Shenandoah Teens Dismissal Hearing
Posted by Turtle on 11/13/2008
by Turtle
The three teenagers charged as adults in Shenandoah, Derrick Donchak, Colin Walsh, and Brandon Piekarsky, asked to have the charges dismissed. A hearing was scheduled for 9:30am this morning (11/13/08).
Two friends drove an hour to my house, where another friend and I waited. The four of us drove another hour to Pottsville to witness the goings-on of this dismissal hearing.
When we first arrived, I recognized some of the wonderful people I’ve met and have been keeping in touch with. I am happy to say the families are remaining strong and supportive!
I overheard someone talking about a plea bargain. As I listened, I learned that only yesterday, the District Attorney offered a sweet deal to the boys. Apparently, he was willing to drop everything but assault and ethnic intimidation, with a sentence of ten months in county prison. Wow. I guess even the DA knows he has NO CASE against these boys, but since he’s up for election as a judge, he needs SOME kind of conviction on them.
We entered the courtroom, and waited and waited. Then we waited some more. After about an hour and a half of waiting, I found out that the judge, attorneys, and DA were in judge’s chambers downstairs. Here’s where this whole situation gets really whacky:
The DA wanted the plea deal, the defense was wholeheartedly considering it, and the judge was willing to approve it. Then MALDEF and the Department of Justice (DOJ) called Crystal Dillman (self-titled “fiancee” of Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala) and Ramirez Zavala’s mother in Mexico who used an interpreter. Both Momma Ramirez and Dillman fought against the plea deal because it wasn’t harsh enough. Well, I’ll be ..
Since WHEN does the American judicial process get halted by racist, ethnocentric brown supremacy groups? Why is the DOJ working WITH anti-American, racist groups?
Back to the courtroom: we waited still for the hearing to start, or to get word of any plea bargains being accepted. Finally, the ten-minute hearing began. The judge told the DA he has several items to answer, within ten days, and the judge named off several numbers that apparently correlate to a packet of papers they had. I found out later on that some of those numbers included the DA handing over evidence to support the charges of homicide and ethnic intimidation. The judge will also consider severing the trials, so they might be tried separately.
We then went out into the hallway, where a slew of reporters with cameras waited for the teens to be led out of the courtroom. Once the boys had passed, the reporters asked some of us to interview on camera. My friend, Debby Rabold gave striking interviews with several of them. I spoke to Bob Reynolds from WNEP. Much to my surprise, they actually included some of what I said! LOL!
yadontsay said
The fact that these 3 teens brutally beat a man to death and that charges should be dismissed or even lessened sickens me! As for the supporters that they bring with them to court, they should have to spend time with victims of violent crimes and open their eyes to the fact that their friends, sons, and family member brought pain to others lives. I hope to God that Judge Baldwin does not fall to the pressures of the supporters of the teens, and I hope he delivers a decision to try them all as adults….to the fullest extent of the law. Those “boys” committed a crime that was adult in nature, and they should be punished in like. Now is a little late for saying oops! How would you feel if this crime had been committed on one of your friends, or loved one? I think you would want the guilty parties to be fully punished. 10 months for murder! If that ruling does come down I am sure the feds, and state will be all over the Schuylkill County Judicial Department; from what I hear they are watching closely as it is.
As for your “friend” Debbi Rabolds’ comment about “if he was not here he would be alive”….she must have missed the deadline for her rocket scientist degree because if they (the teens) were not there he would be alive as well. How does that lessen the fact that they brutally beat and murdered a man? I understand the laws of this nation to be for everyone in it, not just those here legally. Fact is that Mr. Ramirez was a human being first and foremost.
Apparently the head count on close-minded biggots has gone up!
yadontsay said
Where is all this evidence about guns? Where is the evidence about the other hispanics? Hmmmmmm….who is being charged? Knowing the justice system in Schuylkill County I’m sure that if there was reasonable cause (even a slight hint of cause) that hispanics were involved also they would have been charged.
Hopefully when the accused do get their day in court the higher courts of our country will be monitoring the trial for fairness. Hopefully they will be made to pay for the crime that they committed. Fact is 1 dead, 3 killers…………lopsided yes. I hope they throw the book at them and that they get charged as adults. Those 3 won’t stand a chance in a prison system…..good luck boys!
yadontsay said
So no one is supposed to know about this so called evidence….except you; and apparently you are such a high ranking and trusted servant of the system that you can keep this evidence under wraps. Interesting!
If 1 person did point a gun at the teens did they brutally beat the right person? Since when is a fist faster than a bullet? Why didn’t they just shoot the attackers? (Maybe there was NO gun!….hummmmmm)
If Ramirez DID have a gun, and as you say “kept coming back at the teens” then his aim is way off……..cause he kept falling into their fists and feet…..perhaps there is a plausable argument….he beat himself to death and this weapon of choice was the teens! Quick call the DA!
Actually I find debating this in this forum entertaining….it will come down to their day in court. The outcome, either way will be food for argument for years to come!
Next question: Do you think there is such thing as a fair trial for this case in Schuylkill County?