Hope Sykes arrested 1/20/2010

[1Chump]

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?

IMO, one of two things happened. (1) Hope was forced into the "no contest" plea to keep her attorney....maybe by Mommy.

The reason for the possible "forced" is the court docket itself.

Hope's attorney was appoint on Feb. 18, 2010. On March 1, 2010, there was an order allowing her attorney to withdraw. On March 2, 2010, her attorney appeared in court with Hope. The next hearing March 31, Hope changed her "not guilty" plea to "no contest." So something made the attorney decide not to withdraw and it happened in one day.


(2) Hope's attorney could not get her to agree to assist the DA because Hope did not understand she really would get 15 years. So Hope's attorney made a deal with the DA that Hope would plead no contest, get sentenced, then the attorney would talk Hope into assisting the DA for a "reduced sentence." If Hope fully cooperates and assist the DA would go back into court on a motion to reduce the sentencing based on assistance. I'm not sure that can be done after the fact, just the only thing I can think of why she would plea "no contest." I would also say if this is the case, Hope's attorney worked with Hope's Mommy who seems to the only one who understands the trouble Hope was in. Also, if this can be done, you don't have a witness who has to say that they "made a deal to a reduced sentence" on a witness stand.

Because otherwise, no contest plea makes absolutely no sense on a minimum mandatory sentence for drug trafficking.

 

[impatientredhead]

That does not apply to drug trafficking.

The statute says everyone convicted after 1995 is subject to the 85% rule. She is not guaranteed to earn the 15% reduction but I cannot find anything that says DTing is excluded for the 85% rule?

 

[woodville]

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.

Her lawyer did tell her to pray.

 

[eaglemom]

IMO the youthful offender program is not meant for the number of charges Misty has against her as you cannot serve more than 4 years in a 'facility' and a total of 6 years in the program including probation (see below):

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...y_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0958/Sec04.HTM

c) The court may impose a split sentence whereby the youthful offender is to be placed on probation or community control upon completion of any specified period of incarceration; however, if the incarceration period is to be served in a department facility other than a probation and restitution center or community residential facility, such period shall be for not less than 1 year or more than 4 years. The period of probation or community control shall commence immediately upon the release of the youthful offender from incarceration. The period of incarceration imposed or served and the period of probation or community control, when added together, may not exceed 6 years.



I just don't see that happening given the sentence we saw today....

Please correct me if I am reading this wrong but I just don't see it happening if I am reading and understanding the above statute.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

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?

No, I don't think the attorney lied to them. I think the attorney was saying IF the judge considers her a young offender, she would get rehab, six years, etc. Instead, the judge refused her as a younger offender. It was because of her prior arrest two weeks earlier, and that she went from drug possession to trafficking, which is top of the line Felony.

Many here are thinking it's a harsh sentence, so I'm thinking Hope thought the same, thinking no way would she get a tough sentence, she's young, only one count, etc. I can see how she was shocked.

 

[butterfly1978]

I have yet to read all the posts and don't have time too at the moment but WOW!!! I can honestly say I didn't expect this. I thought Hope and Donna would get off pretty light, I guess I was wrong... Looks like they are really putting the pressure on Ron and Misty.

 

[MADJGNLAW]

Anyone know the answer? Hoping they have the same tough judge!

Look who else gets the same judge,TERRY J LARUE !

"Snip" http://www.putnam-fl.com/clk_apps/crim_dkts/frame.php


UCN: 542010CF000146XXAXMX
File Date: 2010-01-21 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: SHOEMAKER, TERRY J


Defendant
CUMMINGS, RONALD LEMYLES
Alias
UCN: 542010CF000253XXAXMX
File Date: 2010-02-03 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: SHOEMAKER, TERRY J


Defendant
CUMMINGS, RONALD LEMYLES

CONTINUED TO 05/13/2010


And..


UCN: 542010CF000252XXAXMX
File Date: 2010-02-03 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: FIELDS, ROBERT M


Defendant
CUMMINGS, MISTY JANETTE
Alias
CROSLIN, MISTY JANETTE


UCN: 542010CF000138XXAXMX
File Date: 2010-01-21 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: FIELDS, ROBERT M


Defendant
CUMMINGS, MISTY JANETTE

CONTINUED TO 06/03/2010




And...


UCN: 542009CF001653XXAXMX
File Date: 2009-09-14 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: WERTER, JAMES S


Defendant
CROSLIN, HANK T JR
2010-03-31 36 CONTINUED TO 05/13/2010



Date # Docket Description
2009-09-14 1 COMPLAINT - PCSO DET. KEN TAYLOR (8/19/09)

2009-09-14 1 BOOKING NUMBER: N/A

2009-09-16 3 ARREST REPORT: GRAND THEFT (9/15/2009)




UCN: 542009CF002113XXAXMX
File Date: 2009-11-06 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: WERTER, JAMES S


Defendant
CROSLIN, HANK T JR
2010-03-31 21 CONTINUED TO 05/13/2010



Date # Docket Description
2009-11-06 1 ARREST REPORT - PCSO D/S ALITZER (ARREST 11/5/09)

2009-11-06 1 BOOKING NUMBER: 09-4578

2009-11-06 1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

2009-11-06 1 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA




UCN: 542010CF000147XXAXMX
File Date: 2010-01-21 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: WERTER, JAMES S


Defendant
CROSLIN, HANK T JR
CONTINUED TO 05/13/2010


Date # Docket Description
2010-01-21 1 COMPLAINT - PCSO DET. T CAMPBELL (12/22/09)

2010-01-21 1 BOOKING NUMBER: N/A

2010-01-21 1 TRAFFICKING OXYCODONE



And...


UCN: 542009CF002296XXAXMX
File Date: 2009-11-24 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: MACQUEEN, WILLIAM A


Defendant
CROSLIN, HANK T SR
CONTINUED TO 05/13/2010


Date # Docket Description
2009-11-24 1 COMPLAINT FILED: FDLE

2009-11-24 1 BOOKING NUMBER: N/A

2009-11-24 1 DOCTOR SHOPPING(WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM A

2009-11-24 1 PRACTITIONER (F3)



And...


UCN: 542009CF002529XXAXMX
File Date: 2009-12-22 Judge: TERRY J LARUE
Defense Atty: BOOKHAMMER, WILLIAM


Defendant
CROSLIN, LISA CARMEN
SET FOR PRE TRIAL 05/13/2010.


Date # Docket Description
2009-12-22 1 COMPLAINT FILED: PATTY BRIMM 12-19-09

2009-12-22 1 BOOKING NUMBER: N/A

2009-12-22 1 FELONY THEFT

 

[chesterp]

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

and free dental care... I will be paying for it with my taxes.

 

[impatientredhead]

Her lawyer did tell her to pray.

Her lawyer also told her she is on videotape, that there is considerable evidence, and that she has priors. If convicted at trial she could do up to 30 years.

You can also tell that they discussed other programs because Hope says she is not doing this and she is not doing that. She refers to it as boot camp, but clearly she was told there were other programs they could request and she refused them.

The lawyer can only tell her their opinion.
Hope is 19, mommy's opinion is irrelevant.
Following mom's legal advise is Hope's option.
And the judge asked her if she was knowingly and willingly entering the plea and did she understand the possible sentence. It is sad on many levels but she had ample opportunity to go down other avenues. Even if the lawyer told her to enter the no contest plea she could have told the judge this was her lawyer's decision and she really wants to stick with her not guilty and go to trial. That is why the defendant has to be in court and talk to the judge. He wouldn't have accepted the no contest if she had said other people had made the decision for her. She is not new to the court system.

 

[nnglas]

No, I don't think the attorney lied to them. I think the attorney was saying IF the judge considers her a young offender, she would get rehab, six years, etc. Instead, the judge refused her as a younger offender. It was because of her prior arrest two weeks earlier, and that she went from drug possession to trafficking, which is top of the line Felony.

I see. Well then I go back to my first response. I would not have pled no contest to that. Especially when the "Flinstone Mafia" are still awaiting trials. They would not have used me to put the fear of God into them. Especially when she really did seem to be along for the ride.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

Look who else gets the same judge,TERRY J LARUE !

"Snip" http://www.putnam-fl.com/clk_apps/crim_dkts/frame.php

Methinks I see a conspiracy here. Good for them. Finally, a justice system where all parties are working together.

 

[marlame]

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.

MARCH 21: HOPE SYKES' JAIL PHONE CALL HOME AFTER COURT
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/...01/75628125001

Article:http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...154169&catid=3

What I got out of Hope's call home from MARCH 21, 2010:

Hope did not understand what her attorney did in court!

Hope said she did not plea no-contest, he attorney did!

Hope is under the impression she is just going to the salvation army program, no jail time.

Ron got a deal for 25yrs in prison.

Ron got denied drug court!

Ron said he was going to try and take on Hopes charge and she told him no.

Hope got to ride in the cop car with Ron, wonder if the car was wired and what else was said.

Hope claims she dose not understand what her attorney did in court 3/31/2010.

Hope has two different court dates/charges. One for open court and the other.

Hope would rather go to prison than do both,the 6yr mandatory drug program and rehab.

Hope claims she would not do both, the youth offender program and the drug program.

Hope claims that if she has to do both, if they think she is bad now, WAIT UNTIL SHE GETS OUT! (Wow, she is a cocky girl! She is set in her ways and said she is not doing both!)

Hope sounds as if her attorney gave her the impression that she is not doing any jail time.

Hope said she never had any pills, she only sat in the car.

Hope also claims she is a stripper, but lied to the judge and told him she didn't have a job.

Hope said that they are all 10 steps in front of the game and if everybody would know how to pick up their dam steps....everybody was suppose to plea in open court and she seems confused as to why they didn't.
She is pist.

Hope is confused and Heated regarding how things went down in court.
quote]

I feel the tape shows she did not understand what a plea of no contest meant for her. She may have grounds for appeal given plea of no contest was not entered into knowingly or voluntarily. If her attorney failed to inform her that her plea would result in mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, this omission may constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. I am not familiar with FL statute, but I would check into this if I were her family. Any FL attorneys on Websleuths? Feel free to weigh in.

Please know, I feel she should be punished for her crime. But I also feel she deserves to have adequate legal representation. Was this a rookie attorney? :waitasec:

 

[LaLaw2000]

IMO, Hope understood her plea. If we had the transcript of the court minutes, we would see that the Judge would have made sure she understood her plea.

What Hope did know, IMO, was that cousin Ronald had plead nolo contendre' in one of his cases in the past. He did not serve jail/prison time. I think Hope knew that the PSI she waived would have been read by the Judge and he would have seen that she had been out of jail for only two weeks (possession) before getting arrested in this case. That would have been included in a PSI. As it stood, with waiving the PSI, the Judge could not take that into consideration as it was an arrest and not yet a conviction. Hope was in the vehicle when the pills changed hands and that makes everyone responsible to a degree for just having been there. Except for the UC officer, obviously.

Also, Hope will still have to go to court for her possession charge even if she is in prison. So she will have 15+ years unless it is time served.

Hope gambled and lost.

JMO

 

[raeann]

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!

Yes, it seems pretty clear that he was taken there to specifically witness this, not so much as a character witness. I can't think of a single other case that I have seen where a prisoner in shackles served as a character witness! They wanted him to see the results of his influence and behavior and to know how seriously these charges are going to be treated. It seems clear that if this case resulted in a 15 year sentence, that the others should expect to be getting even longer ones than that.

jmoo

 

[yeknomaras]

Look who else gets the same judge,TERRY J LARUE !

Respectfully snipped -

OMG. I bet they're all terrified of this judge!! How crazy they all have the same one.

 

[LaLaw2000]

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

Okay, granted. BUT, he still has other charges to be sentenced for.

 

[chesterp]

I guess us Fl Residents will stop getting discounts to DisneyWorld we are going to have to build a WING for the Crosling/Cumming Convict's

 

[LaLaw2000]

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

LOL!

Yes, but this 'Misty Math' is but an illusion! She has a rude awakening when the judge sentences her to YEARS! And he will make sure she understands it.

 

[LaLaw2000]

What can be expected for the others?

for Tommy: a divorce granted due to imprisonment (irretreviably broken)

for Misty: 30 years x 1 HB/day = 10,950 HoneyBuns

And well, ... Ron's gonna need quite a few more pairs of underwear.

and a long time no see, for all. JMHO :angel:

Post of the day, Emma Peel! And you get a GOLD bingo card!

 

[Zoe Bogart]

Yes, it seems pretty clear that he was taken there to specifically witness this, not so much as a character witness. I can't think of a single other case that I have seen where a prisoner in shackles served as a character witness! They wanted him to see the results of his influence and behavior and to know how seriously these charges are going to be treated. It seems clear that if this case resulted in a 15 year sentence, that the others should expect to be getting even longer ones than that.

jmoo

I agree with you. In any other case, the request to have RC as a character witness (pardon my chuckle) would have been refused, but since there are extreme circumstances, the court jumped on the opportunity to have him sitting there. I think karma is riding high all the way around.