by Jonathan Perri · 2011-10-06 16:48:00 UTC
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Patricia Spottedcrow, the 26 year-old mother of four who was convicted of selling $31 of marijuana to a police informant, has had her 12 year prison sentence reduced to eight years with four years of probation.
While the reduction in her sentence shows understanding, it is not justice and does not go far enough. As Spottedcrow's attorney, Josh Welch puts it, she shouldn't be in jail at all:
"Nobody understands why this woman is serving this long of a sentence for this type of crime. Look at other states; you can commit this same crime and it's not illegal. That's insane. She sold $30 of marijuana for gas money and food money for her family. It's stupid. It's wrong. But you don't go to prison for eight or 12 years for that. You shouldn't go to prison period."
Spottedcrow was scheduled to have a sentence modification hearing today where Kingfisher County Associate District Judge Robert E. Davis. would hear directly from her how she has changed and is ready to return to her family. Instead of giving Ms. Spottedcrow the chance to prove herself, Davis canceled the hearing and handed down the heavy sentence of eight years. Eight years for her to be away from her children, husband, and mother. And it's eight years that Oklahoma taxpayers will be footing the bill to needlessly keep a non-violent drug offender behind bars.
In the video below, Patricia Spottedcrow states that there are women in prison with her who are convicted of manslaughter and doing less time than she is for a first time marijuana offense.
"I sleep next to this girl here. She's in on manslaughter. She did three years. She was here for a year and now she's gone. I look around at all the people around me and they are here on trafficking two and three times, busted and busted, three and four prison sentences. They don't have near as much time as I do."
More than 30,000 people have signed the petition in support of Patricia. And they're continuing to sign. If you haven't joined her campaign yet, do so here: http://www.change.org/petitions/hon-robert-e-davis-remove-10-year-prison-sentence-for-moms-first-time-marijuana-offense
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