UTMC

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:38 am**

The West Memphis Three are free. Wow. I just watched their press conference online. I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts about the plea they made.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/1 ... 31171.html

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:01 am**

wow, I'm amazed. what a difficult choice, plead guilty and guaranty your freedom or take your chances that you'll be granted a new trial in December, and that you will not be convicted in that new trial by maintaining your position that you are not guilty.

For Echols, that choice was easier, but still it must feel like being in crazy town. Perhaps not justice, but at least these men are free. That's something.

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:08 am**

Imagine being locked up for decades for something you didn't do.
I don't want to know how many people are suffering a similar plight, but don't get the same media exposure about it and will probably never see justice.
Could happen to any of us.
Now there's a thought that's gonna fester.

I only ever heard about these guys because Henry Rollins mentioned it in one or three of his standup programs.

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:23 am**

I am overjoyed that they are free.
I refuse to call it justice, and I pray that they continue to pursue proving their innocence.
It would be very difficult for me to cop to something I didn't do, but freedom is where it's at, and I totally understand wanting that freedom.

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:50 am**

goose wrote:wow, I'm amazed. what a difficult choice, plead guilty and guaranty your freedom or take your chances that you'll be granted a new trial in December, and that you will not be convicted in that new trial by maintaining your position that you are not guilty. .

Yes, very tough. With that gguilty plea, they're free, but llife is going to be very hard for them. It's not going to be easy to get a good job with that plea. Some of my students are convicted felons, and they're ineligible for student loans. Lots of road blocks ahead for them.

Bittersweet, but definitely much better than their situation over the last 15 some odd yyears.

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:41 pm**

Zer0 wrote:
goose wrote:wow, I'm amazed. what a difficult choice, plead guilty and guaranty your freedom or take your chances that you'll be granted a new trial in December, and that you will not be convicted in that new trial by maintaining your position that you are not guilty. .
Yes, very tough. With that gguilty plea, they're free, but llife is going to be very hard for them. It's not going to be easy to get a good job with that plea. Some of my students are convicted felons, and they're ineligible for student loans. Lots of road blocks ahead for them.

Bittersweet, but definitely much better than their situation over the last 15 some odd yyears.

Oh, I don't think they are going to ever hurt for money. Assuredly, there is a book deal on its way. I do wonder, however, if Arkansas has a "Son of Sam" law. That may play havoc with any profits they make from book/film/speaking engagements due to their guilty plea. Indeed, the families of the victims would be entitled to any profits they make since they have pled guilty to the crime, regardless of whether they committed it.

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:46 pm**

Citation: ARK. CODE ANN. § 16-90-308 (1987)
History: Enacted in 1985.

TITLE 16. PRACTICE, PROCEDURE, AND COURTS
SUBTITLE 6. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE GENERALLY
CHAPTER 90. JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE GENERALLY
SUBCHAPTER 3. RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS

Ark. Stat. Ann. § 16-90-308 (2000)

§ 16-90-308. Proceeds from sale of rights arising from criminal act

(a) (1) Any person, referred to as the defendant in this section, who has been convicted of, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime, who contracts to reenact the crime by use of any book, motion picture, magazine article, radio or television presentation, live entertainment, or any live or recorded presentation, or from the expression of his thoughts, opinions, or emotions regarding the crime, shall pay to the circuit court wherein the charges were filed any money or thing of value contracted to be paid to the defendant, his spouse, heirs, assigns, and transferees. Back to top

Way I read it, this wouldn't apply to them, since any book deal/movie etc. would be regarding the things that happened to them after they didn't commit the crime. As long as they steer clear of discussing the crime that did happen, and stick to their imprisonment and trial, etc.

Also, the thought occurs that they are released into a world where this kind of information can be gathered, digested and discarded via the internet in under a minute, rather than requiring a trip to the library or making an appointment with a learned person.
If there hadn't already been a TV show about that sort of thing recently, they could make a ton of money with that.

UTMC

Holy Sh--, the WM3 are free

Holy Sh--, the WM3 are free