DALLAS COUNTY JURY DUTY: read from the beginning…
We were half-way into day two of jury duty with still no testimony.
Half-way into day two, I knew way more about my fellow jurors than the Defendant, Jon Paul Goff.
“The Judge is ready for you,” the bailiff announced just as I finished my insanity-saving Zentangle.
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| Jury Duty Zentangle… |
A mind-numbing discussion ensued about jury member purses.
“Can we take our purses?”
“Should we leave our purses?”
“Are you leaving yours?”
“That’s a cute purse.”
“Will the room be locked?”
“What if I need my purse?”
I wanted to whack Lucy with my purse. Overly Eager evidently thought we had been sequestered. She brought enough stuff to live in the deliberation room a week.
“You won’t be in there long,” the bailiff answered. My ears perked. Why? Because the case had settled or because we would be breaking for lunch in ten minutes?
I carried my purse.
All rise.
The Defendant’s chair was noticeably empty.
The attorneys on both sides looked drained.
The Judge announced the Defendant had pled guilty.
I was not surprised. The Defendant had observed enough of the crazy twelve to forego a jury trial and take his chances with the Judge. The Judge sentenced him to eighteen years in the state penitentiary. Eighteen years was sobering.
Back in the deliberation room jurors gathered purses and uneaten lunches. Lucy consoled Overly Eager who collapsed in her chair near tears at being gypped of her week-long trial.
“What you didn’t know,” the bailiff said,” is that the Defendant skipped out on his bail and was on the run for two years. That’s why it took so long to get him to trial.”
Lucy gasped with hand over pie hole.
I was free.
The defendant was not.
I drove home thinking about how someone chooses such a destructive life path? I drove home thankful for my family and upbringing and sense. I drove straight home and googled Jon Paul Goff.
Up popped his BLOG… The Dopeman’s Bible.
The man was a blogger. He blogged while he was a fugitive.
For all of cyberspace to see, he ranted about his crime and gang member friends. He rejoiced about rehab and recovery. He regretted the loss of family relationships, including his young daughter.
I hope he finds peace.
talya
p.s. The link to his blog is: The Dopeman’s Bible. (contains language…)
