Drizzt
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Defendant gets sympathy, no slack
Taking police bullet during pursuit not enough to sway judge
By JAMIE SATTERFIELD, [email protected]
June 22, 2005
Geez, isn't getting shot punishment enough?
Defense attorney David Eldridge figured that gunshot to convicted bank robber Roy Lee Hill Jr.'s stomach ought to count for something, at least.
"This is a case that is unusual because Mr. Hill was almost killed," Eldridge argued Tuesday at a hearing in U.S. District Court. "That kind of (severe) punishment has already occurred."
The way Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracee Plowell sees it, Hill wouldn't have been shot by a Knoxville Police Department officer if he hadn't robbed a Western Avenue bank, led police on a high-speed chase and then charged at Officer Christine Piscatelli when she tried to arrest him.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't say his shooting was the result of his own activities," Plowell said.
Federal Judge Thomas Phillips noted that while he believes Hill's pain - physical and emotional - is genuine, his punishment still should fit the seriousness of his crime.
"In this instance, I do not find any reason to vary from (federal sentencing) guidelines," Phillips said in imposing a seven-year prison term.
According to a complaint filed by FBI Agent Buddy Early, Hill, 36, had just been released from a Colorado prison in May 2004 when he and co-defendant Georgianna Troupe Latham, 34, robbed the AmSouth Bank.
The pair fled, with Hill behind the wheel. The car crashed, and Hill ran. Piscatelli cornered Hill, who charged at her. She ordered him to stop but shot him when he refused, authorities have said. She was cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting.
Eldridge said Tuesday that Latham, who is awaiting sentencing, was Hill's crack dealer. Hill, he said, owed Latham money.
"Mr. Hill has a lifelong problem with crack cocaine," Eldridge said. "He's in a strange city. His co-defendant is demanding payment for these drugs."
So, Hill robbed the bank while Latham waited in the car, he said.
Hill apologized for his crime and told Phillips that the shooting caused him to re-evaluate his life.
"I know God gave me this second chance, and he didn't give me this second chance to continue to break the law," he said.
Phillips called Hill "a very intelligent young man" in need of drug treatment.
"I do believe that Mr. Hill has received a wake-up call, and he has paid attention to that wake-up call," the judge said.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_3873103,00.html
oh man, the excuses.......
Taking police bullet during pursuit not enough to sway judge
By JAMIE SATTERFIELD, [email protected]
June 22, 2005
Geez, isn't getting shot punishment enough?
Defense attorney David Eldridge figured that gunshot to convicted bank robber Roy Lee Hill Jr.'s stomach ought to count for something, at least.
"This is a case that is unusual because Mr. Hill was almost killed," Eldridge argued Tuesday at a hearing in U.S. District Court. "That kind of (severe) punishment has already occurred."
The way Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracee Plowell sees it, Hill wouldn't have been shot by a Knoxville Police Department officer if he hadn't robbed a Western Avenue bank, led police on a high-speed chase and then charged at Officer Christine Piscatelli when she tried to arrest him.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't say his shooting was the result of his own activities," Plowell said.
Federal Judge Thomas Phillips noted that while he believes Hill's pain - physical and emotional - is genuine, his punishment still should fit the seriousness of his crime.
"In this instance, I do not find any reason to vary from (federal sentencing) guidelines," Phillips said in imposing a seven-year prison term.
According to a complaint filed by FBI Agent Buddy Early, Hill, 36, had just been released from a Colorado prison in May 2004 when he and co-defendant Georgianna Troupe Latham, 34, robbed the AmSouth Bank.
The pair fled, with Hill behind the wheel. The car crashed, and Hill ran. Piscatelli cornered Hill, who charged at her. She ordered him to stop but shot him when he refused, authorities have said. She was cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting.
Eldridge said Tuesday that Latham, who is awaiting sentencing, was Hill's crack dealer. Hill, he said, owed Latham money.
"Mr. Hill has a lifelong problem with crack cocaine," Eldridge said. "He's in a strange city. His co-defendant is demanding payment for these drugs."
So, Hill robbed the bank while Latham waited in the car, he said.
Hill apologized for his crime and told Phillips that the shooting caused him to re-evaluate his life.
"I know God gave me this second chance, and he didn't give me this second chance to continue to break the law," he said.
Phillips called Hill "a very intelligent young man" in need of drug treatment.
"I do believe that Mr. Hill has received a wake-up call, and he has paid attention to that wake-up call," the judge said.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_3873103,00.html
oh man, the excuses.......
