Man gets 8 years for threatening Obama's life

[IDemo]

Source: sfgate.com

(05-11) 18:24 PDT New Orleans (AP) --

A 47-year-old New Orleans man has been sentenced for making death threats against President Obama.

U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey on Tuesday sentenced John Turnpaugh to three years in prison for that charge and another five years for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute it and possession of four firearms to aid his drug trafficking.

According to court records, Turnpaugh admitted calling a New Orleans Police Department 911 operator on Dec. 30 and saying he was going to kill the President and his wife. A subsequent investigation by the police and U.S. Secret Service determined that the caller was Turnpaugh.

He pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 2.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/05/11/national/a182430D48.DTL&type=health

---

Only three years for death threats against the President; five for possession of weed.

Is this a great country?

[safeinOhio]

1. There needs to be 10 years added

for "being stupid in a no stupid zone".

[lurky]

2. Just how stoned was he when he called 911

and told them he was going to kill the pres?

I'm guessing pretty fucking stoned.

[alp227]

3. 3 years for death threats? 5 for weed? Switch the #s around please.

Oh yeah, don't forget about child molesters who sometimes get lighter sentences than people convicted of drug possession.

[awoke_in_2003]

4. that's all?

threatening the office should carry a heavier penalty

[BlueJazz]

5. Both sentences seem rather harsh. He didn't actually DO anything.

The threat was just a Macho Rant and the pot change is no big deal. The Guns (if illegal) are maybe worth 1 year.

6 months for being a threatening fool...1 year for the guns and probation for the pot.

[boppers]

11. Why sentence folks before they commit the crimes they brag about planning?

Well, maybe to cut down on the morons who actually carry out threats.


edit: typo

[BlueJazz]

14. Yeah...very true. I guess I feel that sometimes people say stupid things that..

...(later) they think: "Damn, I wish the hell I hadn't said that"

Plus, Beck and other right-wing idiots have said things about the President that could have been interpreted as
threatening Obama but they seem to get a "Pass" on their words.

[struggle4progress]

6. oh, dude! couldn't ya have just gotten stoned, put on some mellow music,

and fuckin munched out on twinkies?

[pitchforksandtorches]

7. adios MF n/t

[slay]

8. This putting people in jail for long terms over WEED - a fucking plant - has got to stop

he got more years for weed than the death threat against the prez! WTF! :wtf:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Oy.

I guess I'm supposed to be thankful he's behind bars.:banghead:

[Carnage251]

10. Bon voyage! dumbass

[eirteacher]

12. Damn

Damn, one less tea bagger at the next rally.

[Carnage251]

15. sad but true

[NYC Liberal]

13. The death threats warrant time. What's unbelievable is smoking pot

got a LONGER sentence than making death threats agains the president of the United States!

There can't possibly be people who think that makes sense, even people who support criminalization.