Hope Sykes arrested 1/20/2010

[Zoe Bogart]

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.

It didn't matter about "an agreed upon sentence". She get the MINIMUM sentence. Nothing would have saved her. She got minimum.

Florida is cracking down hard on drug trafficking. If anything, she may have gotten a reduced fine.

 

[Helplessly Hoping]

Theoretically, the judge isn't supposed to consider Haleigh's disappearance in the drug charges--but the defense, Shoey or Fields or Werter, could use emotional distress as part of their defense, right? NOT saying I would buy it myself but if there are no pleas or arrests relating to Haleigh prior to these hearings, could get mighty interesting. IMO.

 

[LaLaw2000]

These are state charges and Florida is an 85% minimum state for time served. I will have to go back to see how many grams Misty and Ron are charged with having. One amount is a 15 year minimum and the other is a 25 year minimum.

Thanks, impatientredhead. I could not see where it was stated whether it was State or Federal. I certainly would have thought it would have been Federal.

I am going to stick with Misty getting 30 years combined on all charges, Ronald getting at least 25 years combined on all charges, and with Tommy and Donna each getting 15 years.

JMO

 

[Muffet]

I don't see Misty as either naive or the ring leader.

It seems true ring leaders of drug deals usually sit back and let the underlings in the ring do the most risky dirty work.

I think she had fun at it both because she was doing it with Ron, whom she "still loves," and she had too little conscience to mitigate her enjoyment of the criminal games they were playing for drugs and money.

She probably was also arrogant enough to think she could get off like Ron had so many times before. It wouldn't surprise me if he had told her that she'd be safer out there than he would, because of his record and her lack of one.

Either way, I don't see a judge considering her a youthful offender.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I'm just trying to catch up here but I must say, I had no idea Hope would get 15 years.

Drug charges pretty much always carry more jail time than abuse against children. Sad.

I'm dumbfounded and a little shocked.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

PALATKA - Hope Sykes - a 19-year-old cousin of Ronald Cummings, the father of missing Putnam County girl Haleigh Cummings - was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison after earlier pleading no contest to one count of trafficking in narcotics.




Circuit Judge Terry Larue sentenced her to the minimum mandatory sentence for the crime.

At the hearing in Palatka Tuesday morning, Sykes had sought to be sentenced to probation and drug therapy as a youthful offender. She told the judge she wanted to get a GED, go to college and become a physical therapist.
"I let drugs control my life," Sykes said. "I let my family down. I know I messed up. I want help. I don't want to live this life no more."

Friends and relatives asked for leniency, saying that Sykes had learned her lesson and that she had just gotten caught up in drugs.
http://www.gainesville.com/article/...Cummings-cousin-gets-15-years-for-trafficking

.................................................................................

I wish some reporter would say who testified for her. I know TN was supposed to.

 

[nnglas]

ITA Madj, on that phone call, Hope sounded the least able of this group to understand what was going on with these charges. But her priors and attitude are what burned her IMO.

Yep, I agree. Also, her mother wanted Hope to call because she didn't think Hope understood what happened. Its seems to be that the lawyer may not have told Hope or her mother "worst case scenarios". Neither one of them mentioned getting 15 years. The mother also seemed a bit confused about the no contest plea.

 

[Jetaime]

Maybe it's just me. I remember when the call was released how Hope sounded as if she didn't understand why her lawyer plead no-contest
and here we are today, she is facing 15yrs. I wonder if she will appeal and get new counsel? Yes, she may of signed documents stating she understood but what did she understand is the question? What did her attorney lead her to believe or what state of mind was she in when she was explained what no-contest meant? I agree, she should be punished for her crime. But when I see at all the monsters that kill and get 5-10yrs or the sex offenders who get a few years or probation, well it just makes me feel that our justice system is so corrupt. Not that I am defending Hope. Just saying, if they are going to give a dope head 15 yrs, they need to give killers and Sex Offenders worst sentences.

CBM: ITA! From what I've seen, Hope was just along for the ride in this bust. I get that she had priors, but IMO, this was extremely harsh. If they suspect she knows something about Haleigh, then 15 years isn't enough. Unfortunately, I knew a man who admitted to sexually abusing his daughter. His daughter was removed from the home, but the father didn't spend a day in jail- because.....the abuse took place in another state. It's just sickening. If this is just a matter of cracking down on drug trafficking in FL, I hope they begin imposing stiffer penalties in child/human trafficking, too.

 

[Pensfan]

She is lucky. When she gets out she will still be young enough to have a family and a career if that's the path she chooses.

Bolded by me-God forbid.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

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.
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I hate to keep harping on tapes, but they have her own words on tape. She says quite clearly she did not want to go into one of those programs. This little gal ruined her own life.

If she had been remorseful, left the attitude at the jailhouse door, and not have been belligerent to her mother and probably others, there would have been no need to play that tape in court. Since she was vile on that tape, it went against her. We can't blame the attorney, the judge, or the system.

 

[EGirl]

Thanks, impatientredhead. I could not see where it was stated whether it was State or Federal. I certainly would have thought it would have been Federal.

I am going to stick with Misty getting 30 years combined on all charges, Ronald getting at least 25 years combined on all charges, and with Tommy and Donna each getting 15 years.

JMO

The bust Tommy was caught in was fewer pills. The minimum for his charge is 3 years I think. I don't think he will do near the time the others are going to do.

3-5 IMO

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I can already hear Misty pooh-poohing her sentence the same way that she reacted to her parting with Ron: "It's just a divorce." Oh! The Scarlett O'Hara of it all! "After all, tomorrow is...another day!" It's just a jail sentence. Dream on, Misty.

 

[LaLaw2000]

What does PSI stand for?...TIA

Ger, I do not know if this has been answered for you because I have not caught up yet.

PSI = Pre-Sentencing Investigation

 

[impatientredhead]

If I have the details correct they were arrested in January.
She does the no contest plea in April.
She has legal counsel.
The judge asked her about her job, her education, her access to counsel among other questions. Tells her what the sentence could be. And then she pleas no contest.

She has no legal standing that I can see to withdraw her plea.
Never hurts to try, but in Florida it appears that that is only usually successful in cases where the accused pleas no contest at their very first hearing, the day after arrest, and the one where they do not have an attorney with them. That is the hearing where you say that you need a public defender. If the plea is entered then it can be withdrawn.

But months afterwards, with counsel, and with a judge that spoke to her to evaluate her understanding/access/intelligence and forewarns of the possible consequence.... she is screwed. IMO

In her own call to her mother they discuss the attorney reviewing evidence with her and telling her she will most likely be convicted at trial and could do 30 years. I still think it was a bad decision, but legally she had more resources and support than many people who are doing time.

 

[nnglas]

It didn't matter about "an agreed upon sentence". She get the MINIMUM sentence. Nothing would have saved her. She got minimum.

Florida is cracking down hard on drug trafficking. If anything, she may have gotten a reduced fine.

Im not too sure about that. Hope's mother said something about drug rehab and probation, and then something about 6 years. Do you think the atty lied to them?

I see what you are saying about mandatory minimum but up earlier in the thread someone posted about different programs she would possibly be qualified for even as a supposed drug trafficker. And then Hope and her mom discussed several other options. So where would they get that info from if not from the lawyer?

 

[Zoe Bogart]

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

That does not apply to drug trafficking.

 

[LaLaw2000]

I started reading this thread before the sentence was handed down. When I got back on WS, I was so glad to see that this Judge is not fooling around on these trafficking charges.

I was especially glad to see that Ronald was in the courtroom! I think he now sees many years of prison in his future!

 

[impatientredhead]

I hate to keep harping on tapes, but they have her own words on tape. She says quite clearly she did not want to go into one of those programs. This little gal ruined her own life.

If she had been remorseful, left the attitude at the jailhouse door, and not have been belligerent to her mother and probably others, there would have been no need to play that tape in court. Since she was vile on that tape, it went against her. We can't blame the attorney, the judge, or the system.

I don't blame the attorney, judge or system.
She is completely responsible for the mess she is in.
I think it was a horrible decision and she should have begged for treatment. Even with the tapes she probably still could have gotten drug court. Addicts, detoxing addicts, etc... are expected to be volatile, hostile, and irrational. That is the point of treatment, that they couldn't make good decisions and that is why they are in the mess they are in.

I was just pointing out there were other options available to her since it appears to many that the sentence was harsh. She eliminated all the other options that were available to her. Being 19 and knowing more than everyone else is a bad place to be at times.

 

[nnglas]

It didn't matter about "an agreed upon sentence". She get the MINIMUM sentence. Nothing would have saved her. She got minimum.

Florida is cracking down hard on drug trafficking. If anything, she may have gotten a reduced fine.

She could have pled to a lesser charge. I totally get what you are saying, but I would not have had a client plead no contest to that. MOO. I would have waited.

You seem to be saying that there wasn't a choice in sentence. If that is the case why was Hope so shocked when it was handed down? Obviously this was not explained to her.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

I bet Misty is in her cell right now doing the math and she is not worried at all.