Nearly every story I read about crime in Durham mentions some plea deal where the scumbag criminal gets a lighter sentence. What’s up with that? Is it just to save us taxpayers money? If so, don’t bother. Spending tax money on an effective law enforcement and justice system is something I’ve never complained about. Here’s the latest, as described by Assistant District Attorney Jim Dornfried:
“As guys will do, they were drinking a bunch of beer,” said Dornfried. “The defendant had these dreams and became convinced he was anally raped. He grabs a knife and butchers his roommate. It was a brutal scene. The blood actually soaked through the plastic protective coverings the investigators wore on their shoes. They couldn’t believe how much blood there was.”
Gonzalez-Mendes, 39, originally was charged with first-degree murder, for which the only possible penalties are death or life in prison without parole.
However, he was allowed this week to plead guilty to the lesser offense of second-degree murder and was sentenced to between 11 and almost 15 years in prison.
Eleven-to-15, huh? So he’ll be out sooner than that if he behaves himself? And this is a guy who guts his roommate because of a dream? What is the Durham DA’s office thinking?
