Wake County Jail

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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Reggie and Sarah

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Reggie: The Presentencing process was Basically I didn't have bond money so I stayed in jail until my court date. Some times the court was so full that thay revised the court date or the lawyer didn't show up so the date would be revised.
Sarah: I don't know what pre-sentencing is. There was a hearing, and at the end, the judge found me guilty of civil contempt of a court order, and floundered around about the sentence with opposing counsel, not seeming to know what to order, then concocked something.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Reggie: They charged me with B& E and assault with a deadly weapon. Which I did jump through a window because the person I was argueing with locked me out however I didn't have a weapon.
Sarah: No. I was never arrested. I was just put in jail straight from the hearing.

JM: What as court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Reggie: Court was basically I didn't want to sit in jail anymore so I took a plea deal.
Sarah: The court hearing was merely a formality on a Show Cause Order for civil contempt. These are not heard by a jury. The case was not placed on the calendar. The hearing was held "out of sight" in a separate courtroom during Monday's calendar 10 am call. Opposing counsel spoke first, lying repeatedly, then my attorney and I both spoke, then opposing counsel again. We never had a chance to hear or cross-examine any sworn testimony against me. The judge admitted near the end that he had no choice based on a prior COA Opinion. His decision was prejudged. The judge knew and allowed opposing counsel to lie, and in fact covered for him when my attorney pointed it out. The judge said it didn't matter.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Reggie: B&e and assault with a deaqdly weapon with intent to kill
Sarah: On motion of opposing counsel in my 2006 civil libel suit against the News & Observer, I was ordered by Judge Donald W. Stephens to appear before Judge Wm. Pittman on 11/2/2009 to show cause why I should not be held in civil contempt for "apparent" violation of a pre-filing injunction ordered in 2001 in an unrelated matter, for filing opposition to a $98,260.40 default judgment for attorney fees. Bennett v. N&O, 06-CVS-14229. The 2001 order prohibited me from filing anything without a lawyer in my father's personal injury lawsuit, a case I was ordered to file on his behalf in 2000. Judge Wm. Pittman convicted of me willful "civil contempt" of the 2001 order, purporting that I had filed a motion for relief from the default judgment without a lawyer.

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