Jury recommends 117 years for attempted capital murder

TAZEWELL, Va. - A jury has recommended a Tazewell County woman spend more than 100 years behind bars for her role in attempting to kill a local police officer.

[goatgirl]

Wow! Tazewell Co. never ceases to amaze me... Back in the 90's a woman sit on, strangled and killed her 9 year old mentally retarded son and did less than 2 years of any type of incarceration. In 2002 a young woman's life was taken in Bluefield, Va over a drug deal and Terrell Moore, her killer isnt even doing such a lengthy sentence. Moore's sister who also committed 2nd degree murder is only doing a 15 year bid, but because someone attempted to shoot an officer, life sentences and 117 year sentences are being handed out like candy. In my opinion, officers decide what their occupation is going to be, they oculd easily be lawyers, mechanics, teachers, health care professionals, etc. but instead they decide to become officers and willingly risk their lives and submit themselves to targets of crime everyday. They put their pants on the same as any other US citizen does, they bleed the same, and still inevitably die, the only difference I suppose is that according to the judicial system their lives are valued higher because they are an officer. This officer is still walking around, he did not leave grieving family behind or children without a parent as did the victims mentioned above, he was even wearing a vest. What is the purpose of life sentences or 117 year sentences in cases such as these? Would not a 10 or 15 year sentence be sufficient? In that amount of time an inmate could receive valuable learning, not to mention a forced changed way of life, possible positive changes and vocational skills that could better themselves, provide a potential positive change to people and families everywhere... but instead tax payers will be paying for their shelter, food and medical treatment until they die and then the state will probably put them away, which eventually tax payers will pay for, too. Doesnt make sense when regular citizens were killed - dead - and they will be free again when these people attempted to shoot an officer with a vest on - will never be. Gives you something to think about...

[George]

They are protecting the very freedom and rights our forefathers died for. If not for Law Enforcenment it wouldn't be safe to step outside your home!!!! I just hate such Idiots!!!!

[George]

One more thing Miss Idiot.. you forgot too mention she also was convicted of two armed Robberies... God Bless them store clerks.. a gun put in thier face... the fear!!!

[taz at it again]

tazewell county hands out jail sentences so stiff it is insane. the officer chose that line of work and that is a risk with the job i think that is to much time also if she tried to shoot a average joe she wouldnt of gotten but a slap on the wrist god forbid its a cop! they put their pants on the same way eveyone else does.

[dale]

now everybody says a cop is held to a higher standard, if he breaks the law he gets a stiffer sentence because he is held to a high standard and society thinks he should get the maximum because he was a cop... but when it comes time for him to tell his side of the story after somebody has accused him of wrong doing guess what,,, there goes the higher standard clause, if joe blow goes out here and says a cop put the handcuffs on him too tight then who does society believe,,, joe blow, the drug dealer who has been convicted 100 times for dealing drugs, so where does the higher standard come in, it is something certain members of society use against a police officer to benifit them, but now you have someone who gets a stiff sentence for attempting to kill a police officer and all the sudden the higher standards act doesnt apply to him anymore... this is what your society is getting to poeple...

[George]

Again some people are just plain STUPID!!! First of all this lady was convicted of much more than shooting a fine Police Officer trying to do his job. What about the poor store clerks she robbed. I guess that is apart of thier job and the risk they take...BULL!!!! Plus all the others things she was covicted of? People sometimes bad things happen too people trying to make a honest living!!! I praise that fine JURY!!! God Bless them and our Court!!!

[midge]

I think that Virginia laws need to be revised or completely redone. The Governor should take note of the way a person is sentenced. I feel that 117 years is too much time given to this person. My nephew was convicted of a crime he didn't do. he is serving 24 years, the judge was biased and this was proven, he has been in prison since 1995, I sent the then Governor a transcript of the trial,we were told to go ahead and work on a release, at the trial, my nephew couldn't have anyone testify for him and he ask for a jury trial and was denied by this biased judge the judge went to church with the family of the person who filed charges. So it is who you know and who you are that will determine your fate. Policeman and judges seem to be more important than just the common people. I will keep fighting to have my nephew cleared of all charges. we all know he isn't guilty, the person who brought charges against my nephew did this after a year and half when incident was supposed to have happened, it is a she said but no proof., no doctors reposts or anything, She was heard to say that she was going to get even with him by lying on him. We also have letter she wrote to a friend and this was not permitted in court.

[the va law]

i totally agree something needs to be done with va law oh gosh they are like a communist or something they follow their own rules and make them up as they go along. i say their is alot of ppl in va in there for a crime they didnt commit and yes i totally agree its who you know and if you are close to the judge and the law you can get away with anything i have no respect for them they make me sick. was it judge mullins who sentenced him that is the hanging judge or used to be

[jezebel]

Back when the boys went joyriding over from WV and splattered houses with paintballs the same arguments were made. The sentence doesn't match the crime. Same with that guy who was charged with stabbing the policeman in the store, or whatever that story was about him really wanting to kill himself. The one thing is there was illegal activity going on. Maybe if this chick wasn't robbing somebody a cop wouldn't have been chasing her?

The judicial system is far from fair at times but that's what the jury is about, and having a decent lawyer. But usually there is a crime that started the whole thing rolling.

For those attacking the system here, I hope you really don't plan on ever calling 911 if you need help with your attitudes. Save your own freakin' selves.

[fact]

Amen jezabel! LOL I hear ya. The fact is this could have easily been the murder of an innocent policeman just earning a check for a living doing a job most people would never do EVER. He just earns his check in a way most never would. So you are saying its OKAY to shoot at policeman and try to kill them? I think she will get every day she deserves. And if she wanted less she should'nt have asked for a jury trial. Judges hand out way less time than juries do historically. Check it if you dont believe me!