2010.08.06 - Tommy gets 15 years!

[Kathy1964]

I thought Lisa and Hank, Sr. were in jail! You mean somebody paid their bail? (I haven't kept up with this since the Kyron Horman case became a case and only heard on HLN that Tommy was sentenced today.)

They are both still in jail. They must have let them out for the Tommy's sentencing. Hank did speak on Tommy's behalf (as did Lindsy)

 

[dodie20]

Here:

http://gsstage.ny.atl.publicus.com/...-s-brother-gets-15-years-for-drug-trafficking

What a pitiful story. His defenders were his dad, who's in his own drug trouble, & the woman who just divorced him. I doubt they helped much. I wonder why Timmy didn't come down & show some love? & Werter brought up Tommy's 'Haleigh 'cooperation'. He actually went there. ughh...but, I do feel for Lindsey. the magnitude of the waste, has hit her, I'm sure.

 

[dodie20]

While I agree that TomC is no angel, I feel this sentence of 20 years is WAY too high.
Obviously the judge is not taking into consideration the needs of L & TomC's children - the end result (sentencing) should be drug treatment, probation, the minimum of 3 yrs. for trafficing, and add on another year for the drug possession @ the bus stop. (4 years is plenty of time for him to "grow up," get treatment, and be rehabilitated!)
Geez, his daughter (especially) will never know her father - If L does not re-marry, society will be supporting another family for the next 17 years. His children are going to have resentment issues and who knows the negative impact this may create in their lives.
How can FDLE claim he is an experienced drug dealer when he has no such charges on his criminal record? The comment about withholding information in the HaLeigh case is also way out of line here too - TomC is not on trial for a missing child! He has not been charged with anything in HaLeigh's case and any statements regarding his involvement were just plain wrong!
Sorry to say; I think this stiff sentence just closed any doors of opportunity for LE to learn any additional information from TomC (possibly a major set-back in locating this child).
I sure as heck hope his innocent children do not have to suffer because LE is gambling on the results of this sentence to further their cause.
just my opinion, for whatever it is worth ...

Note: I, too, want HaLeigh's case solved. I just don't think TomC is involved.

I understand your frustration, but I think Tommy opened the door on the Haleigh case, today, & I find it shameful that he tried to use her, to get a lighter sentence. If he wasn't involved, as you think, he had no business sending LE on a wild goose chase. That alone warrants the 15 years, IMO. Now, if it winds up that he was honest & forthcoming about the whole sordid mess, I'm sure that will be taken into consideration, at a later date. But if he lied, he doesn't deserve leniency. & it's just my opinion, but Tommy had his chance to be a father, & he failed miserably. He blew it, & I think those kids are better off without him hanging around & destroying their lives. That's sad, but I don't see that he cares about them.

 

[Meagain]

Well, his life is over.

Yet child sex offenders get out after a couple years? Oh yes, makes sense eh?

 

[loving mom of 2]

While I agree that TomC is no angel, I feel this sentence of 20 years is WAY too high.
Obviously the judge is not taking into consideration the needs of L & TomC's children - the end result (sentencing) should be drug treatment, probation, the minimum of 3 yrs. for trafficing, and add on another year for the drug possession @ the bus stop. (4 years is plenty of time for him to "grow up," get treatment, and be rehabilitated!)
Geez, his daughter (especially) will never know her father - If L does not re-marry, society will be supporting another family for the next 17 years. His children are going to have resentment issues and who knows the negative impact this may create in their lives.
How can FDLE claim he is an experienced drug dealer when he has no such charges on his criminal record? The comment about withholding information in the HaLeigh case is also way out of line here too - TomC is not on trial for a missing child! He has not been charged with anything in HaLeigh's case and any statements regarding his involvement were just plain wrong!
Sorry to say; I think this stiff sentence just closed any doors of opportunity for LE to learn any additional information from TomC (possibly a major set-back in locating this child).
I sure as heck hope his innocent children do not have to suffer because LE is gambling on the results of this sentence to further their cause.
just my opinion, for whatever it is worth ...

Note: I, too, want HaLeigh's case solved. I just don't think TomC is involved.

ITA with all you have said it is worth more then a thanks. I feel that the drugs should be the only thing he was sentenced to. Not well he is not helping with the case on Haleigh so lets just lock him up more then any other person who has done worse. This is a family who is addicted to drugs and I really think that all the covering they are doing for each other is over the drugs and not Haleigh. Now we have 3 very young children who has a very high chance of becoming drug addicts themself. It has been proven that most children who grow up with a parent in prison end up right there next to them in prison. Its a very sad world that we live in and by the time our grandchildren are having their own kids, there will never be carefree days out in the sun playing in the yard because nobody will leave the inside of their house for fear of the way the world is.

 

[MADJGNLAW]

I still only see one trafficking charge and it was minor..4 gms. That is a 3 yr minimum. the judge did not like what tommy had to say about the Haleigh Case.

An experienced drug dealer..I don't think so. You may have to look to Ron Cummings for experience. According to this sentencing Ron should get 50 years :behindbar

As far as tn and her mother being there for Haliegh....Puhleeeze! They were there to get camera time to talk about Haleigh and gather support for their Ronald...GMAB!
:banghead:

I agree...Tommy did get a stiff sentence and IMO his lawyer did him no justice IMO. It's like they say, you get what you pay for. And, it all depends on who you know. Seems Tommy has no connections in PC, and well he had no money for a good lawyer. I agree he must do time for any and all crimes, but this sentence to me is is not justice.

How will this help bring Haleigh back? How will this help LE find her? IMO it will not and I will keep MOO to myself for now, don't want a T/O. My heart breaks for Lindsy & her children, she is so heart broken and probably because of her children. They will not know their father and he will not have time to rehabilitate in jail, nor will he be able to help support his children. Another bill for the state of FL..Sad....Sad...Sad...Sad.

I was really hoping that Tommy had given LE some good info on Haleigh and he could of gotten 3 yrs I would not of cared, but what if all he told is all he knows? We really don't know what he does or does not know or what he has told. This case is so frustrating. I guess I am just frustrated that RSO can walk the streets but someone with a drug problem that has children to support gets locked up for 15yrs. I don't see the justice in this. I know most want someone to pay for Haleigh demise, but in my heart I really don't feel like Tommy is to blame and feel if he is holding something back it's because he and Misty are scared to death of Ronald and fear Ron's connections will get to their family. Just what I feel right now.
Bottom line, much sadness that Haleigh is not found and LE is no closer to solving this case IMO. :cow: :truce:

On another note, where the heck has GGMS or the Cummings been looking for Haleigh? :furious:

Hank Croslin Jr. Sentenced To 15 Years


POSTED: Friday, August 6, 2010
"Snip" http://www.news4jax.com/news/24534837/detail.html

Croslin's ex-wife and his father, Hank Croslin Sr., all testified . His father painted a picture of his son growing up with drug-addicted parents and soon succumbing to drug addiction himself.


"I started off smoking marijuana when I was about 12 years old," Croslin Jr. said.

Haleigh's family was in court hoping something would be mentioned about the missing girl's case. While her name was mentioned, not many details were divulged.

Annette Sykes said she was in attendance wishing to hear something about her great-granddaughter.


"Our only concern is Haleigh. We just keep hoping that something will come out about her," Sykes said. "I hope. I really do. That's how we've done it. Our faith and our hope and our prayers."


"We want everybody to realize that child is still alive, and we want them to help us keep looking for her," Sykes said. "Nothing would make us happier than to have our baby with us, any happier than for somebody to bring our baby home. That's all we want."


Haleigh's family said a vigil will be held for her on Tuesday, signifying 18 months since she disappeared. The family said it will have a balloon release for Haleigh on her birthday, Aug. 17

 

[dodie20]

what is roxicodone? I've never heard of that.

 

[nas212913]

WoooooooooooooooooooW!.

I can't offer much else to say. I'm shocked.

 

[TrialAddict]

"Annette Sykes said she was in attendance wishing to hear something about her great-granddaughter."

I have some ocean front property for sale in, AZ too

 

[dodie20]

"Annette Sykes said she was in attendance wishing to hear something about her great-granddaughter."

I have some ocean front property for sale in, AZ too

I don't know if Annette Sykes was sincere or not, but after Tommy claimed to have been an eyewitness to Haleigh's murder , I, would've been there too.

 

[Dr. Know?]

Hope this isn't a duplicate, pictures from the courtroom.

http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1053624&CategoryID=9088

 

[krkrjx]

It's hard not to feel sympathy for someone when they are down, IMO. At times I feel great sadness for both Tommy and Misty. But the reality is that they put themselves in the mess they are in. Haleigh did not have the options in life that these people had, and whenever I get down feeling sorry for TC and MC I think about Haleigh, and then all my sympathy is for her. I really am not convinced Tommy was involved in Haleigh's demise, but I cannot forgive him for his lies that put searchers at risk, culminating in nothing more than a huge expense to the taxpayers. For this, I am not unhappy that Tommy got 15 years.

There are rumblings about the mandatory sentencing laws changing on a national level. I feel this change has been a long time coming for lower-level (non-violent) drug offenders. I do feel this country should have laws mandating sentences for child abusers and sex offenders, because such offenders put a lot of citizens in harm's way with the horrifyingly light sentences they get. Drug offenders can change; rapists and pedophiles almost never do.

If laws are changed regarding mandatory minimums for drug trafficking, the changes could be retroactive. Meaning, low-level traffickers incarcerated now could have their sentences commuted. For now, though,Tommy and the crew will have to serve at least 85% of their full sentence before being considered for release.

I would not mind seeing Hope given a bit of a break on appeal. If they would put her in a boot camp instead for maybe 6 years or so, she might learn from the experience. She may fail, and if she does she would have to serve her full sentence, but I would like to see her at least have a chance.

I want Ron and Misty put away for 25 years, minimum. Their charges warrant at least that considering the mandatory laws.

 

[Native Pride]

Hope this isn't a duplicate, pictures from the courtroom.

http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1053624&CategoryID=9088

i found this picture interesting....Private investigator for former FBI agent, Steven Brown(L) testifies for the defense during the sentencing phase for Hank Croslin Jr.

wonder what he had to say !!!!

 

[mysticrose]

Wow ! I am speechless ...

 

[Gwen]

I am conflicted about this sentence. On one hand, I think drugs charges should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. However, on the other, I see the rap sheet of alot of the players and others in PC with much longer sheets and more serious charges that have just walked, been put on probation, or had their cases dismissed. I don't see what putting Tommy away for this long is going to accomplish. It certainly isn't going to satisfy me as far as Haleigh's case.
I hope I am not too far off topic here when I say this. They gave a young father all this time in a state prision at the taxpayers expense when the doctors right in their county and vicinity are doing nothing more than flaming the fires of drug abuse in this community. Heck! I am in East Kentucky and these same doctors are destroying lives here. Half the community here is driving to FL once a month for a ton of meds that are brought back here and sold on the streets!
IF PCSO and the FDLE wants to prove to me and the world that they are gonna be hard on drugs..........do something about the "pill mills" and not just shut them down. Arrest and prosecute the doctors who are making a living destroying lives!

IF TC had one thing to do with Haleighs's demise...........convict him for that. I just don't believe he knows anything or he would have told to get out and back to his family. I have read that TC isn't really smart even. Cobra said somethings about him not being 'too bright'. He is basically a lamb on the alter today.
Also, if I were TC I would appeal on grounds of not 'inadequate" counsel..........but on grounds of "NO counsel.
Forgive me if I offend anyone. I know we all want Haleigh to have justice. I just feel there are 3 other children who are still with us who MAY have been dealt injustice today. He may not be a great father.........but he is their father. I think he should have been given the benefit of the courts authority to rehabilitate him and a lighter sentence.
I don't mean to be harsh.........but if PC has proof that TC caused/participated/or harmed Haleigh Cummings then they need to charge him, convict him, and send him to whatever prision or fate the court and a jury of his peers deem appropriate. I don't think anyone wants to see him persecuted for a crime he didn't commit and this is what happened today. The message PC sent to the public today is simply a miscarriage of justice. He was sentenced harshly because of the Haleigh case. That should have had NO bearing.

I wanna know what an 'average joe' in PC would have gotten on those charges. Further, if this is the standard of justice in PC. I see Ron and Misty gone for most of their lives.

Sorry for the rant and again, I aplogize if I offend. I wanna see Haleigh found too. Bless her heart and all those innocents that have been mistreated.

 

[MADJGNLAW]

So the judge feels that Tommy is a drug dealer because he was dealing drugs during a missing child investigation. The media reports that the Judge says Haleigh Cummings case not an influence, which is it? I sure Hope he feels the same way about Ronald and Misty.

Hank Jr. (Tommy) Croslin Jr. sentenced to 15 years
The pills weighed 5.1 grams.
Judge says Haleigh Cummings case not an influence
Posted: August 6, 2010

"snip" http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2010-08-06/story/tommy-croslin-jr-sentenced-15-years

Photos by Don Burk: http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1053624&CategoryID=9088&ListSubAlbums=0

By Dana Treen

PALATKA — Croslin's parents, jailed on separate drug charges and his ex-wife testified for him during the two-hour hearing.




The family has been closely tied to the Haleigh Cummings case. Circuit Judge LaRue said Croslin's offer to help detectives solve the mystery of her disappearance carried little weight in his decision.



LaRue said that The only connection was that Hank Jr. continued to deal drugs as an intense invesigation was going on to solve Haleigh's disappearance.



"Mr. Coslin is a drug dealer, pure and simple," LaRue said before imposing the sentence.


Attorney, James Werter, was seeking a 3-5 yr sentance, prosecution asked for 30 yrs.



Croslin Jr. will turned 24 this week, he told the judge he has been involved with drugs since he was 12 and became addicted to pills after moving to PC.


Hope Sykes, sentenced in April to 15 years in prison.
Misty Croslin faces 7 counts of trafficking in Putnam Co., her last chance to make a plea deal in those cases Aug. 16.
Misty faces trial in the eighth case in St. Johns and has an Aug. 23 court date there.
Brock, pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 1.
Ronald Cummings is negotiating a deal to drop two of five trafficking charges against him and will likely get 15 years. His court date is Aug. 20, three days after Haleigh's seventh birthday.

 

[Gwen]

So the judge feels that Tommy is a drug dealer because he was dealing drugs during a missing child investigation. The media reports that the Judge says Haleigh Cummings case not an influence, which is it? I sure Hope he feels the same way about Ronald and Misty.

If the sentence had to do with 'selling' during an investigation then Ron and Misty both need to "git their shirttails full o' taters fer roastin'" cause this judge will burn them at the stake!

 

[Searchfortruth]

I believe in this article it says that Lisa didn't testify for her son, although there is a picture of her sitting down, in court. Picture below...

http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=30900014&event=1053624&CategoryID=9088

From link above

"The court heard from witnesses including his father, Hank Croslin Sr. who is himself facing drug charges, and his ex-wife Lindsy Collins, along with others. His mother, Lisa Croslin, also in jail for drug charges was also present, although not called as a witness."

 

[atherella]

I don't know if Annette Sykes was sincere or not, but after Tommy claimed to have been an eyewitness to Haleigh's murder , I, would've been there too.

Many of HaLeigh's family members were there.

Marie, Marty/Johnny, Connie, Annette and Teresa.

If I were one of HaLeigh's family members, I'd have been there also after Tommy placed himself at the scene, and also has given (several) different stories about what (allegedly) happened that night. I'd have been surprised if they didn't all show up.

 

[Whisperer]

The 15 years is for trafficing hydrocodone 4-14 gms

The 5 years is an agreed upon sentence (he pled nolo on 6-3) for the charges of controlled substance posession and drug paraphenalia (the school bus stop incident). This also had a possible agreed to $5,000 fine

I understood it to be:

4gm to 14 gms = 3 yrs
14 to 28 is 15 yrs
over 28 is 25 yrs.