Man Sit in Jail, Forgotten for Two Years

Posted by Alex in Crime & Law on September 14, 2008 at 1:39 pm


I have no sympathy for drug dealers, but still – this is a strange story. Joseph A. Shepard, 53, is in jail for drug-related charges.

His attorney told him that his case is making its way in federal court so he should sit tight and wait. So wait, he did – for two years in jail … meanwhile, his lawyer, the prosecutor, and everybody forgot all about him:

Shepard, 53, is a man the system forgot, apparently ignored by his own attorney — and the prosecutor and judge — as days ticked by in a municipal lockup where he was confined to a cell 23 hours a day.

Shepard was surprised when a reporter broke the news at the Jennings jail Wednesday night that his case had been forgotten. It was more than a month after prosecutors took steps to move the case forward, though he still had not been told about it by his lawyer.

"Good. That’s what I’ve been hoping for — something like that," he said. "I kind of figured that, after two years of nothing happening."

Link – via Look At This


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COMMENT

10 comments to "Man Sit in Jail, Forgotten for Two Years"

  1. Neatoramawontsendmeapassword
    September 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    Weird. Sounds like he needs a better lawyer, too!

  2. Steohawk
    September 14th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    I don't condone drugs, but I also don't condone laws against drugs. People should be allowed to make voluntary choices, regardless of how stupid their choices might be. Of course, I also don't condone punishing people before they've been proven guilty, which is exactly what happened in this case. If he's found guilty, then the two years he spent in jail should count as time served. If his sentence is less than two years, or if he's acquitted, then he should be awarded large sums of money.

  3. amosquito
    September 14th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    It could be a tactical move. The jail he's sitting in my be a way nicer place than the prison he may be destined for. The time counts towards your sentence. Also if the delays can be blamed on the prosecutors and courts, speedy trial issues may come into play. sometimes it pays to keep your mouth shut.

  4. mark robbins
    September 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

    It's strange to me that the article never mentions the constitution, or the right this person has to a speedy and public trial. It doesn't matter what his alleged crimes are, that right is fundamentally American. Everyone involved in his case should be ashamed and the judge and prosecutor should face penalties for their lack of diligence. If we lived our constitution we would make examples of those people.

  5. ted
    September 14th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    I'm just shocked by the grammar in the title.

  6. Pol x
    September 14th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    I'm with the cops on this one.

    People should be able to do drugs if they wish,it's only a crime because it's been designated so.

    If it hadn't been for prohibition the US would not have had such problems with organised crime. Make a thing illegal it doesn't go away and it becomes the preserve of criminals.

    Irrespective of all that,this incareceration may have been illegal,but the grammar of the headline is a true crime.

  7. Thebes
    September 14th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    What happened to his right to a speedy trial? I have no problems with drug dealers so long as they've not harmed anyone. His rights have been violated, he should be released and probably compensated for the clear violation of his rights. 2 years? Egad, have we become a third world country? This sort of bs happens places like the Dominican Republic... not the USA.

  8. AD NYC
    September 15th, 2008 at 3:16 am

    This is a horror story. Justice is Justice - it does not matter WHAT the allegations are!

    In New York, there was a case about an immigrant arrested and forgotten in jail for 6 months over a violation

  9. AD NYC
    September 15th, 2008 at 3:17 am

    .
    This is a horror story. Justice is Justice - it does not matter WHAT the allegations are!

    In New York, there was a case about an immigrant arrested and forgotten in jail for 6 months over a violation

  10. Thomas
    September 15th, 2008 at 12:14 pm

    I hate meth more than any drug. Regardless, there's no excuse for this. Not in my America. In the words of William Gladstone, "Justice delayed is justice denied."


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