Update on Cedric Benson

Posted on October 13, 2008 by Matthew Skillern

Oftentimes the media jumps on a story of a celebrity being arrested.  You see it on looping coverage and on the constant ticker on the bottom of the screen.  Then, when the case shakes out, you here one little blurb about it.  I don't want to be guilty of the same thing so I wanted to blog on the Cedric Benson DWI cases.

Cedric Benson was arrested on two separate occasions in 2008.  One arrest was May 3, 2008 and the other arrest was June 7, 2008.  The Chicago Tribune had a greater interest than most media outlets because Benson played for the Chicago Bears.  The Tribune was even able to get a photo of the pre-arrest activities.

Let's look at what all of these arrests cost Benson before it was decided whether these charges had any merit whatsoever.  First, he was pepper-sprayed.  He had to put up somewhere between $10,000 to $14,000  to bond out according to some sources.  The Chicago Bears FIRED him.  He had to hire high-powered attorney, Sam Bassett, which I am guessing was very expensive. The judge forced Benson to place an embarrassing ignition interlock on his car.  His reputation took a major ding and the chance of this guy ever getting the benefit of the doubt again is zero.

So what happened?  Two separate Travis County no-billed both DWI cases. (and the resisting).  These officers did not even perform field sobriety tests on the first arrest!!  According to the Seattle Times, Benson's second arrest, even the County Attorney David Escamillia said Benson appears very well.

WOW.  Much ado about nothing.  One question for Escamillia is why send it to the Grand Jury if you had problems with both cases?  You have prosecutorial discretion to REJECT those cases without a grand jury.

A prosecutor going to the grand jury on a misdemeanor usually means one thing.  The prosecutor is letting the grand jury do the dirty work or in this case the "right thing."  I am sure the masses would have screamed favoritism if Escamillia would have done it.

Luckily, Benson is back in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Brazoria County Judge James Blackstock

Posted on August 13, 2008 by Matthew Skillern

The Houston Chronicle reports that Judge James Blackstock has been charged with 14 counts of official oppression.  The charges center around soon to be former Judge Blackstock condcuting himself in a lewd manner with 3 female county employees.  No details have been released as to the age, marital status, or length of employment of these employees.

Some of the conduct includes touching these women's breast and buttocks.  Obviously these were not consensual encounters or the DA's office would not know about them.  Shockingly but not surprising, the old county computer system was used to send emails and photos.  I bet Wayne Dolcefinio or however you spell that guy's name is scurrying down there with a Public Information Request.  We should have those emails before supper.  It is shocking that number one the Judge felt comfortable to give such concrete evidence against himself by sending an email but number two, he felt bullet-proof enough to do it on the Tax Payer's Computer.  Awesome.

I am impressed that Brazoria County Distrcit Attorney Jerri Yenne did not just sweep this under the rug.  At the same time, Jerri Yenne will be closely scrutinized by everyone to determine if Blackstock is treated like all other criminal defendants.  His case is listed on the Brazoria County web site like everyone else, but where is his mugshot?  Usually, there is a bond amount.  Maybe, the judge has not turned himself in yet.  I am curious to see if the Judge will be allowed to appear on a summons.

I am not sure the last time Blackstock was on the bench.  Was it this morning?  I have been in front of Judge Blackstock a time or two.  Like many judges, he gave off the "holier than thou, how can you be so stupid Mr. or Mrs. citizen."  Now he is Mr. Citizen accused of doing something stupid.  This case should remind all ADA's and Judges that we are all human and at times we all do incredibly stupid things.

Should he receive compassion?  That is up to a judge/jury!

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