Man sentenced to minimum of 3 weeks in jail for yawning, faces 6 month sentence.

[SlainPwner666]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_odd_jailed_for_yawning

JOLIET, Ill. – Drowsy spectators in one suburban Chicago courtroom might want to stifle their yawns from now on. Clifton Williams, 33, of Richton Park, is facing six months in jail for making what court documents call a yawn-like sound in Will County Judge Daniel Rozak's court last month. The yawn happened as Williams' cousin, Jason Mayfield, was being sentenced for a drug charge on July 23.
Rozak found Williams in contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in jail. However, Rozak could free Williams after a status hearing Thursday, if Williams apologizes and the judge accepts. By then, Williams will have served 21 days.
Witnesses disagree about whether Williams' yawn was out of line.
Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, said the prosecutor in the courtroom at the time told him that what came out of Williams' mouth could hardly be called a "yawn."
"This was a very loud, boisterous, deliberate attempt on the part of this individual to disrupt the proceedings and show disrespect to the court," Pelkie said. "It was not a guy who involuntarily yawned. This guy was making a statement — a very loud statement — in court."
Mayfield disagreed, saying it was "not an outrageous yawn." Williams has written his family to say that he can't believe he's in jail "for nothing."
A message left for Rozak Tuesday was not immediately returned.
Six months is the maximum sentence judges can give for criminal contempt without a jury trial.

Am I the only one that went "WDF?" at this story?

Sources; TheEscapistMagazine.com, YahooNews.com.

[Jesus123]

WTF this is fucked up beyond belief.

[Nuttz]

lolwut

[Slochk]

*yawn*
Oh shit da police run

[Boojangels]

Well, he probably did yawn to be obnoxious. A 6 month sentence was a little much. He just needed to be kicked out.

[Elite]

WHAT THE HELL?

Jailed for yawning is fucking insane! He should have gotten a warning not a jail sentence...

[hunterhunter]

hoolee shit...that is fcked up on a brand new level

[Easton Dark]

He must be black.

[Dre]

He must be black.

obviously

[one of them]

Someone needs to punch that judge in the face.

[Crack5800]

What?????

[Unspoken Damnation]

I wonder how long they would have sentenced him if he sneezed?

[Bloodshed269]

*cough*. TO TEH GALLOWS WIT HIM!!!!!

[Deadly]

Well, he probably did yawn to be obnoxious. A 6 month sentence was a little much. He just needed to be kicked out.

Deadly agrees

[CrAnKeDHigH]

You know, you can never believe exactly what you read from the media. It probably was more than a simple yawn and, who knows, maybe the guy was being disruptive several other times and this time was the last straw. You never know.

[BlackCat]

I'm with Boo, Deadly, and Cranked on this one.

[one of them]

Obnoxious or not, 6 Months is way too much time.
Even 21 Days is too much time.

[CrAnKeDHigH]

Obnoxious or not, 6 Months is way too much time.
Even 21 Days is too much time.

Sometimes people need to be tought a harsh lesson. People like to push the boundaries and if this stops people from being douches in courtrooms then so be it. It seems harsh from the way the news story portrays it, but you never know what was going on day after day in the courtroom.

[Abyss Crown]

Well, he probably did yawn to be obnoxious. A 6 month sentence was a little much. He just needed to be kicked out.

Agreed.

All what needed to done was for him to be thrown out of the courtroom. If you had to put him in jail, for whatever reason, all he needed was a day MAXIMUM.

[REDSHARK]

shit...

Imagine if he fell asleep...

[ThoughtThinking]

Holy crap.
What has America come to?

[Lunatic Brandon]

Its horrible. This was brought up on another website and if you think thats bad the person also posted a link to a football player receiving 24 days in jail for killing someone while drunk driving. A yawner received a greater sentence than a murderer. The justice system sucks.

[Nuttz]

They only needed to put him in jail for one day for his butthole to increase in size. That'd teach him.

[Waterboy2go]

The 5th & 14 Amendment in the US Constitution:

“…no person shall be deprived of life liberty or property without due process of law.” Due process of law is a fair hearing before an impartial judge & JURY, not judge or jury.

This judge should be removed from the bench, criminally tried for gross negligence in the performance of his duties, and have all of his assets forfeited to those he unlawfully & illegally ordered to prison.

/rant

[UKMD Elmo]

Nah, the writing in that article is seriously slanted, missing out certain details and biasing your views to make you go 'WTF??'. The little dick was probably stretching and kicking up his feet at the same time as making a shit load of noise, grinning all he while and trying to make a mockery of the court.

The guy was most likely sentenced for very good reasons as people should show full respect for the court. Read the article again and try and picture what it's not telling you or missing out.

One thing I can't stand is people having a hissy fit when the judicial system actualy punishes someone. Most of the time the public complain it's too leanient to criminals, so when one judge proves he's not he gets dragged over the coals by a raving and easily influenced mob who don't ever read into things. Pretty damn sad really.

[Abyss Crown]

Nah, the writing in that article is seriously slanted, missing out certain details and biasing your views to make you go 'WTF??'. The little dick was probably stretching and kicking up his feet at the same time as making a shit load of noise, grinning all he while and trying to make a mockery of the court.

The guy was most likely sentenced for very good reasons as people should show full respect for the court. Read the article again and try and picture what it's not telling you or missing out.

You can only assume what you want. Perhaps he was being a prick, maybe he was not. All in all we do not know.

Though I do somewhat agree, I doubt that any judge in their right mind would sentence someone in jail for yawning.

[Waterboy2go]

Worst case scenario from a real court, he would of got his ass thrown out of the room.

[killaspree]

O.O


Insane........just insane.

[BlackCat]

There is another side to the story.. and it is not being told because the media wants our opinions to sway one way and not the other.

[Abyss Crown]

There is another side to the story.. and it is not being told because the media wants our opinions to sway one way and not the other.

Like I said, you can believe all you want, however jumping to conclusions that "we're not being told the full story!" because you don't want to accept it as it is isn't the best way to go around.

If you're going to call bullshit on the story give an explanation what the media wants us to think.

[BlackCat]

Like I said, you can believe all you want, however jumping to conclusions that "we're not being told the full story!" because you don't want to accept it as it is isn't the best way to go around.

If you're going to call bullshit on the story give an explanation what the media wants us to think.

A judge isn't going to do that just because someone yawns, there is no way that there isn't more to it.

A message left for [Judge Daniel] Rozak Tuesday was not immediately returned.

There you have it, the other side of the story is missing.



The reporters are just going for the Pulitzer, and to do that, their story has to raise a commotion of some sort.

[Fernsy]

Nah, the writing in that article is seriously slanted, missing out certain details and biasing your views to make you go 'WTF??'. The little dick was probably stretching and kicking up his feet at the same time as making a shit load of noise, grinning all he while and trying to make a mockery of the court.

The guy was most likely sentenced for very good reasons as people should show full respect for the court. Read the article again and try and picture what it's not telling you or missing out.

One thing I can't stand is people having a hissy fit when the judicial system actualy punishes someone. Most of the time the public complain it's too leanient to criminals, so when one judge proves he's not he gets dragged over the coals by a raving and easily influenced mob who don't ever read into things. Pretty damn sad really.

Yeah I agree with Elmo, every one is assuming that it was a genuine yawn and forgetting that the guy could of being doing it in contempt, which is against the law in a court room. No one knows either way, and I’m damn sure not going to trust a journalists word for it. So all I can see is that a Judge jailed some one for content, and I can’t see that being for a little yawn.

[SickDaza]

Both Elmo and BlackCat are right. The media rarely tells the full story about and this is by no means an exception. And Abyss you are just being naive thinking that this is what happened and there is no explanation.

[Boojangels]

Well, imagine you're writing a story about this. Would you get more views with "Man Yawns and Gets 6 Month Court Sentence" or "Dick Gets Thrown in Jail like a lot of People do these Days".

Who knows.

[SickDaza]

Well, imagine you're writing a story about this. Would you get more views with "Man Yawns and Gets 6 Month Court Sentence" or "Dick Gets Thrown in Jail like a lot of People do these Days".

Who knows.

Well with language like the second one has I would say that one. But I see the point your making, and it is sad that media does things for views now.

[SRXSniper58]

people are getting arrested for everything nowadays

[BlackCat]

people are getting arrested for everything nowadays

Or the press is just reporting it more...

[Raydude4115]

what if they sent him to play left 4 dead for a week straight with no sleep :/ and if he started to go to sleep or talk out of his mic he would be shocked by a electric chair :/ that would be so messed up...

[ScoobySnax]

I feel so damn sorry for the guy, even if he was being a dick.
I wouldn't step into those Showers even for a second!

[BlackCat]

I wouldn't step into those Showers even for a second!

He didn't get sent to prison lol!

[ScoobySnax]

He didn't get sent to prison lol!
...But.....the Title?

[BlackCat]

...But.....the Title?

Jail.. not prison xD

[seaniepoo]

This is... Oh my (insert deity here). Even if he was being obnoxious, he should be warned first. He gave him the maximum? What the fuck? It is an understatement to say this is abuse of power. What a fucking disgrace.

[UKMD Elmo]

This is... Oh my (insert deity here). Even if he was being obnoxious, he should be warned first. He gave him the maximum? What the fuck? It is an understatement to say this is abuse of power. What a fucking disgrace.

No doubt you'd complain if judges were too leanient too. People don't know what they want most of the time, but they always go up in arms if the media decide to do a biased piece on it.

Either criminals and idiots get away with a load of things or judges crack down harder on even petty crimes to keep everyone behaving themselves and in check. I'd prefer the latter to be honest, and kudos to the judge for coming down hard on someone who most likely deserved it.

Remember, the article is only from one side of the story...and it doesn't sell to make a story saying the guy deserved it. Things have to be sensationalised to get people frothing at the mouth and raving at the establishment like the good little sheep they are.

[Goldkills]

Well he could get a Retrial for his case due to the judge wrongfully sentencing for a bodily function and Sue the judge for the time served not only will the judge lose his rep and maybe fired the guy will walk free for any crime he did.

[BlackCat]

This is... Oh my (insert deity here). Even if he was being obnoxious, he should be warned first. He gave him the maximum? What the fuck? It is an understatement to say this is abuse of power. What a fucking disgrace.

The Judge never released a statement. My question is: how do you know he wasn't given a warning?

[Claudia]

I'm with Boo, Deadly, and Cranked on this one.

Yes.

Srsly. What. The. Hell.

[seaniepoo]

The Judge never released a statement. My question is: how do you know he wasn't given a warning?

Even if he was, it is completely ridiculous. If he was being a massive prick he should just be thrown out. Even if it is worse than it is made out to be it doesn't seem like something that should be considered a crime. If he was just thrown out I am sure he would learn his lesson.

[ScoobySnax]

Jail.. not prison xD
...Theres....a Difference?!

[seaniepoo]

...Theres....a Difference?!

http://sheriff.org/faqs/displayfaq.cfm?id=4f892698-5c5d-40f8-b159-c9a0b6ed66f3

[hunterhunter]

these are dark days my friends....dark days

[SushiMooshi]

*note i havn't read any posts other than topic posters : P*

Thats just fucked up xD 6 months is a bit much, I think all he needed was ejection out of the court room. Thats just abuse of power!

[SlainPwner666]

*note i havn't read any posts other than topic posters : P*

Thats just fucked up xD 6 months is a bit much, I think all he needed was ejection out of the court room. Thats just abuse of power!

Alrighty, well then lemme bring you up to speed on the non-OP posts.

1. Many people agree with you.
2. Others say that the media is biased, and because the judge has not yet released a statement, the man may have done other then yawning.
3. Others still call the racism card.

I personally am with #2. Until the judge talks, we should put away our pitchforks.

[Abyss Crown]

3. Idiots still call the racism card.


Fixed.

[Elite]

You have won +1 internets. Please see your local internets distributor for your price.

The media is over exagerating. But 6 months for yawning is a bit much lol.

[hunterhunter]

I'm pretty sure the judge will change the sentance after the publicity dies down......bet he only did it for the publicity.

[EClaris]

I'm pretty sure the judge will change the sentance after the publicity dies down......bet he only did it for the publicity.

I don't think so, judges really don't have explicit benefits from publicity like a celebrity or politician would

[wertan11]

damn you George bush what have you done to America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!