A Fox news station out of Waco reports that a Navasota, Texas man was sentenced to thirty-five years in prison for spitting on a cop. Yeah, no. The cops arrested the idiot for being drunk. As Ron White has pointed out, the crook had the right to remain silent… but not the ability. He spit on the arresting officer, kicked him and made threats. Spitting was the least of his problems.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-gets-35-years-prison-175506019.html
He was charged with several felonies, he subsequently pled guilty to one. He also had several prior felony convictions. The state has the option, which they apparently utilized, to charge the defendant as a habitual criminal. Upon conviction on that charge 99 years in prison is possible.
The other thing the story neglected to emphasize was that the crook was offered a deal, and he took it. Probably felt like 35 years was a hell of a lot better than 99 years.
Defendants refer to the charge as “the bitch.” It isn’t often used in urban counties. Rural counties still avail themselves of the charge. Here is the statute:
https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/penal-code/penal-sect-12-43/
I have a modest proposal. Texas should do away with the current language in the statute, Habitual Criminal. Liberals are pushing the idea of “Justice involved” individuals rather than, defendant, prisoner or my favorite shithead. I think the statute ought to be renamed “Justice Involved Individual Lifetime Achievement Award.” It sounds kinder and gentler.
