Louisiana Upholds Life Sentence to Black Man For Stealing Hedge Trimmers in 1997
Posted By: Will Moss on August 06, 2020 While this may not be HBCU related news, as an AFrican American male, I had to share this appalling decision by the Louisiana court system to keep a man in jail with a life sentence for such a petty crime. The Louisiana Supreme Court has voted 5 – 1 in an appalling decision that effectively upholds a life sentence for a man jailed for attempting to steal hedge trimmers in 1997. Fair Wayne Bryant was convicted for stealing hedge clippers and was sentenced to life in prison under Louisiana’s habitual offender law. Bryan had launched an appeal on the grounds that the sentence was too severe, but the state’s supreme court refused to hear it. The chief justice, Bernette Johnson was the sole dissenter and wrote her dissent saying that the sentence is excessive and disproportionate to the offense committed. Furthermore, it was costing the state a significant sum of money to keep the man incarcerated. Bryant, a black man, had four previous convictions; the first being an armed robbery for which he was sentenced to 10 years hard labor in 1979. He was later convicted of possession of stolen property in 1987, attempted forgery of a check in the amount of $150, and burglary in 1992. "Since his conviction in 1997, Mr. Bryant's incarceration has cost Louisiana taxpayers approximately $518,667," she wrote. "Arrested at 38, Mr. Bryant has already spent nearly 23 years in prison and is now over 60 years old. If he lives another 20 years, Louisiana taxpayers will have paid almost one million dollars to punish Mr. Bryant for his failed effort to steal a set of hedge clippers." Almost 80% of the inmates jailed in Louisiana under habitual offender laws are black, says Nicholas Chrastil of nonprofit news outlet The Lens in New Orleans. Chief Justice Johnson for her part said that Bryant’s sentence harkened back to the “Pig Laws” and “Black Codes” in the post reconstruction years which were designed to ensnare free blacks into forced servitude via penal sentences. "Pig Laws were largely designed to re-enslave African Americans," wrote Chief Justice Johnson, calling the sentence a "modern manifestation" of Pig Laws: "This man's life sentence for a failed attempt to steal a set of hedge clippers is grossly out of proportion to the crime and serves no legitimate penal purpose." If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
![]() |
This is all the way messed up. Anyone in Louisiana in law that can do something about this!?
Saturday, August 8th 2020 at 1:43PM |
This is bad fake news. "His life sentence under the state’s habitual offender law was not based solely on the burglary attempt but on his four prior convictions (armed robbery, possession of stolen items, forgery, and burglary). That law mandates that an offender’s punishment be increased based on criminal history." https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/louisian...
Tuesday, August 18th 2020 at 7:46PM |
I dont care if he was a habitual theif. This is just wrong. Some of you are on here trying to make excuses for this, and its disgusting.
Friday, August 21st 2020 at 4:30PM |
LOUSYANA does it again! This is so wrong....sad situation. Imagine if he had been a rich white guy's son.
Saturday, September 5th 2020 at 2:09AM |
Wow!
Sunday, September 13th 2020 at 6:50PM |
Cacasian males can rape, threaten to murder women and children and they do little or no time. Why are hedge trimmers more important than women and children's lives in America????????
Sunday, September 13th 2020 at 6:52PM |
More From This Author
Leading Architectural, Engineering, Construction Firm, VHB, Partners with HBCU CONNECT to Host Diversity Recruitment Event! |
$5,000 HBCU Scholarship Offered for Architecture or Engineering Students - Apply Today - Deadline Approaching! |
Latest News
![]() |
The Black and Brown Business Summit Is Helping Minority Small Business Owners!Have you ever wanted to develop an elevator pitch? Do you wonder how to get your business more followers on social media? Are you confused by lawyer jargon and need law advice for your small business? ...more
Lailah Berry • 28 Views • April 13th, 2021 |
![]() |
Allen University Virtual Open House this Saturday with Dance Team Tryouts and Cheerleader Tryouts!Allen University will host a virtual open house event on Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 10AM - 12:30PM EST via Zoom. The event is open to the public but you will need to register as space is limited. L ...more
Reggie Culpepper • 48 Views • April 13th, 2021 |
![]() |
The CDC Officially Declares Racism A "Serious Public Health Threat"In a statement recently released on the CDC website, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky acknowledged that racism is a systematic horror that plagues people of color every single day, calling it a "serious ...more
Kennedy Williams • 82 Views • April 13th, 2021 |
![]() |
Kentucky State University recently awarded $260,000 from James Graham Brown FoundationKentucky State University was recently awarded $260,000 from the James Graham Brown Foundation for a project that will support veterans and adult work-ready training.
According to the grant propos ...more
Kennedy Williams • 114 Views • April 13th, 2021 |
![]() |
Classic Black Movie Test: What's Your Score?This Black film quiz has been making its rounds on social media and we just had to see what y'all have to say about this. Word on the street is you need at least 30/47 to pass.
How man you seen? pi ...more
Kennedy Williams • 89 Views • April 13th, 2021 |
Popular News