Cops: Woman sold rocks to rioters, used cash to pay cable bill

[matcom]

<snip>

ST. JOSEPH -- A woman who admitted she sold stones to rioters in Benton Harbor last year has pleaded no contest to a felony charge that carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Yuolanda Taylor, 32, toted rocks through a riot-wracked neighborhood on the night of June 16, 2003, according to police, and sold small rocks for $1 each and bigger ones for $5.
The rocks were thrown at police, prosecutors said, though Taylor claimed she did not participate directly in the violence that tore through the area around Empire Avenue and Broadway.

Taylor told police she collected about $70 selling rocks, but quit when she got hit by one herself. She later used the money to pay her cable TV bill.

In Berrien County Trial Court Monday, Taylor pleaded no contest to inciting a riot, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Judge Casper Grathwohl accepted the plea one day before Taylor was to have faced trial. She is free on bond pending sentencing Nov. 15.

http://www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2004/10/05/news/news1.txt

[RubyDuby in GA]

1. Damn!

A person can't even make a quick buck anymore without "the man" tryin' to keep 'em down. What has happened to America??? :P

[Blue_Tires]

2. can i please meet the person

that paid five American dollars for a ROCK?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Rainbowreflect]

3. People were paying at least that much for pet rocks in the '70s.

I caught one in the wild & tamed him myself to save money.

[arwalden]

4. HARRY THE HAGGLER

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Stones, sir?

MANDY: Naah. They've got a lot there, lying around on the ground.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Oh, not like these, sir. Look at this. Feel the quality of that. That's craftsmanship, sir.

MANDY: Hmmm. Aah, all right. We'll have, uh, two with points and... a big flat one.

BRIAN: Could I have a flat one, Mum?

MANDY: Shh!

BRIAN: Sorry. Dad.

MANDY: Ehh, all right. Two points, ah, two flats, and a packet of gravel.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Packet of gravel. Should be a good one this afternoon.

MANDY: Hehh?

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Local boy.

MANDY: Oh, good.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Enjoy yourselves.