A former California state senator sentenced to 90 days in jail reportedly left after just one hour on Friday because the place was too crowded.
Ex-Sen. Rod Wright (D), convicted of eight felony counts including perjury and voter fraud, turned himself at a Los Angeles jail but was informed it was too crowded to accommodate him, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The former lawmaker showed up at about 9:30 p.m. and was released by 10:41 p.m., according to the Sacramento Bee.
In September, a jury found Wright had tried to disguise his true residence in an effort to qualify for a run for office. He resigned his office shortly after the sentencing, the paper reported.
Wright reportedly completed his paperwork before he was allowed to leave the jail.
It was unclear whether Wright would have to return to jail at a later date.
h/t Huffpo
They should have released all the pot smokers first, there would have been plenty of room.
Ok, so do we let out someone who committed assault just because we want to keep this idiot in jail?
He lost his job, he should be bared from office, but in California we have too many people in jail for non-violent crimes in the first place.
We COULD build more jails and prisons- and in no way should anyone think I want to let rich people or powerful people escape punishment for things- we just need to stop thinking that Jail is the answer to every crime, rich or poor.
Fines, community service, disbarment, and shame are more effective tools than jail, and cost a bunch less.
If we don’t lock him up in a metal cage, he’ll be free to roam the streets, faking his address everywhere he goes! Oh the horror!
The real question is why he was sentenced for 90 days to begin with. Did he have prior convictions or something? More likely, he couldn’t afford a better lawyer.
He was guilty of 8 felonies.
Each of which has a penalty of at least one year.
So 90 days is already very lenient.
To reduce that to one hour is absurdly corrupt.