led more people to Christ than anyone I have personally ever met.

Join us Sunday October 21, 2012 from Noon to 2pm for Crime Time Central Legal Talk Radio, on Super Talk 99.7 WTN.

You do NOT want to miss this show!!!

Charged with a crime? You need experience.  Attorney David Ridings, and Crime Time Central host has experience on every side of the criminal justice system.  He has spent the last 25 years of his professional life dedicated to Criminal Justice.  From the police force, through the District Attorney's Office, to the Criminal Defense Table… Attorney David Ridings has experience you just don't get out of a book.

If you need a Nashville Criminal Defense Attorney, contact Ridings Law Group, P.C. today for your free consultation. 

Crime Time Central - 10/14/12 - Escape

Today, on Crime Time Central… we ask The Average Juror, Lynda… Guilty or Not Guilty.

Man charged with Escape for being 75 minutes late to halfway house.  

Here are the facts…

Terrance Bell was in federal custody, serving what was left of his federal sentence. He had ONLY TWO MONTHS REMAINING…

In March, while working as a cook at a Waffle House in Nashville, Bell received a phone call informing him that his girlfriend had collapsed at her apartment and had been taken to the hospital. Bell said he made an impulsive decision and went to the hospital without contacting the administration at the halfway house.

A few hours later he realized that it was about an hour and fifteen minutes past the time he was required to be back at the house, so he called one of the directors.

However, Bell said, the director told him that the U.S. marshals had already been notified that he was absent and that he should turn himself in. The director added that he need not return to the halfway house.

Bell said he called the Marshal's Office to schedule a time to turn himself in, but he was told that there would not be anyone in the office who could handle the procedure for the rest of the day.

Bell gave the Marshal's Office the address of his girlfriend's apartment and said he would be staying with her.


A WEEK LATER later he was arrested at her apartment.

He was sentenced to 9 months to serve in federal prison, consecutive to his current sentence.  

TENNESSEE LAW PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS FOR ESCAPE. 

39-16-605.  Escape. 

  (a) It is an offense for any lawfully confined person arrested for, charged with, or found guilty of a civil or criminal offense to escape from a penal institution, as defined in § 39-16-601.

(b)  (1) A person commits the offense of escape who is in the lawful custody of a law enforcement officer and knowingly escapes the officer's custody.

   (2) As used in subdivision (b)(1), "lawful custody" means a person has been taken, seized or detained by a law enforcement officer either by handcuffing, restraining or any other method by which a reasonable person would believe places the person in custody and that otherwise deprives the person's freedom of action in a significant way.

(c)  (1) A violation of subsection (a) is:

      (A) A Class A misdemeanor if the person was being held for a misdemeanor or civil offense; and

      (B) A Class E felony if the person was being held for a felony.

   (2) A violation of subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) Any sentence received for a violation of this section shall be ordered to be served consecutively to the sentence being served or sentence received for the charge for which the person was being held at the time of the escape.

601 says…..

   (3) "Escape" means unauthorized departure from custody or failure to return to custody following temporary leave for a specific purpose or limited period, but does not include a violation of conditions of probation or parole; and

   (4) "Penal institution" includes any institution or facility used to house or detain a person:

      (A) Convicted of a crime;

      (B) Adjudicated delinquent by a juvenile court;

      (C) Who is in direct or indirect custody after a lawful arrest; or

      (D) When such institution or facility is a court-operated long-term residential substance abuse facility.

If you have been charged with a crime, you need experience.  Crime Time Central Host, Attorney David Ridings, has experience on every side of the criminal justice system.  From the police force, through the district attorney's office, to the criminal defense table... Attorney David Ridings has real street experience you can't get from a book.  If  you are charged with a crime, call Nashville Criminal Defense Attonrey David Ridings for your free consult today.

Contact Ridings Law Group, P.C. today.