I am often surprised by the cunning and creativity of people that get arrested. I mean after all, it takes effort to think of the crime you intend to commit and plan for the execution, find someone to help you and try to get away with it without being caught. We all know someone like this right? Sounds like this: “Man if he put the same effort and thought process into something legal, he could become a millionaire.” Well the other night I heard something that made me shake my head and laugh out loud. A police officer was questioning this guy who was attempting to bond his friend out of jail. After running the guys social and DOB, the officer let him know there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear. The guy was cooperative but was telling the officer that he in fact did not miss court and that there must be some mistake. “Are you sure you ran my name?” “Did you run the right social cause I’m clean man, I shouldn’t have nothin out there on me!” The officer was cordial and explained that if a mistake was made it will get worked out in court but since it’s a live warrant he would need to take him into custody. Officer: “I’m going to need to search you real quick. Do you have anything sharp in your pockets, anything that will hurt me?” Offender: “Naw man I ain’t got nothin on me.” The Officer patted the guy down and checked his pockets and there in his right front pocket was the corner of a sandwich bag filled with white powder. Officer: “What is this?” Offender: “What is what?” Officer: “This.” The officer pointed to the little white bag of powder he took from his pockets and placed on the hood of his cruiser. Offender: “You got that from my pocket?” Officer: “Yep.” Offender: “Man you didn’t get that from my pocket.” Officer: “Yeah man, I just pulled this out of your pocket with your keys and everything else you had in your pants pocket and put it right here on the hood.” Offender: “You found that in my pocket?” The officer nodded his head. “Yep right in the pocket of your pants.”

Offender: “Awe man, you know what? These ain’t even my pants.” The officer tried to hold back his grin but just couldn’t keep a straight face. Officer: “These aren’t your pants?” Offender: “Man I must have grabbed the wrong pants when I got dressed this morning.” Officer: “Yes you did son, yes you did”. I was impressed by the way this guy made an attempt to think on his feet. Although flawed, he must operate with the mantra “If you ain’t lying you ain’t trying.” Certainly, here’s what I’ve discovered: Intelligent people can do some really dumb things.

Here’s the story…a friend of a friend asks you to give him a ride to the store. He’s really not your friend but you know him. He seems ok, after all he’s known one of your friends for a while. You say “sure” of course you’ll give a guy a ride to the store. Seems harmless right? You take him to the store, the convenience store on the corner. He says, “You want anything?” You say “no I’m good”. He goes into the store and comes back in about 10 minutes. You say “we good?” He says “yeah, take a right and step on it! You say ”Step on it?” What do you mean? He says “MAN STEP ON IT! He’s agitated… Suddenly Blue Lights behind you, Blue Lights on side streets, and you think you hear a helicopter above you. The next thing you hear are commands from a Police loud speaker telling you to put your hands out the window. Police officers approach your car, guns drawn while you new friend stuffs a brown paper bag under his seat. As you are being violently removed from your vehicle and placed on the ground, knee in the neck, it dawns on you…you are the get-a-way car in an armed robbery. Now this sounds far fetched but it is an absolutely TRUE STORY. When I met the get-a-way driver he was in tears. I had just posted his bond and as he walked out of the release door he all but fell into my arms. I tried to comfort him by telling him that he is just accused of the crime and that he is presumed innocent until the court can prove he’s guilty but it was like he already knew. That prosecutor was going to do everything in his power to convict him. After all, that’s his job. The more convictions he wins the more successful he is. That is the way our judicial system is wired. You know, this could really happen to anybody. As you reflect on this remember what your Mother said. “Don’t hang around the wrong people”. Better yet read Proverbs One and apply it to your life. Peace.

Here’s the lie. Rich people get out of jail, poor people stay in jail.

Most of us have never been arrested. Most of us have never spent even a day in jail. But… those of us who have know this. When you are in jail you have no money, nothing, notta… The jail holds ALL of your belongings in “property” – property that you have no access to. The richest man in town and the poorest man in town are exactly the same in jail. Both are penniless, broke, indigent. Neither of them can bail themselves out. The only assets they have are family and friends. As many of you know, even if you are gainfully employed coming up with $1000 dollars to help a loved one who had one too many at the bar is challenging, especially in the middle of the night. Bail is a Constitutional right. The 8th Amendment states that Bail will not be excessive, however, lets get real. If you don’t have $20 dollars, $15 dollars is excessive. Bail Bondsmen are licensed with the Department of Criminal Justice Services. They are sureties regulated by the Bureau of Insurance and are willing to take on the fiduciary responsibilities for citizens who can not afford to post bail and they do it for a fraction of the cost. The bondsman also guarantees that the offender will show up to every single court date until the case is adjudicated. Bail is set by the judge, not the bail bondsman. Just a little research on this subject will reveal that no one actually stays in jail because they can’t afford to post bond. (Remember they can’t post it anyway.) Many people remain in jail because the family feels it is better and safer for them to be incarcerated until their court date. If your son or daughter is addicted to heroin, better jail than the graveyard. If Mom says no…it’s NO! Many progressives are beginning to think that Bail Bondsmen are actually the answer to judicial reform. Here’s why. Most Bail Agents bring resources that provide intervention for the offender and their families. These resources fit the crime. An introduction to Celebrate Recovery for people who suffer from Hurts, Habits and Hangups. Addiction therapy through the Coleman Institute or Pastoral Counseling for family assault offenders. Imagine offering intervention at the jail house door 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Imagine making resource management training part of the bi-annual continuing education requirement for bondsmen. The cash bail system saves lives. Families get involved with the release of their loved ones. The alternative is to hold people in jail or release offenders to government programs without family awareness and support, which amounts to pre-conviction probation. Remember this old adage: “We are from the Government and we are here to help.” Keep the private option for offender release available. It’s the right thing to do.

Have you ever been in an argument with your loved one? It’s a question I already know the answer to. Have you ever gotten so upset that you just want to leave, get in your car or walk down the road and be anywhere but here? Of course you have. But what if the argument escalates and say for instance your wife or girlfriend wants to see your phone and grabs it out of your hand or you demand to see your husband’s phone and while looking at it you see the text messages from some girl he met on facebook. You are so angry and hurt that you throw the phone up against the wall, the screen shatters, your relationship shatters, and then, overwhelmed with anger you scream as loud as you can, “GET OUT! WE ARE THROUGH!” Knock at the door. Two police officers in full regalia stand in the doorway and inform you that they are responding to a social disturbance call and ask you if everything is alright. You respond: Yes officer everything is fine, we just had an argument. Officer number one: “How did you get that scratch on your face?” You respond “Oh I didn’t realize I had a scratch, must have happened when my wife was trying to grab my phone.” Officer number two: “Is your wife here?” You respond “Yes, She’s here, come on in.” What happens next is a well told story that some of you already know. The officers separate the combatants and conduct interviews. The wife tells her side of the story, how she found out you were cheating on her because of the texts on your phone. You tell the officers how she is really jealous and wanted to see your phone and how she was upset because she saw some texts and how… Officer number two: “Where is the phone?” Is this it?” The officer holds up the cell phone with the smashed screen. You say, “Yep, that’s it.” Officer number one says “Do you want to press charges?” You say “No, of course not.” Officer number two asks your wife to turn around and put her hands behind her back. This is where things get crazy. See, the officer has found enough evidence to charge your wife with assault on a family member, because of the scratch on your face…your testimony. Also, destruction of property, her testimony and physical evidence. Your wife, already furious, goes to the next level of rage. Absolutely unfair! You are the one cheating, She gets arrested. Seeing your wife unjustly arrested and now being restrained is too much for you too handle. You attempt to intervene by pulling your wife away from the officer and pleading with the officer to release her. Suddenly, you are blinded by the most intense burning sensation you ever experienced…Pepper Spray. You find yourself on the floor handcuffed, in custody, charged with obstruction of justice. Better call a Bondsman.

This is a true story and similar to dozens of stories I’ve heard in the past. I would love to hear your story. I look forward to reading your comments.

There is a concerted and coordinated effort to outlaw private bail in the United States. Here is the false narrative: Cash bail leads to a two-tiered justice system – one for the rich and one for everyone else. Those who sit behind bars while awaiting trial are exposed to significant collateral consequences, like the loss of a job or even custody of their children. What’s more, these impacts are disproportionately experienced by people of color. First of all, people do not get arrested and go to jail simply because of the color of their skin. People get arrested because THEY BROKE THE LAW. When you are arrested, you are accused of a crime. The 5th and 14th Amendments of the Constitution Of The United States guarantee the right to due process…the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The 8th Amendment of the Constitution provides a limit to bail, that it will not be excessive. Most of us have never been arrested. Most of us have never spent even a day in jail. But… those of us who have know this. When you are in jail you have no money, nothing, notta. The jail holds ALL of your belongings in “property” – property that you have no access to. The richest man in town and the poorest man in town are exactly the same in jail. Both are penniless, broke, indigent. Neither of them can bail themselves out. The only assets they have are family and friends. As many of you know, even if you are gainfully employed coming up with $1000 dollars to help a loved one who had one too many at the bar is challenging, especially in the middle of the night. Bail is a Constitutional right. Remember? The 8th Amendment states that Bail will not be excessive, however, lets get real. If you don’t have $20 dollars, $15 dollars is excessive. Bail Bondsmen are licensed with the Department of Criminal Justice Services. They are sureties regulated by the Bureau of Insurance and are willing to take on the fiduciary responsibilities for citizens who can not afford to post bail and they do it for a fraction of the cost. The bondsman also guarantees that the offender will show up to every single court date until the case is adjudicated. Bail is set by the judge, not the bail bondsman. Just a little research on this subject will reveal that no one actually stays in jail because they can’t afford to post bond. (Remember they can’t post it anyway.) Many people remain in jail because the family feels it is better and safer for them to be incarcerated until their court date. If your son or daughter is addicted to heroin, better jail than the graveyard. If Mom says no…it’s NO! Many progressives are beginning to think that Bail Bondsmen are actually the answer to judicial reform. Here’s why. Most Bail Agents bring resources that provide intervention for the offender and their families. These resources fit the crime. An introduction to Celebrate Recovery for people who suffer from Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups. Addiction therapy through the Coleman Institute or Pastoral Counseling for family assault offenders and alcohol monitoring. Imagine offering intervention at the jail house door 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Imagine making resource management training part of the bi-annual continuing education requirement for bondsmen. The cash bail system saves lives. Families get involved with the release of their loved ones. The alternative is to hold people in jail or release offenders to government programs without family awareness and support, which amounts to pre-conviction probation. Remember this old adage: “We are from the Government and we are here to help.” Keep the private option for offender release available. It’s the right thing to do. Don’t Outlaw Freedom.

Ok, here’s how it works. You get pulled over. Sheriff finds a straw with what appears to be a white powdery residue substance on the inside of the straw. You get released with a warning for defective equipment for the tail light that was out and down the road you go. Three months later Sheriffs show up at your job with a warrant for your arrest. They sent the baggie off to the lab and it came back positive for Schedule 1 or 2 narcotic. The prosecutor showed the evidence to the grand jury and secured a DIRECT INDICTMENT. This make sense right? Right! You had residue from a narcotic in your vehicle, on your person. This is the proper, intended reason for Direct Indictments. Here is how Direct Indictments are abused:

You are charged with a total of 5 charges. Hit and Run, Reckless driving. Possession of schedule 1 or 2 narcotic, Driving on suspended and DWI. The prosecutor moves forward on the Possession of Schedule 1 or 2 drug and the DWI and decides to Noelle prosequi the driving on suspended and hit and run. You think “Great” those charges are dismissed. Wrong! Those charges are Nolle prosequi,. The Prosecutor can bring those charges as much as a year later… or more! You get convicted of the charges the prosecutor pursued. you think its over and BAM. You are arrested again! you think, “wait” those charges were dismissed! Nope. The were Noelle Prosequi. Now I am not a lawyer and I do not give legal advice but I do have a front row seat to the judicial system. Here is my advice.

1. Don’t break the law
2. If you do get a lawyer
3. Understand that the prosecutor’s job is to prosecute you!
4. Your Job is to defend yourself

If you can get a secured bond…Do so. www.bailbondsva.com

BEST REGARDS

BILL Weisband

So you go out for a couple beers, run into a couple of old friends and a couple of beers turns into one of the best nights you’ve had in a long time. What started out as a 2 hour outing ended up as an 8 hour party! ”Last Call For Alcohol” What? You look at your phone and stare in disbelief at the time. 1:30AM, Wow, how did this happen? You and your buddies start saying goodbye, they call an Uber, You drove your car, and you need to get to work first thing in the morning so a cab or an Uber doesn’t work for you. You know better than to drive because you’ve had way to much to drink so you get in your car, lean the seat back, make yourself as comfortable as possible. Perfect plan right? Sleep it off, drive home at the crack of dawn, get ready for work and struggle through the work day as the penalty for partying. Some of you already know what happens next…knock knock knock on your window. It’s the local Sherrif‘s department. ”License and registration please“. You’re not worried because you are doing the right thing, you’re not driving you are sleeping it off right?

Here is the sad truth. Your keys are in the ignition, or in the console or anywhere where they are accessible. DUI…Yep DUI… I know Ive heard this story 100 times over the last 18 years. If you decide to “Do The Right Thing”, lock those keys in the trunk or throw them in the woods or stash them in a bush because if you can reach them or have access to them and you are over a .08 BAC…you are going to jail. By the way you can still get a DUI even if you are under .08 BAC 18.2-266 Click the link and read it for yourself! If it happens to you, call me and I’ll be there for you.

So if you were wondering, “What can I do to get arrested?” I have the perfect answer. Here it is: DISOBEY A POLICE COMMAND. That’s right. It’s just as simple as that. I see it happen all the time, An officer makes a traffic stop for what ever reason, it really doesn’t matter why he stopped you. He approaches the car, he asks for your drivers license and registration. Simple enough right? Intelligent right thinking people hand the documents over to the officer, hands on the wheel, radio off, a tone of calm controlled respect in their voice. Officer lets you know the reason for pulling you over, my last encounter was because I neglected to turn my bright lights off. I was south bound, the officer was northbound. It was Friday night at 11:45 PM. As we passed each other I neglected to dim my lights. He turned around and pulled me over. All I really had to do was comply. I wasn’t breaking the law. I had a valid drivers license, a proper registration, I was not drinking, smoking weed, I had no outstanding warrants and I wasn’t speeding. The officer asked me, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” I replied, “No I don’t”. Officer said, “It’s because you didn’t dim your lights to oncoming traffic.” “Have you had anything to drink tonight?” I replied, “no sir.” He said, “Ok Ill be back in just a moment”. I’m quite sure he ran my license to check for warrants, came back and handed my documents to me, warned me about being more careful with my brights and we were done. For the Officer, a fishing expedition. Trying to catch drivers DUI or wanted fugitives. For me? A slight inconvenience. Yes it’s pretty much common sense for most people.

Scenario #2 – Officer, ”Roll down your window please”. You, ”Man, why did you pull me over?” Officer, “I need you to roll down your window and I’m going to need to see your drivers license and registration”. You, “Man I ain’t showing you shit until you tell my why you pulled me over”. “This is bullshit! I’m tired of all this profiling, harassment bullshit”. At this time the officer wisely calls for back up. Officer, “Sir I am going to need you to step out of your vehicle”…Now from here it can go just as far as you would like to take it. If you do not exit your vehicle the Officers will assist you. Break your window pull you out of the car and cuff you. Why? Because, you were stupid enough to disobey a police command. Here is the tale of the tape: Resisting arrest, assault on a police officer and obstruction of justice… Just for starts. Let’s all do our best to not fall for the Number One Way To Get Arrested. Take some advice from Chris Rock. On how NOT to get your ass kicked by the cops!

Oh yea, things are definitely different these days. Especially when it comes to looking at dirty pictures. It used to be like this: Drive to the seedy part of town, go in to the adult book store where you would have to peruse the sordid offerings and take your selections to the counter where a real live person would look you in the eye and say, “will that be all?” “well the magazines are for my uncle, the snickers bar is mine.” Yes, super creepy and embarrassing. Matter of fact it was the ideal deterrent for most people, heck you might even be seen by a neighbor or your pastor or worse one of your wife’s friends.

These days you simply have to turn on your cell phone and find an instant and broad menu of x rated options to feed your unhealthy porn addiction. Best part is, nobody knows… that’s what you think. If you run across pornographic pictures of people under the age of 18 and happen to  download them, then you my friend are in possession of child pornography. Send the picture to friend? Distribution of child pornography.  Here’s the deal, pornography is highly addictive for most people, like heroin, alcohol, gambling, eating etc. the eye is never satiated. Like any addiction it destroys families, reputations marriages, relationships,  careers and just about anything else in it’s path. Pictures and videos are not satisfying your flesh addiction anymore  so you need to talk to a real person: Enter the Chat room, here you engage with real people with all kinds of motivations. Ready to live out some of those pornographic fantasies you’ve been perving out to? Perfect because there is a girl you have been talking to who just informed you that her parents will be out of town this weekend and she has been looking forward to spending the night with you for months. Her screen name is Heidihoe14 but her real name is investigator Simpson from the Miami Pedophile undercover unit and he has some pretty exciting experiences in store for you. He is tracking your internet address and as soon as you agree to meet your victim his quick response team will be on it’s way to intercept you and place you under arrest for soliciting underage girls for sex. Penalties for soliciting minors on the internet are severe. The difference between sex with a 17 year old and an 18 year old is about 8 years in the slammer. Here is a suggestion, DON’T DO IT! Furthermore, if you have a propensity to look at pornography get some help.

Here is a little truth…with a huge payoff.                                                                                    Galatians: 5:19

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (There is NO LAW)

To determine whether porn addiction treatment is necessary, you may be asked to consider which of the following statements are true for you:

• I feel powerless to resist the urge to view porn.
• I frequently spend more time or money on porn than I initially intended.
• I have made many unsuccessful attempts to limit or stop viewing porn.
• I spend a significant portion of time viewing porn, thinking about porn, or engaging in activities that will enable access to porn.
• I neglect family, social, or work obligations to view porn.
• I continue to use porn despite experiencing negative consequences.
• I pass up opportunities, or consider passing up opportunities, to have more time to use or view porn.
• I feel anxious, stressed, or irritable if I’m unable to access porn.

Get Help Now:

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline