Hope Sykes arrested 1/20/2010

[trusttheping]

Wow, the courts are not messing around. Is she Ronald's cousin? Why
do you think he was there? As a character witness? That doesn't make much sense as he is in for drug charges. Was he to testify against her?
So confused:waitasec: Wasn't a family tree posted a long time ago of who is who? Please direct me as I am losing track of the players:blushing:

 

[Dr.Fessel]

Cummings' Relative Sentenced In Drug Case
Hope Sykes Gets 15 Years In Prison On Drug Trafficking Charge

"Snip" http://www.news4jax.com/news/23277023/detail.html
UPDATED: 11:42 am EDT April 27, 2010


PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- Hope Sykes received a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison after pleading no contest to a drug trafficking charge. She also faces $250,000 in fines.

Sykes was among 5 people, including Ronald and Misty , Hank Croslin Jr., and Donna Brock, arrested in January on the drug charges.

If convicted, Ronald and Misty Cummings could receive a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison. Hank Croslin, if convicted, could face a minimum sentence of three to 15 years in prison.



Investigators said, that Haleigh is likely dead, the investigation has gone from a missing persons case to a homicide investigation.

Investigators searched a St. Johns River boat ramp and found two cinder blocks, according to sources. They are waiting for the forensic evidence to be processed. Hank Croslin's attorney said it was Croslin's tip that led investigators to search the river. Misty Cummings was also seen at the dock being questioned.

BBM

I have seen this reported before, shouldn't it read for each count they can be sentenced to 25 years minimum?

 

[Sailor Bug]

A plea of "No contest" means she is not fighting the charges, therefore, no trial was necessary. Fifteen years is her sentence. In my opinion, that's what all criminals should do, except I think they should be honest and say, "guilty".

I hoping Hope's sentencing makes the others realize they're in trouble. Although, I suppose it's better to be in prison for drugs than it is to be there for taking part in a child's murder/coverup.

my bold above

WOW!!! 15 yrs...There are cases where murderers get less time than 15 years.
I wish the courts would treat sexual predators and murderers as harshly as drug trafficking.

I am shocked at the sentence as she played a minor role in the trafficking.

 

[Indiana at Heart]

my bold above

wow!!! 15 yrs...there are cases where murderers get less time than 15 years.
i wish the courts would treat sexual predators and murderers as harshly as drug trafficking.

i am shocked at the sentence as she played a minor role in the trafficking.

bbm amen...........

 

[raisincharlie]

Wow, the courts are not messing around. Is she Ronald's cousin? Why
do you think he was there? As a character witness? That doesn't make much sense as he is in for drug charges. Was he to testify against her?
So confused:waitasec: Wasn't a family tree posted a long time ago of who is who? Please direct me as I am losing track of the players:blushing:

Hope is Ronald's cousin. The docket and the news reports say Ron was there as a character witness, but he was not called to testify on her behalf.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

This one talks about RC:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/...Cummings-cousin-gets-15-years-for-trafficking

Ronald Cummings, her cousin, was on the witness list and was in the courtroom on Tuesday. But he was not called to testify.

So, she got 15 years. WOW - think they are sending their message? She was only charged with ONE count! And RC got to witness the whole thang.

Thanks for the link. I'm thinking after this girl's family gave their statements, the judge saw her video speaking the way she did, he didn't have need for her jailbird cousin to speak on her behalf. Who would believe him?

Definitely sending a message.

 

[grandmaj]

WOW take note Misty. This is what your future holds! I never believed it would be that long but the attitude bit her in the back side. Think of all of the phone calls. Yikes..

I gotta said I am shocked.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

my bold above

WOW!!! 15 yrs...There are cases where murderers get less time than 15 years.
I wish the courts would treat sexual predators and murderers as harshly as drug trafficking.

I am shocked at the sentence as she played a miner role in the trafficking.

I think the courts in FL have realized if you sell these kind of drugs there is not much difference in being a murderer. It is a plague right now with people dying everyday from them.

 

[MADJGNLAW]

Wow, the courts are not messing around. Is she Ronald's cousin? (Yes) Why do you think he was there? ( As a character witness? That doesn't make much sense as he is in for drug charges. Was he to testify against her? (No, to speak on her behalf to tell the judge what a great person he feels she is. But, for some reason he did not speak.)
So confused:waitasec: Wasn't a family tree posted a long time ago of who is who? (Yes) Please direct me as I am losing track of the players http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79688 :blushing:

BBM: Link for Haleigh Cummings Timeline and Player Information Haleigh Cummings Timeline and Player Information - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[essies]

Wow-I wouldn't of recognized RC if he wasn't identified in the pictures-and he's only been there what -90 days?:waitasec:
Who is Horace Gibbs that's pictured? A Cummings relation?
http://photos.jacksonville.com/myca...88854&CategoryID=57821&picnum=22&move=B#Image

 

[Searchfortruth]

BBM

I have seen this reported before, shouldn't it read for each count they can be sentenced to 25 years minimum?

It will be multiple counts, but I believe they are referring to her being given concurrent sentences. If the judge sentences her that way she will get a 25 year sentence, were it to be consecutive she would serve the total of all the charges convicted on.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

Do they ever ask for a character witness for a character witness?

:rolling:

Good one!

 

[Jax49]

above it says she plead no contest.....how come the court docket says entered a plea of not guilty?

The original please of not quilty was changed to no contest.


2010-03-31 34 W/D FORMER PLEA, PLEAD NOLO A/C TO THE OFFENSE OF

2010-03-31 34 TRAFFICKING IN HYDROCODONE 14-28 GRAMS

2010-03-31 34 ADVISED OF MAX PENALTY 30 YRS DOC &/OR $15,000 FINE

2010-03-31 34 PLEA ACCEPTED, PSI WAIVED, SENTENCING SET 04/27/2010

 

[Emma Peel]

Hope is Ronald's cousin. The docket and the news reports say Ron was there as a character witness, but he was not called to testify on her behalf.

Ah, well, that explains why she only got the minimum. I was a little worried for her with Ron as a character witness...:croc:

Any chance she'd have fared better @ jury trial? (Given evidence was sort irrefutable?) I only ask as I have no idea...:waitasec:

 

[MADJGNLAW]

WOW take note Misty. This is what your future holds! I never believed it would be that long but the attitude bit her in the back side. Think of all of the phone calls. Yikes..

I gotta said I am shocked.

Yes indeed, Misty better take note! It is reported that news4jax will have more video/audio of Misty and Tommy tomorrow. Her words will be used against her as they were against Hope I would assume. No remorse for the drugs or Haleigh in Misty's case.

In this video report they talk about more video/audio released. It is confusing though because they start out reporting about the hearing in March and end with Hope being in court today. So not sure if they are referring to audio/video from last month or if this is new video/audio that will be released tomorrow.
Video Report: http://www.news4jax.com/video/23018272/index.html

 

[Kimster]

BBM: Link for Haleigh Cummings Timeline and Player Information Haleigh Cummings Timeline and Player Information - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

Here's a more updated list that is kept in the private forum: Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[daisy7]

The sentencing guidelines worksheet is used to compute the subtotal and total sentence points as follows:

FLORIDA SENTENCING GUIDELINES WORKSHEET

Drug trafficking: If the primary offense is drug trafficking under s. 893.135, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied, at the discretion of the court, for a level 7 or level 8 offense, by 1.5. The state attorney may move the sentencing court to reduce or suspend the sentence of a person convicted of a level 7 or level 8 offense, if the offender provides substantial assistance as described in s. 893.135(4).

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...&Title=->2008->Ch0921->Section 0014#0921.0014

 

[oceanwatch]

This thread has taken me from thinking Ron is innocent of anything to do with his daughter's death and/or coverup right to thinking he knows damn well what happened to her. BOTH his and Misty's families have doomed themselves to this tragedy. Something like Haleigh's death was bound to happen sooner or later.

These women do idolize him. The x's on the forehead wouldn't surprise me at this point.

 

[LoveEndsWar]

A plea of "No contest" means she is not fighting the charges, therefore, no trial was necessary. Fifteen years is her sentence. In my opinion, that's what all criminals should do, except I think they should be honest and say, "guilty".

I hoping Hope's sentencing makes the others realize they're in trouble. Although, I suppose it's better to be in prison for drugs than it is to be there for taking part in a child's murder/coverup.

This is the way I understood it also, basically no contest means "hey I know you have enough evidence (the videos) but I wont exactly say I am guilty...just that I know you have enough to find me guilty."

I admit that I expected it to be bad- I never even listened to her call but I read the thread with all the gasps so I can imagine her attitude.
I hope Hope is reflecting on the manners she was taught to use -if and I hope that she was taught...
My opinion is that you are never too young to just be polite, and her rebellion I think is mostly the reason for her sentence, not even the pills so much.
I hope that she doesn't dare to say it has anything to do with Haleigh, because this is all completely Hope choosing her own fate by being foul.
I think the judge made a good call and hope that Misty gets her wake up call, as she has been pretty rebellious and foul herself.
Hope is a crazy fool to think she could say disrespectful things and the judge not hear them!
She is definitely not looking like a hard gangsta in those new pics- I hope she apologized, it may very well help her to start using her manners, it never too late to START. I am not judging her, its just observing and trying to offer something to help that situation.
If you don't have anything nice to say well.. everyone knows!

 

[tfrohning]

Thanks for the updates....My mouth drop....shocked.

I didn't really think she would get that much time. But it does seem like the court has gave her passes before.

I lost counts how many time this girl was in booking.

I guess she not talking about Haleigh.....because that no plea deal.. if it is not a good one.