Bail denied for only Jena beating suspect in jail

[MzKwietStorm]

Bail denied for only Jena beating suspect in jail
Ruling comes day after civil rights demonstration in La. town



JENA, La. - Bail was denied Friday for a black teenager whose arrest in the beating of a white classmate led to this week's huge civil rights demonstration in the central Louisiana town of Jena.

The bond hearing for Mychal Bell, one of the group known as the “Jena Six,” was held this afternoon in a juvenile court in Jena.

Lawyers would not comment because juvenile court proceedings are secret. But John Jenkins, the father of one of Bell's co-defendants, said Bell's bail request was denied.

Bell's mother left the courthouse in tears and refused to comment. A man accompanying her said "denied" as they walked out.

Bell, now 17, is the only one of the group known as the Jena Six to have been tried so far in the December beating of a white classmate.

Bell was convicted of aggravated second-degree battery, which could have led to 15 years in prison. His conviction was thrown out last week by a state appeals court that said he could not be tried on the charge as an adult because he was 16 at the time of the beating.

Bell had been on probation at the time of the beating and remains in jail. The other five defendants were free on bond.

On Thursday, the case drew thousands of protesters to this tiny central Louisiana town to rally against what they see as a double standard of justice for blacks and whites. The march was one of the biggest civil rights demonstrations in years.

Source: Bail denied for Jena suspect - Race & Ethnicity - MSNBC.com

[Sumyr]

I just read this as well. I believe they were trying to send a message to the protesters by denying bail - as what other reason do they have to deny bond.

[afrocentric]

i smell a RIOT!!! which i truely hope don't happen!!

[Lediamand]

Typical White racist, that was the most prolific way of showing that they have the power and that small rally isn't going to easily intimidate them on their decision making. I guess its on, since most of our leaders aren't going to back off on this one either.

[SchoolofSoul]

If there's any legal reasoning for this bail denial, it's the fact that Mychal Bell, despite being an honor roll student, had an existing criminal record before the Justin Barker beating that included violent crimes, as follows:

* Battery - 12/25/2005
* Criminal damage to property - 7/25/2006
* Battery - 9/2006
* Criminal damage to property - 9/2006

This sort of record doesn't really help Bell's case much. The prosecution is obviously going to use whatever they can to slam it to this kid.

[Sumyr]

i smell a RIOT!!! which i truely hope don't happen!!

Afrocentric, I'm with you on this one - something bad will happen before something good comes of this. I fear for the safety of the few blacks that live in Jena. Perhaps the National Guard should be called in - just to make sure the peace is maintained among "all" citizens.

[Sumyr]

If there's any legal reasoning for this bail denial, it's the fact that Mychal Bell, despite being an honor roll student, had an existing criminal record before the Justin Barker beating that included violent crimes, as follows:

* Battery - 12/25/2005
* Criminal damage to property - 7/25/2006
* Battery - 9/2006
* Criminal damage to property - 9/2006

This sort of record doesn't really help Bell's case much. The prosecution is obviously going to use whatever they can to slam it to this kid.

SchoolofSoul, If I understand correctly, he has been in jail since this occured. Isn't that more than enough time served for "issuing an @ss whopping" to someone who deserved it? If I were to spend time in jail each time I beat someone up in school, lets just say I would still be in jail - some 14 years later.

Truly what I believe is they (the so called judicial system in Jena) are going to drag this out as long and as far as they can. It makes for a good history story and this will be a part of history. And they (the whites) know it. They don't want to go down in history as being "too soft" and letting the little "niggra boy" get away to easily for whipping up on one of their kids. I mean how would they explain themselves to other KKK and racist - once they get to hell??? Just my take.

[ardamus]

Originally Posted by SchoolofSoul

If there's any legal reasoning for this bail denial, it's the fact that Mychal Bell, despite being an honor roll student, had an existing criminal record before the Justin Barker beating that included violent crimes, as follows:

* Battery - 12/25/2005
* Criminal damage to property - 7/25/2006
* Battery - 9/2006
* Criminal damage to property - 9/2006

This sort of record doesn't really help Bell's case much. The prosecution is obviously going to use whatever they can to slam it to this kid.

The only thing about that is police enforcement in that county itself. I said this before in another thread. If they are trying to give this kid 15 years in prison over a fight on the playground, I don't put it pass them for not twisting some of his past criminal history around on him when those events occured. Not to say he did or didn't do those crimes but you have to consider that environemnt.

With that said:

[DBlack]

I'm not surprised. They are sending a clear message to blacks.

What is really sad in all this is that, since he is being tried as an adult, has parents locally in the community, why can't they release him on bail. Has he not been there since last December?

It's a fuggin shame!

[Great Ursus]

They're bound and determined not to be influenced by "outsiders". This is the same mantra spewed by various towns large and small in the south (and north) during the '60s. We all know how they feel and react to "outside troublemakers".
However, in the past the marchers persevered.
Its more about tactic than truth or justice, which I think is a danger of the whiteman's law. It can be, and too often is, easily subverted to the will and desire of the enforcers of the law and their influences, who are usually white with their sole interests in mind.
Don't know how smart it is to expect justice and right doing from those podunks since that's why the protest came there in the first place.
Just have to keep on keepin' on.