In recent months, even recent years, we've seen too many one-man crime waves released to the streets by squishy, crook-friendly judges. These goblins are sometimes only back on the streets for a matter of hours before resuming their predations.
Well, in Las Vegas, one top cop has decided enough is enough. Confronted with a release order form Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Eric Goodman to release one Joshua Sanchez-Lopez, a crook with 35 arrests to his name, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill took a simple yet powerful step: He refused to comply with the release order, citing the safety of the public.
A Las Vegas sheriff is refusing to release a repeat offender with 35 arrests despite a judge’s order, sparking a legal showdown now headed to the Nevada Supreme Court over who decides if a suspect is too dangerous to leave jail.
The dispute began after Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Eric Goodman ordered Joshua Sanchez-Lopez released on electronic monitoring, a program that allows defendants to leave jail while wearing a GPS ankle bracelet, according to KLAS.
But law enforcement officials declined to release Sanchez-Lopez, arguing his criminal history makes him too dangerous to supervise in the community.
Sanchez-Lopez, 36, is a felon whose record includes 35 arrests and prior prison time for drug and involuntary manslaughter charges, according to records cited by KLAS.
This doesn't seem like a goblin who should be running around loose, ankle monitor or not. And why is it that the cops see this, but not the judge?
When police declined to release him, Goodman ordered the department to comply and warned officials they could face contempt sanctions if they did not, the outlet reported.
"When someone has dozens of prior arrests and a history of violations, that raises serious concerns about whether they can safely be released into the community," said David Moody, a retired LVMPD detective and state president of FOP in Nevada. "From a law enforcement perspective, public safety has to come first."
It's good to see someone in this matter is actually doing their job. That wouldn't be Judge Goodman, in case you're wondering.
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There's an argument to be made for the old "three-strikes" laws. Three violent felonies, and away you go for life, no parole. One might make the argument for extending that to non-violent felonies, perhaps raising the number to five. A majority of crimes of violence are committed by a minority of criminals, and it sure would seem like Sanchez-Lopez is one of those repeat offenders. While he's entitled to his day in court, it would be perfectly legal - and prudent - to keep him locked up until that day arrives.
This instance gives us a startling look at the difference between law enforcement and the judicial apparatus of one location - Clark County, Nevada - that is doubtless repeated all over the nation, especially in our major metropolitan areas. Worse, many cities are losing their police officers, very likely in part due to the frustration with squishy judges like this; imagine what a street officer must think when he busts a felon, then sees that same felon walking down the street the next day, or later the same evening.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill is to be congratulated for his convictions - and his guts.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
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