PA judge orders English classes instead of jailtime

[HAL 9000 96]

Of course, given our society's overall state, its highly likely next time these defendants will face the judge they won't need translators.

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Pa. judge sentences 3 to learn English

2 hours, 58 minutes ago

A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail.

The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday.

"Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?" the judge asked them.

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

Attorneys for the men said they were studying the legality of the ruling and had not decided whether to appeal. One of the attorneys, Ferris Webby, suggested that the ruling was good for his client, Guzman-Mateo.

"My client is happy," Webby said. "I think it's going to help him."

The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole. Reyes-Rosario remains imprisoned on an unrelated drug charge.

Olszewski ordered the three to return with their parole officers in a year and take an English test. "If they don't pass, they're going in for the 24 (months)," he said.

Olszewski is known for outside-the-box sentencing.

He has ordered young defendants who are school dropouts to finish school. He often orders defendants to get full-time employment. But he also has his staff coordinate with an employment agency to help them find the jobs.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

...

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

...

The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole.

Hmmm.

I am not too comfortable with this. Accosting two men on a street,threatening them with a gun and striking them on the head? And then threatening them to stay off the block? These boys sound like a bunch of thugs. They belong behind bars for more than 4 months.

They can learn English and study for their GEDs behind bars.

The judge is a douchebag.

[HAL 9000 96]

The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

...

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

...

The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole.

Hmmm.

I am not too comfortable with this. Accosting two men on a street,threatening them with a gun and striking them on the head? And then threatening them to stay off the block? These boys sound like a bunch of thugs. They belong behind bars for more than 4 months.

They can learn English and study for their GEDs behind bars.

The judge is a douchebag.

No I disagree with you because you are a hater!

Seriously now, like I said, they'll probably be back in front of the juez.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Or they'll skip parole and disappear *poof*

[HAL 9000 96]

Or they'll skip parole and disappear *poof*

Yeah but only after getting their English certificates...

I suspect that if we do not hear back from the news in a month or two that these guys cleaned up their act and actually benefit themselves and society in some weird way like not accosting your friends on the street.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

:thumbs: go judge!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Interesting sentencing -- sounds a lot like First Nations Restorative Justice.

[panamania79 2]

The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

...

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

...

The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole.

Hmmm.

I am not too comfortable with this. Accosting two men on a street,threatening them with a gun and striking them on the head? And then threatening them to stay off the block? These boys sound like a bunch of thugs. They belong behind bars for more than 4 months.

They can learn English and study for their GEDs behind bars.

The judge is a douchebag.

Really.Don't most prisoners end up either with a law degree or get really religious while they're in jail anyway.These punks are going to end up just like some of the ones I grew up with.Either back in jail,or stuffed in the trunk of a car somewhere.

[sereia 0]

Hmmm.

I am not too comfortable with this. Accosting two men on a street,threatening them with a gun and striking them on the head? And then threatening them to stay off the block? These boys sound like a bunch of thugs. They belong behind bars for more than 4 months.

They can learn English and study for their GEDs behind bars.

The judge is a douchebag.

I agree totally! Who says they'll show up to their parole meeting? That's putting waaay too much trust in violent people imho. Learn English in the slammer, kids!

[panamania79 2]

Hmmm.

I am not too comfortable with this. Accosting two men on a street,threatening them with a gun and striking them on the head? And then threatening them to stay off the block? These boys sound like a bunch of thugs. They belong behind bars for more than 4 months.

They can learn English and study for their GEDs behind bars.

The judge is a douchebag.

I agree totally! Who says they'll show up to their parole meeting? That's putting waaay too much trust in violent people imho. Learn English in the slammer, kids!

Bubba is a good teacher.Can you say,come here and wash my drawers ? LOL

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.

...

The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.

...

The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole.

Hmmm.

I am not too comfortable with this. Accosting two men on a street,threatening them with a gun and striking them on the head? And then threatening them to stay off the block? These boys sound like a bunch of thugs. They belong behind bars for more than 4 months.

They can learn English and study for their GEDs behind bars.

The judge is a douchebag.

Agreed. These guys are obviously dangerous. They ought not to walk the same streets I walk.