Jeff Reardon update: Not guilty due to insanity

[David in Jackson]

The Link

This is a very sad story.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It's sad on several levels. I've always struggled with the notion that certain mental states can render one not culpable of a crime they commit. Did he not do what he did? Isn't is generally understood that that kind of behavior is illegal. It's always better for the defendant when blame can be passed on to an inhibiting factor that exists in the turbulent nether regions of the transgressor mind.

It's terrible to lose a child as it's commonly cited as the worse thing a parent can experience. Such tramua can certainly bring on depression, which can lead to abnormal behavior, combine that with a cocktail of who knows what psychotropic drugs, and wierd things are gonna happen. It's very sad. But he still walked into a jewelry store and did what he did? Why that jewelry store and not a bank or a pawn shop? It dosen't matter becasue it was a crazy thing to do. Totally irrational but, not guilty?

[Bench]

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It's sad on several levels. I've always struggled with the notion that certain mental states can render one not culpable of a crime they commit. Did he not do what he did? Isn't is generally understood that that kind of behavior is illegal. It's always better for the defendant when blame can be passed on to an inhibiting factor that exists in the turbulent nether regions of the transgressor mind.

It's terrible to lose a child as it's commonly cited as the worse thing a parent can experience. Such tramua can certainly bring on depression, which can lead to abnormal behavior, combine that with a cocktail of who knows what psychotropic drugs, and wierd things are gonna happen. It's very sad. But he still walked into a jewelry store and did what he did? Why that jewelry store and not a bank or a pawn shop? It dosen't matter becasue it was a crazy thing to do. Totally irrational but, not guilty?

If you don't rationally intend to do something, you shouldn't get jailed for intending to do it. The test most states use boils down to "did the defendant know what he was doing was wrong at the time he did it.?" It's pretty difficult standard to meet.

[Arky Vaughan]

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If you don't rationally intend to do something, you shouldn't get jailed for intending to do it. The test most states use boils down to "did the defendant know what he was doing was wrong at the time he did it.?" It's pretty difficult standard to meet.

You just took the bar exam, didn't you?

[Bench]

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Quote:
If you don't rationally intend to do something, you shouldn't get jailed for intending to do it. The test most states use boils down to "did the defendant know what he was doing was wrong at the time he did it.?" It's pretty difficult standard to meet.

You just took the bar exam, didn't you?

Yep. Good times.

[Arky Vaughan]

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Yep. Good times.

It shows. Congratulations.

[Bench]

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Yep. Good times.

It shows. Congratulations.

Thanks.

[geezerdonk]

I wonder what the poor motherfucker in the jewelry store who got a Ruger nose enema from Reardon thinks about rationality and intent.

[MusicMan]

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I wonder what the poor motherfucker in the jewelry store who got a Ruger nose enema from Reardon thinks about rationality and intent.

That's why we don't let the victims be the judges.

[Ty in Tampa]

"Reardon had been charged with robbing Hamilton Jewelers in Palm Beach Gardens on Dec. 26, 2005, after handing an employee a threatening note. Officers later found him at a nearby eatery with a cash-filled bag but no weapon.

The Link

[Duman]

Let me get this straight:

If I don't take my prescribed meds as prescribed or intended and I do something illegal, I am insane.

If I take illegal drugs and I do something illegal, I am a drug crazed robber and I go to jail.

Does anyone else see a logic problem here?

[Limey]

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Let me get this straight:

If I don't take my prescribed meds as prescribed or intended and I do something illegal, I am insane.

If I take illegal drugs and I do something illegal, I am a drug crazed robber and I go to jail.

Does anyone else see a logic problem here?

Worse.  Your punishment is likely to be greater.

The difference being that you should take your legal meds, and should not take your illegal meds.  No, there is no logic as to which is which and you don't get to choose.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Quote:
Let me get this straight:

If I don't take my prescribed meds as prescribed or intended and I do something illegal, I am insane.

If I take illegal drugs and I do something illegal, I am a drug crazed robber and I go to jail.

Does anyone else see a logic problem here?

No, you don't have it straight. (eta) Reardon was taking his meds as prescribed.  He was just taking a dozen different things for various issues and they interacted.  

[Bench]

Quote:
Let me get this straight:

If I don't take my prescribed meds as prescribed or intended and I do something illegal, I am insane.

If I take illegal drugs and I do something illegal, I am a drug crazed robber and I go to jail.

Does anyone else see a logic problem here?

There's a difference between voluntary and involuntary intoxication. To torture an anology, consider the difference between getting in your car while sleep walking and hitting another car versus getting in your car, closing your eyes, and seeing just how far you can get.