You insinuate that this killer being on the street was somehow Jeb Bush's fault??
Look at the facts. This killer, Joseph Smith, was on the street because a Liberal State Judge in Florida by the name of Harry Rapkin (appointed by Democrat Governor Lawton Chiles n 1992) refused to rule that Smith violated his probation in early 2002.
Smith served 17 months in prison in 2001 and 2002 for heroin possession and prescription drug fraud. Eight days after he got out, he was arrested for cocaine possession and placed on probation for three years. He also got probation for aggravated battery in 1993 and heroin charges in 1999. A state correction official, Joe Papy, said that a probation officer had asked a judge (Rapkin) on Dec. 30 to declare Smith in violation of his probation because he had not paid all his fines and court costs. Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which would have returned him to jail.
So in fact it was the either incompetence or stupidity of a liberal Judge in not finding this monster in violation of his probation and sending him to prison that led to this girl's murder. The Probation Department tried several times to get this Judge to order Smith back to prison but the Judge refused.
Liberal Judge appointed by Democrat Governor = dead 11 year old girl.
Look at the facts. This killer, Joseph Smith, was on the street because a Liberal State Judge in Florida by the name of Harry Rapkin (appointed by Democrat Governor Lawton Chiles n 1992) refused to rule that Smith violated his probation in early 2002.
Smith served 17 months in prison in 2001 and 2002 for heroin possession and prescription drug fraud. Eight days after he got out, he was arrested for cocaine possession and placed on probation for three years. He also got probation for aggravated battery in 1993 and heroin charges in 1999. A state correction official, Joe Papy, said that a probation officer had asked a judge (Rapkin) on Dec. 30 to declare Smith in violation of his probation because he had not paid all his fines and court costs. Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which would have returned him to jail.
So in fact it was the either incompetence or stupidity of a liberal Judge in not finding this monster in violation of his probation and sending him to prison that led to this girl's murder. The Probation Department tried several times to get this Judge to order Smith back to prison but the Judge refused.
Liberal Judge appointed by Democrat Governor = dead 11 year old girl.
That whole state is messed up. From top to bottom I believe it is all republican run. Do something. Make laws that keep the repetitve offenders off the streets.
Don't let these liberals legislate from the bench.
I thought you guys "republicans" were tough on crime.
Don't let these liberals legislate from the bench.
I thought you guys "republicans" were tough on crime.
Forgot something:
Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which could have returned him to jail. The judge defended his decision Friday, saying the probation officer never sent him the evidence he requested that Smith had willfully refused to pay.
Even in Florida a judge needs evidence.
Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which could have returned him to jail. The judge defended his decision Friday, saying the probation officer never sent him the evidence he requested that Smith had willfully refused to pay.
Even in Florida a judge needs evidence.
The title of this post is erroneas. Jeb Bush is not to blame for the murder of Carla. The only person to blame is Smith.
As for you lander, George Bush hardly has a soft spot for criminals since he is known as the Texas governer whom has executed the most criminals with the death penalty. Hardly a soft spot there.
Anyhow, Smith will suffer the consecuences and that will be death.
As for you lander, George Bush hardly has a soft spot for criminals since he is known as the Texas governer whom has executed the most criminals with the death penalty. Hardly a soft spot there.
Anyhow, Smith will suffer the consecuences and that will be death.
Wrong as usual Wilheim. The probation officer in the case had the evidence that Smith violated his parole and attempted several times to get the Jusge to have a hearing to present the evidence but the Judge refused to initiate the hearing. Under Florida law, a Probation Officer cannot call an evidentiary hearing on a violation ONLY A JUDGE CAN. In this case, the liberal Judge REFUSED to hold the hearing and a girl died because of it. And this piece of shit Judge is trying to blame the Probation Department. Instead of enforcing the law as written, this liberal obviously believed he knew better and refused to jail this animal for not living up to the conditions of his Probation.
READ:
Finger-Pointing Begins In Brucia Case
WTVJ-TV
Updated: 7:24 a.m. ET Feb. 07, 20047:16 a.m. EST February 7, 2004 -
The two parties responsible for supervising the man suspected in the slaying of an 11-year-old girl pointed fingers at each other Friday for not putting him behind bars in December.
Joe Brucia, the father of victim Carlie Brucia, called for an investigation into how Smith's case was handled.
"As far as this individual being out on the street, I really find the decisions made by some of these judges very questionable," said Joe Brucia. "He should never have been out on the streets."
Both Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin and the Florida Department of Corrections denied wrongdoing in the handing of Joseph P. Smith's case when in December he fell behind in paying his court fines and could have been jailed.
Rapkin said a probation officer did not provide information to show that the often unemployed Smith was willfully refusing to pay his fines. Rapkin spoke out Friday because he said his role has been misunderstood and he is now getting death threats from outraged citizens.
Corrections Secretary James V. Crosby Jr. countered that the judge never called for a hearing during which a probation officer would have presented evidence against Smith. Instead, the judge put a "sticky note" on the file saying: "I need evidence that this was willful. did he have the ability to pay?" and initialed it.
Smith is under arrest in the slaying of Carlie Brucia, whose body was discovered Friday in a wooded area near a Sarasota church. The girl was abducted Sunday night on her way home from a friend's house; her kidnapping has riveted the nation because it was caught by a surveillance camera.
Smith has a lengthy criminal past that includes at least 13 arrests and a string of probation assignments. Court records show him as a chronic drug abuser who has been arrested repeatedly for prescription drug fraud, cocaine use and heroin possession.
Smith was being supervised by a probation officer in Sarasota who since August had sent the judge two notices that Smith was violating his probation.
Neither violation resulted in Smith being jailed. Rapkin, who assumed Smith's case when he took over a division from another judge, never actually saw Smith in his courtroom.
Smith tested positive for drug use in August, but the probation officer noted that the test could have been affected by Smith's use of prescription painkillers and antidepressants. The second violation came when Smith fell behind in his court payments, a $411 bill that was to be paid by the fall.
Rapkin said because Florida does not have a "debtors prison," he couldn't jail Smith for simply falling $179 behind in payments. He said that is a frequent occurrence for people on probation, but then they usually catch up.
"If I thought that not signing a warrant caused this girl's death, I'd quit," Rapkin said. "I couldn't live with myself. But that didn't' happen. I did my job."
But Crosby said under the rules of the Sarasota Circuit, the probation officer had no choice but to wait for Rapkin to call a hearing and then act.
In August, when Smith tested positive for drug use, the judge marked on a form that no further action was required, Crosby said. In December, the matter was only addressed with the note on the file.
"What the judge typically should do according to the rules is issue a warrant and have a hearing," Crosby said. "If he had a question on whether we had evidence, we would produce the evidence.
"...The judge has all the power. All we can do is report when the person has not performed as ordered by the judge."
Crosby said he believes probation officers kept Smith under as close watch as possible and reported him every time they caught him violating the terms of his probation.
"It's a shame that we go to try to find a person who has done their job as a probation officer and try to make them a scapegoat," he said.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said his heart goes out to the Brucia family, and he, too, expressed concern that the man accused of kidnapping and killing Carlie was not jailed a month ago.
But Bush defended the state's actions regarding Smith. "If someone kills or strangles a 12-year-old child, abducts a child and strangles a child, that's not because of drug addiction, that's because he is sick, and he should be given the maximum penalty if he is convicted," Bush said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4202491/
READ:
Finger-Pointing Begins In Brucia Case
WTVJ-TV
Updated: 7:24 a.m. ET Feb. 07, 20047:16 a.m. EST February 7, 2004 -
The two parties responsible for supervising the man suspected in the slaying of an 11-year-old girl pointed fingers at each other Friday for not putting him behind bars in December.
Joe Brucia, the father of victim Carlie Brucia, called for an investigation into how Smith's case was handled.
"As far as this individual being out on the street, I really find the decisions made by some of these judges very questionable," said Joe Brucia. "He should never have been out on the streets."
Both Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin and the Florida Department of Corrections denied wrongdoing in the handing of Joseph P. Smith's case when in December he fell behind in paying his court fines and could have been jailed.
Rapkin said a probation officer did not provide information to show that the often unemployed Smith was willfully refusing to pay his fines. Rapkin spoke out Friday because he said his role has been misunderstood and he is now getting death threats from outraged citizens.
Corrections Secretary James V. Crosby Jr. countered that the judge never called for a hearing during which a probation officer would have presented evidence against Smith. Instead, the judge put a "sticky note" on the file saying: "I need evidence that this was willful. did he have the ability to pay?" and initialed it.
Smith is under arrest in the slaying of Carlie Brucia, whose body was discovered Friday in a wooded area near a Sarasota church. The girl was abducted Sunday night on her way home from a friend's house; her kidnapping has riveted the nation because it was caught by a surveillance camera.
Smith has a lengthy criminal past that includes at least 13 arrests and a string of probation assignments. Court records show him as a chronic drug abuser who has been arrested repeatedly for prescription drug fraud, cocaine use and heroin possession.
Smith was being supervised by a probation officer in Sarasota who since August had sent the judge two notices that Smith was violating his probation.
Neither violation resulted in Smith being jailed. Rapkin, who assumed Smith's case when he took over a division from another judge, never actually saw Smith in his courtroom.
Smith tested positive for drug use in August, but the probation officer noted that the test could have been affected by Smith's use of prescription painkillers and antidepressants. The second violation came when Smith fell behind in his court payments, a $411 bill that was to be paid by the fall.
Rapkin said because Florida does not have a "debtors prison," he couldn't jail Smith for simply falling $179 behind in payments. He said that is a frequent occurrence for people on probation, but then they usually catch up.
"If I thought that not signing a warrant caused this girl's death, I'd quit," Rapkin said. "I couldn't live with myself. But that didn't' happen. I did my job."
But Crosby said under the rules of the Sarasota Circuit, the probation officer had no choice but to wait for Rapkin to call a hearing and then act.
In August, when Smith tested positive for drug use, the judge marked on a form that no further action was required, Crosby said. In December, the matter was only addressed with the note on the file.
"What the judge typically should do according to the rules is issue a warrant and have a hearing," Crosby said. "If he had a question on whether we had evidence, we would produce the evidence.
"...The judge has all the power. All we can do is report when the person has not performed as ordered by the judge."
Crosby said he believes probation officers kept Smith under as close watch as possible and reported him every time they caught him violating the terms of his probation.
"It's a shame that we go to try to find a person who has done their job as a probation officer and try to make them a scapegoat," he said.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said his heart goes out to the Brucia family, and he, too, expressed concern that the man accused of kidnapping and killing Carlie was not jailed a month ago.
But Bush defended the state's actions regarding Smith. "If someone kills or strangles a 12-year-old child, abducts a child and strangles a child, that's not because of drug addiction, that's because he is sick, and he should be given the maximum penalty if he is convicted," Bush said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4202491/
Excellent point Alex. Bushies' soft spot does indeed seem to remain secluded to the only the Bushie family. Between forgiving Neil the business scammer and himself for being a raving genocidal murderer there probably isn't much compassion left to spare for other criminals.
Floyd.
From your beloved Newsmax website.
Sarasota Fla. — Authorities ended their search for Florida pre-teen Carlie Brucia (search) Friday after they found her body in a church parking lot and charged a suspect with her abduction and murder.
"The body of a beautiful 11-year-old girl has been found," Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill said, choking back tears and thanking the community for helping to find the body.
Officials said Carlie's body was discovered about 1 a.m. at a church a few miles from the carwash where she was abducted. The kidnapping on Sunday was captured by a surveillance camera.
Police said Joseph P. Smith told a witness that he had kidnapped and killed Carlie, and authorities used that information to find the sixth-grader's body a few miles from the carwash.
Investigators refused to say how the girl was killed or whether she had been raped.
"He will pay the ultimate price for what he did to her," sheriff's Capt. Jeff Bell said. Investigators would not give details on the witness who helped them.
Smith, 37, is believed to be the man seen on the surveillance video in a mechanic's shirt with a name patch, leading Carlie away by the arm Sunday as she walked home from a slumber party. Investigators said the man on the tape had tattoos on both forearms; Smith has many tattoos on his arms.
The kidnapping set off a frantic search for the former Girl Scout (search), and the tape was beamed ac**** the nation as Carlie's family and authorities pleaded for her safe return.
Investigators were led to Smith after a tipster identified him as the man in the video. Authorities said he had a Buick station wagon that was seen in the surveillance footage shortly before the kidnapping.
Investigators had called on NASA (search) to sharpen and enlarge images of the abduction, but they said the quality wasn't much better than what they already had.
Smith was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping, and could face the death penalty if convicted. His public defender, Adam Tebrugge, did not immediately return calls for comment.
Carlie's body was found beneath thick underbrush near the Central Church of Christ. While investigators in white coveralls searched the area for evidence, Carlie's friends and family gathered outside the church. Her stepfather, Steven Kansler, and some friends knelt in a prayer circle.
"She's in a better place. She got there in a horrific manner, but now she's watching me all the time," said her father, Joe Brucia.
Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993.
He served 17 months in prison in 2001 and 2002 for heroin possession and prescription drug fraud. Eight days after he got out, he was arrested for cocaine possession and placed on probation for three years. He also got probation for aggravated battery in 1993 and heroin charges in 1999.
A state correction official, Joe Papy, said that a probation officer had asked a judge on Dec. 30 to declare Smith in violation of his probation because he had not paid all his fines and court costs.
Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which could have returned him to jail. The judge defended his decision Friday, saying the probation officer never sent him the evidence he requested that Smith had willfully refused to pay.
Carlie's family questioned why Smith was allowed to be free.
"In my opinion he should have never been out on the street," Carlie's father said.
Neighbors said Smith and his wife had separated recently and he had moved out of the house.
Linda Thompson, who lives next door to the Smith family, described Smith as a good father to his three daughters. She remembered him playing with them in the yard, buying them a puppy and building a goldfish pond for them in the front of the house.
"That's the Joe we saw, so when this started it was hard to believe that there's a different side," Thompson said.
A small group of supporters kept up a vigil outside the Carlie's ranch-style house, which is decorated with banners and posters reading, "We love you, Carlie."
Carlie's friends said the blond, blue-eyed girl idolized Jennifer Lopez and enjoyed going to the mall and hanging out with friends. She had a cat named Charlie and a 6-year-old half brother and a 10-year-old stepbrother.
"She was loving and caring. She doesn't like to see other people hurt. She'd be really crying if this was one of us or someone else she knows," said Tiffany Meeks, a friend at school who placed flowers along a memorial at the car wash. "It's just hard to talk about."
------------------------
You chose to post selected passages of the article and leave out anything that might look like the judge may have had a reason for his actions. I don't expect you to admit this but it is really not important to me. I am very aware of how censorship is common practice with the far right.
wil.
[This message was edited by wilheim on February 08, 2004 at 12:23 AM.]
From your beloved Newsmax website.
Sarasota Fla. — Authorities ended their search for Florida pre-teen Carlie Brucia (search) Friday after they found her body in a church parking lot and charged a suspect with her abduction and murder.
"The body of a beautiful 11-year-old girl has been found," Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill said, choking back tears and thanking the community for helping to find the body.
Officials said Carlie's body was discovered about 1 a.m. at a church a few miles from the carwash where she was abducted. The kidnapping on Sunday was captured by a surveillance camera.
Police said Joseph P. Smith told a witness that he had kidnapped and killed Carlie, and authorities used that information to find the sixth-grader's body a few miles from the carwash.
Investigators refused to say how the girl was killed or whether she had been raped.
"He will pay the ultimate price for what he did to her," sheriff's Capt. Jeff Bell said. Investigators would not give details on the witness who helped them.
Smith, 37, is believed to be the man seen on the surveillance video in a mechanic's shirt with a name patch, leading Carlie away by the arm Sunday as she walked home from a slumber party. Investigators said the man on the tape had tattoos on both forearms; Smith has many tattoos on his arms.
The kidnapping set off a frantic search for the former Girl Scout (search), and the tape was beamed ac**** the nation as Carlie's family and authorities pleaded for her safe return.
Investigators were led to Smith after a tipster identified him as the man in the video. Authorities said he had a Buick station wagon that was seen in the surveillance footage shortly before the kidnapping.
Investigators had called on NASA (search) to sharpen and enlarge images of the abduction, but they said the quality wasn't much better than what they already had.
Smith was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping, and could face the death penalty if convicted. His public defender, Adam Tebrugge, did not immediately return calls for comment.
Carlie's body was found beneath thick underbrush near the Central Church of Christ. While investigators in white coveralls searched the area for evidence, Carlie's friends and family gathered outside the church. Her stepfather, Steven Kansler, and some friends knelt in a prayer circle.
"She's in a better place. She got there in a horrific manner, but now she's watching me all the time," said her father, Joe Brucia.
Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993.
He served 17 months in prison in 2001 and 2002 for heroin possession and prescription drug fraud. Eight days after he got out, he was arrested for cocaine possession and placed on probation for three years. He also got probation for aggravated battery in 1993 and heroin charges in 1999.
A state correction official, Joe Papy, said that a probation officer had asked a judge on Dec. 30 to declare Smith in violation of his probation because he had not paid all his fines and court costs.
Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which could have returned him to jail. The judge defended his decision Friday, saying the probation officer never sent him the evidence he requested that Smith had willfully refused to pay.
Carlie's family questioned why Smith was allowed to be free.
"In my opinion he should have never been out on the street," Carlie's father said.
Neighbors said Smith and his wife had separated recently and he had moved out of the house.
Linda Thompson, who lives next door to the Smith family, described Smith as a good father to his three daughters. She remembered him playing with them in the yard, buying them a puppy and building a goldfish pond for them in the front of the house.
"That's the Joe we saw, so when this started it was hard to believe that there's a different side," Thompson said.
A small group of supporters kept up a vigil outside the Carlie's ranch-style house, which is decorated with banners and posters reading, "We love you, Carlie."
Carlie's friends said the blond, blue-eyed girl idolized Jennifer Lopez and enjoyed going to the mall and hanging out with friends. She had a cat named Charlie and a 6-year-old half brother and a 10-year-old stepbrother.
"She was loving and caring. She doesn't like to see other people hurt. She'd be really crying if this was one of us or someone else she knows," said Tiffany Meeks, a friend at school who placed flowers along a memorial at the car wash. "It's just hard to talk about."
------------------------
You chose to post selected passages of the article and leave out anything that might look like the judge may have had a reason for his actions. I don't expect you to admit this but it is really not important to me. I am very aware of how censorship is common practice with the far right.
wil.
[This message was edited by wilheim on February 08, 2004 at 12:23 AM.]
Fact #1 Probation Officer reports that Smith was in violation of his probation.
Fact #2 Probation Officer requests a hearing to rule Smith in Violation and send him to jail.
Fact #3 Probation Officer notifes the Judge several times that Smith has failed to pay the costs required by his probation (a fact that speaks for itself).
Fact #4 In Florida only the Judge can convene the Violation of Probation Hearing.
Fact #5 Judge refuses to convene hearing because he, despite what the law and the Probation Department requires, believes that Smith should not be sent to jail for failing to pay the costs required by his Probation.
Fact #6 Smith stays on the street because the Judge refused to convene the hearing.
Fact #7 11 year old dies because Judge refuses to convene hearing.
End of lesson.
Fact #2 Probation Officer requests a hearing to rule Smith in Violation and send him to jail.
Fact #3 Probation Officer notifes the Judge several times that Smith has failed to pay the costs required by his probation (a fact that speaks for itself).
Fact #4 In Florida only the Judge can convene the Violation of Probation Hearing.
Fact #5 Judge refuses to convene hearing because he, despite what the law and the Probation Department requires, believes that Smith should not be sent to jail for failing to pay the costs required by his Probation.
Fact #6 Smith stays on the street because the Judge refused to convene the hearing.
Fact #7 11 year old dies because Judge refuses to convene hearing.
End of lesson.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which could have returned him to jail. The judge defended his decision Friday, saying the probation officer never sent him the evidence he requested that Smith had willfully refused to pay <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
slipped your mind again.
slipped your mind again.
Lander, please do not take my comment as an offence. I was just being a little sarcastic in regards to your previous comment.
"Excellent point Alex. Bushies' soft spot does indeed seem to remain secluded to the only the Bushie family. Between forgiving Neil the business scammer and himself for being a raving genocidal murderer there probably isn't much compassion left to spare for other criminals."
Surely, there are corporate criminals that are forgiven and as a Republican I agree that it is wrong. Nevertheless, Bush as governor had a strong record of being the governer in the state of Texas whom has executed the most criminals with the death penaly.
That is all....please I hope that no one takes my comment as offensive.
"Excellent point Alex. Bushies' soft spot does indeed seem to remain secluded to the only the Bushie family. Between forgiving Neil the business scammer and himself for being a raving genocidal murderer there probably isn't much compassion left to spare for other criminals."
Surely, there are corporate criminals that are forgiven and as a Republican I agree that it is wrong. Nevertheless, Bush as governor had a strong record of being the governer in the state of Texas whom has executed the most criminals with the death penaly.
That is all....please I hope that no one takes my comment as offensive.
