"The court calls the case of The State of Georgia versus Shane Samuel Ryder, case number 40135. The Honorable James William Jackson Jr. presiding."
The judge walked in and looked out over the small courtroom before taking the seat at the bench. "Be seated," He said in a voice that was too low for a man that looked so frail. "Are you Shane Samuel Ryder?" "Yes, Sir." Shane answered. "Is that your true and correct name?" "Yes, Sir." "Your file indicates," He paused and adjusted the old glasses on his nose as he looked over the thick stack of paper in front of him. "You've waived your right to have an attorney present with you today. Do you still want to proceed without counsel present?" The judge looked back over at the young, long blond haired man standing at the podium. In his day, your suit was pressed; your face clean-shaven, and you certainly didn't have hair past your collar for an important criminal case. His nose wrinkled in disgust.
"My attorney is on a fishing trip in Florida, Sir." Shane answered to the snickering of a few people behind him, all looking just as rough as the young man. "Is that an answer in the affirmative, Mister Ryder?" "He's not here, and I wouldn't want him if he was." Shane said. The man had let him down and landed him in court anyway. He was certain that the fishing trip was also teaching Edward Kenner the reason that his family paid him so well, as his granddad and dad were both paying him a visit.
"This court wants a "yes" or "no' answer, Mr. Ryder." "My answer is the same, I wish to proceed." "It is your right to have the information setting forth the charge against you read aloud in open court." The Judge stated, and looked over to the prosecutor. "Sure, go ahead." Shane muttered. He wasn't sure who hadn't heard what he'd done by now, and didn't care. His family had a reputation for dealing with things, and he just followed along their ways.
"Will the prosecutor please read the information?"
Shane listened to the sizeable list of things being brought against him. His mind turned back to Kevin, and the way he'd ripped him off. Easy money jobs are only easy for the guys that offer them. The methamphetamine had been taken, then the payment, as well as a few of Shane's own promised items of drugs and a case of AR-15s. He never wanted the meth. Those junkies are too hard to deal with. The weed though, in a college town or even Valdosta could have made nice revenue. Shane was fingered for it, Kevin thought he was going to sit it out, free and clear. A temper and aluminum ball bat later, Kevin was eating his meals through a tube in his stomach, and Shane was standing in court, listening to an impressive list that now included arson.
"Thank you," Judge Jackson said as the prosecutor reclaimed his seat. He turned his steely gaze back on the young man. "This courtroom proceeding is your arraignment." He paused as if it needed that sort of dramatic flair. "The purpose of today's proceeding is to ensure that you are the person charged in the indictment, to inform you the range of punishment for the offense in which you are charged, and to take your plea." "Yes Sir, I know." "Again, are you Shane Samuel Ryder, the person named in the information?" Shane tried hard not to roll his eyes or sigh. "I am."
"You are charged with the crime of assault in the second degree with a firearm?" "I didn't pull the firearm, it was on my person at the time of my arrest." Shane spoke up. "Mister Ryder, you'll not interrupt me while I am speaking, and you'll be thankful this is the only charge against you from this list of what can only be described as disturbing behavior. Am I clear?" "Yes, Sir." "You are charged with the crime of assault in the second degree with a firearm. This is a Class D Felony. The range of punishment for this offense is a minimum of twelve months and up to five years in prison."
Shane hadn't expected more than a few months, and he heard his girlfriend sob quietly. It was worth it, they knew now that he wouldn't stand around to be one that's screwed over. People would think twice before they thought about playing something over on Todd Ryder's boy, he was just as serious as his old man.
"Do you understand the allegation against you and the full range of the punishment for this offense?" "Yes Sir, I do." "How do you plead?" "Guilty." Judge Jackson hadn't expected a guilty plea. He was expecting the young man to balk, and plead not guilty just to drag out his time, receive bail sentencing and as soon as he bonded out skip town, only to screw up later and be before him again. "Mister Ryder, do you have anything to say on your behalf?" Shane thought about all sorts of things to say. Like the fact that the Prosecutor's wife would be receiving some photos of her husband in compromising positions with someone other than herself. That Kevin Garrett had gotten what he deserved, a message never to screw over Bear or his family and lastly, that the thought of going to prison didn't scare him in the slightest. He knew that none of these things would help his sentencing and could bring down more heat on the MC. He shook his head; after all, he wasn't sorry for any of it. "No Sir, I do not have anything to say." "Mister Ryder, I sentence you to twelve months in Valdosta State Prison and Annex." The gavel fell against the sound block. "All rise." The bailiffs" voice boomed in the tiny room.
The judge walked in and looked out over the small courtroom before taking the seat at the bench. "Be seated," He said in a voice that was too low for a man that looked so frail. "Are you Shane Samuel Ryder?" "Yes, Sir." Shane answered. "Is that your true and correct name?" "Yes, Sir." "Your file indicates," He paused and adjusted the old glasses on his nose as he looked over the thick stack of paper in front of him. "You've waived your right to have an attorney present with you today. Do you still want to proceed without counsel present?" The judge looked back over at the young, long blond haired man standing at the podium. In his day, your suit was pressed; your face clean-shaven, and you certainly didn't have hair past your collar for an important criminal case. His nose wrinkled in disgust.
"My attorney is on a fishing trip in Florida, Sir." Shane answered to the snickering of a few people behind him, all looking just as rough as the young man. "Is that an answer in the affirmative, Mister Ryder?" "He's not here, and I wouldn't want him if he was." Shane said. The man had let him down and landed him in court anyway. He was certain that the fishing trip was also teaching Edward Kenner the reason that his family paid him so well, as his granddad and dad were both paying him a visit.
"This court wants a "yes" or "no' answer, Mr. Ryder." "My answer is the same, I wish to proceed." "It is your right to have the information setting forth the charge against you read aloud in open court." The Judge stated, and looked over to the prosecutor. "Sure, go ahead." Shane muttered. He wasn't sure who hadn't heard what he'd done by now, and didn't care. His family had a reputation for dealing with things, and he just followed along their ways.
"Will the prosecutor please read the information?"
Shane listened to the sizeable list of things being brought against him. His mind turned back to Kevin, and the way he'd ripped him off. Easy money jobs are only easy for the guys that offer them. The methamphetamine had been taken, then the payment, as well as a few of Shane's own promised items of drugs and a case of AR-15s. He never wanted the meth. Those junkies are too hard to deal with. The weed though, in a college town or even Valdosta could have made nice revenue. Shane was fingered for it, Kevin thought he was going to sit it out, free and clear. A temper and aluminum ball bat later, Kevin was eating his meals through a tube in his stomach, and Shane was standing in court, listening to an impressive list that now included arson.
"Thank you," Judge Jackson said as the prosecutor reclaimed his seat. He turned his steely gaze back on the young man. "This courtroom proceeding is your arraignment." He paused as if it needed that sort of dramatic flair. "The purpose of today's proceeding is to ensure that you are the person charged in the indictment, to inform you the range of punishment for the offense in which you are charged, and to take your plea." "Yes Sir, I know." "Again, are you Shane Samuel Ryder, the person named in the information?" Shane tried hard not to roll his eyes or sigh. "I am."
"You are charged with the crime of assault in the second degree with a firearm?" "I didn't pull the firearm, it was on my person at the time of my arrest." Shane spoke up. "Mister Ryder, you'll not interrupt me while I am speaking, and you'll be thankful this is the only charge against you from this list of what can only be described as disturbing behavior. Am I clear?" "Yes, Sir." "You are charged with the crime of assault in the second degree with a firearm. This is a Class D Felony. The range of punishment for this offense is a minimum of twelve months and up to five years in prison."
Shane hadn't expected more than a few months, and he heard his girlfriend sob quietly. It was worth it, they knew now that he wouldn't stand around to be one that's screwed over. People would think twice before they thought about playing something over on Todd Ryder's boy, he was just as serious as his old man.
"Do you understand the allegation against you and the full range of the punishment for this offense?" "Yes Sir, I do." "How do you plead?" "Guilty." Judge Jackson hadn't expected a guilty plea. He was expecting the young man to balk, and plead not guilty just to drag out his time, receive bail sentencing and as soon as he bonded out skip town, only to screw up later and be before him again. "Mister Ryder, do you have anything to say on your behalf?" Shane thought about all sorts of things to say. Like the fact that the Prosecutor's wife would be receiving some photos of her husband in compromising positions with someone other than herself. That Kevin Garrett had gotten what he deserved, a message never to screw over Bear or his family and lastly, that the thought of going to prison didn't scare him in the slightest. He knew that none of these things would help his sentencing and could bring down more heat on the MC. He shook his head; after all, he wasn't sorry for any of it. "No Sir, I do not have anything to say." "Mister Ryder, I sentence you to twelve months in Valdosta State Prison and Annex." The gavel fell against the sound block. "All rise." The bailiffs" voice boomed in the tiny room.