Hope Sykes arrested 1/20/2010

[grammieto5]

She pled no contest. No jury, no trial. Judge sentenced her.

Does this mean she is actually going to be in prison for 15 years?

 

[impatientredhead]

Could she appeal? I don't see why not.

Could she appeal on grounds of ineffectual counsel? I haven't seen that this attn. did anything that would warrant an appeal on those grounds.

As a poster pointed out back in the thread she was required to initial the paperwork for her plea. She isn't mentally or intellectually challenged (meaning she doesn't appear to be in a psychotic episode or have too low or an IQ to understand) in such a way that would keep her from saying that she does not understand any part of the process and request that it be explained to her.

Could she appeal her sentence? sure. But IMHO not on the grounds listed above.

IMHO what cooked her goose so to speak was the recorded call. No remorse.

IMHO she got the sentence she deserved and the court is not prosecuting her because of Haleigh. They are prosecuted her and sentenced her for her own actions.

Off Topic:
RC sure hid his face behind his hands when they played that tape (according to picture description) If I edit out the dirty words I can only imagine he was thinking to himself "She cooked her own goose with that one".

I do have thoughts on MC but will take them to the other thread.

She commited the crime as an adult. She has priors. The judge only gave her the mandatory minimum. She needs to count her blessings and get herself together because IIRC another poster said she was facing 30. Minimum sentence, although quite a bit of time, is still the minimum. She got lucky.

ETA: I'm sorry if I might read a bit harsh in wording today. I'm not thinking harsh lol. It's all said within my head calmly. I am taking allergy meds for allergy migraine and it effects how my thoughts come out of my fingers!

The grounds to appeal are almost none.

She could appeal an illegal sentence, which this one clearly fits the state guidelines. Or she could appeal if she can prove she was forced to make the plea which she can't because the judge asked if she was doing this of her own free will and if she understood what she was doing. And lastly you can appeal if you can show that the defendant is mentally incapable of understanding the ramifications of the plea, which she cannot do.

Florida also allows previous no contest pleas to be considered guilty pleas when it comes to sentencing (prior criminal record).

 

[doobiedoo52]

Wow, I'm at work and my handy calculator says @$5 day working 6 days a week, Hope would have that $250,000 fine paid in 160 years. heh

 

[Donjeta]

Well, isn't it a good thing now that RC ain't scared of going to prison?

I predict that anybody with money in their Paytel accounts are going to get increasingly remorseful phonecalls.

 

[debs]

Dear Katrina:

Enabling your child has, in part, landed her where she is. I hope that phone call echoes in your ears when you go to sleep.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

Originally Posted by passionflower
I would love to be a mouse in MC/RC/TC jail cell right now.............

Noooooo Passionflower! Don't do it. Last time one was close to this bunch, it wound up in a mailbox in terrible shape!

:Jumpie: :rolling::rolling::rolling: :Jumpie:

Someone asked about the man in the courtroom with his hands covering his face, Horace something, could that be Hope's boyfriend? On the call with her mother she said she couldn't even find out how her 'old man' is doing. I assumed she meant a boyfriend. At this link:

http://photos.jacksonville.com/myca...88854&CategoryID=57821&picnum=22&move=B#Image

 

[Searchfortruth]

Does Ron have any prior convictions for drugs ?

No convictions, I don't think. All of the charges he had, in the past, for drugs will play into this too, IMO. I am sure that Putnam County has taken a lot of heat over all of his charges going unpunished.

 

[raisincharlie]

Does anyone remember Misty tell her Mum in the videos that she wasn't sure she would get a fair trial but she was hoping for Judge LaRue as he seemed fair ?

Anyone recall that, I'm not sure which video it was but I don't thik I am up to listening to a bunch of them with her silliness to find which one it is. Anyone ?

If I am recalling that correctly, when Misty hears, if she hasn't already, I bet she is gonna need some new undies. Hope she has money on her account or honey buns to trade for some new ones.

 

[legallee]

Wow. That Judge just sent a LOUD AND CLEAR message that he is not messing around with these guys. Usually, a defendant pleads "no contest" to get a reduced sentence. I cannot remember ever hearing of a defendant pleading "no contest" and getting the full sentence.

The most reduced she could get was the 15 years because it's the minimum mandatory not the full sentence. She could have gotten alot more.

 

[nnglas]

Wow, I don't know about this one. I think I would have pled not guilty and waited for the rest of the "Flintstone Mafia" to have there cases completed. I don't know why she was told to pled with no agreed upon sentence. Seems to me that any atty would explain to her that she is not the one the really want, especially because it didn't really appear she had done much wrong. I would have advised to let the situation ride out a bit. She could have pled no contest at any time. I don't know, recorded calls withstanding, Im not sure she got a really fair shake.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I just threw up in my mouth....back to your regularly scheduled programming. Ron was the adult in the relationship and Misty was a child when it began.

She sure looked like the ring leader during the drug bust tapes imo.

imo

 

[stilettos]

She sure looked like the ring leader during the drug bust tapes imo.

imo

I personally believe that was Rc intention and that using his women to do deals was par for the course...among othe things. MOO

 

[impatientredhead]

With her priors, and being caught red-handed on tape, gets her 15 years. With a trial, she'd have 15 years, owe $250,000 fines, and cost the state a whole lot of money for a trial she was going to lose. With or without trial, she was going down.

I honestly think a semi decent attorney could have gotten her in to a pretrial intervention via drug court. They even have a special program for women (I think based on the idea that the majority are mothers and their children benefit from them going to rehab). I double checked the statutes and drug trafficking is not exempt from the program. And she was only facing one count.

Being 18 and knowing all there is to know about the world and what she is and isn't going to do bit her in the BIG TIME.

They also have the following option:

Substantial Assistance – An Alternative to Prison

Another method of avoiding the harsh mandatory prison sanctions mandated by Florida’s Drug Trafficking statutes may be though your cooperation in providing law enforcement “substantial assistance.” Florida Statute Section 893.135(1)(l)(4) provides:


“The state attorney may move the sentencing court to reduce or suspend the sentence of any person who is convicted of a violation of this section and who provides substantial assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any of that person's accomplices, accessories, coconspirators, or principals or of any other person engaged in trafficking in controlled substances.”

This means that if you are facing a drug trafficking charge, the mandatory prison terms called for under Florida law may be waived if you provide substantial assistance to the police in the identification and subsequent arrest of other persons unlawfully dealing in the drug trade. Substantial assistance commonly entails more than just simply providing information to law enforcement. Rather, you will be called upon to work with an undercover police officer, make recorded phone calls, set up and negotiate “controlled buys” and at times even be required to wear a “wire” or concealed recording device

 

[Trident]

If anyone has the time and desire to look up one of the first NG shows after the group were busted for trafficking, one of the lawyers on her panel said Misty would probably be eligible for a youthful offender deal since she was barely 18 and had no prior convictions. Said lawyer, forget who, laid it out quite clearly, then we never heard another word about it. Can't imagine why.

 

[Kat]

I got a call and must run to my child's school. I am signing off.

For those that had a look at the link above for youthful offenders, you can go to home page and search other statutes (IIRC). Great link to save as we are going into trial phase for the drug crimes. JMHO.

IMHO MC is going to pull a KC and take it "to the end of the hall". I'm not saying that MC is as accomplished at lying as KC is---but she appears to be shooting for KC's record.

From the last videos (that i personally viewed) of MC, she made it clear that she is confident she will get youthful offender--do five years and probation after.

With no priors, she may or may not I just don't know.

As for RC, IMHO he's savvy enough about the judicial system (meaning I think he has had enough experience) to start looking for a deal. IIRC wasn't he overhead speaking in court to someone about "working on a deal"? I can't remember the particulars, I'm sorry.

TC--How old is he? Isn't he over 21? Does he convictions of priors (doesn't have to be drug related IMHO).

They are all facing serious jail time IMHO. Serious jail time. As to exactly how long that time is depends on any deals.

FWIW IMHO--the sting may have been set up and the players caught were caught because they freely and willingly put together a drug deal. IMHO LE didn't set these ppl up in order to trap them about Haleigh. These ppl chose to focus on drug consumption and drug deals and drug trafficking while Haleigh is still out there somewhere. Is it beneficial that these players (you don't know how hard I'm biting my tongue here with the word players lol) are safe and secure and will perhaps start flapping their lips to cut deals to LE. In the words of Palin "you betcha!"

 

[oceanblueeyes]

well Tommy and Misty keep saying they not going to do prison.

Does this mean Hope going to the big girl house?

Didnt Ron tell someone he already knew he was going to do at least 25 years for the drug charges?

I think he already knows he is getting a long prison term.

imo

 

[impatientredhead]

Wow, I don't know about this one. I think I would have pled not guilty and waited for the rest of the "Flintstone Mafia" to have there cases completed. I don't know why she was told to pled with no agreed upon sentence. Seems to me that any atty would explain to her that she is not the one the really want, especially because it didn't really appear she had done much wrong. I would have advised to let the situation ride out a bit. She could have pled no contest at any time. I don't know, recorded calls withstanding, Im not sure she got a really fair shake.

I absolutely would not have made the plea.
Make the state prove their case or try to qualify for another program.
With a minimum mandatory sentence in Florida I don't understand what she was doing at all. I don't think the judge even had the option of doing anything other than the 15 plus fines with this particular plea.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I personally believe that was Rc intention and that using his women to do deals was par for the course...among othe things. MOO

She sure seemed very sure of herself.

Seeing her on the drug bust tape really opened my eyes about Misty. Naive she isn't by a long shot.

IMOO

 

[impatientredhead]

Does this mean she is actually going to be in prison for 15 years?

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/timeserv/doing/index.html

She is going to do at least 85% of her sentence or 12.75 years.
Credit for time served, but that is only a few months at this point.

 

[legallee]

she will serve about 85% of her time.

Florida Statutes was amended and provides that a sentence imposed for an offense on or after October 1, 1995 cannot end, terminate or expire prior to the offender having satisfied 85% of the term imposed. In addition, the statute provides that the offender may earn monthly awards of incentive gain-time up to 10 days per month. However, when the inmate's tentative release date becomes equivalent to the 85% minimum service date, the inmate is prohibited from earning further gain-time awards.
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/timeserv/doing/index.html