Al Gore, III Charged With Felonies

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 12:46:06 PM EST
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How out of whack are our drug laws? Enough that Al Gore, III yesterday was charged with felonies as a result of his traffic stop during which marijuna and prescription drugs (Adderall, Vicodin, Xanax and Valium)were found.

He faces two felony counts of drug possession, two misdemeanour counts of drug possession without a prescription and one misdemeanour count of marijuana possession, the district attorney's office said in a statement. Gore also was charged with a traffic infraction for allegedly driving faster than 160 kilometres per hour.

Prosecutors said he could be sentenced to a maximum of three years and eight months in prison if convicted on all counts, though he might be eligible for a drug treatment program instead of prison.

At least he's eligible for a diversion program.

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Al Gore, III Charged With Felonies | 14 comments (14 topical)

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Profit-driven prisons (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by HypeJersey on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 12:55:34 PM EST

As long as the Bush Crime Family keeps privatizing our prison system, the prisons will be full of non-violent penny-ante drug users. The more people they house, the more profit they make.

Kilometres/hour? I thought he was arrested in the (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by oculus on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 02:13:36 PM EST

U.S.

Questions: what quantities of unlawful substances did he possess; does he have a criminal record, and if so, what is it; isn't this a state, as opposed to federal case?

Prior record. (none / 0) (#3)
by Gabriel Malor on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 02:30:52 PM EST

It's in kph because the quote comes from an Australian paper. As does this one on Gore's priors:

In 2003 he was charged with marijuana possession in Maryland after police stopped him for driving without headlights on. The following year he entered a substance abuse program as part of a plea agreement.
He was also charged with reckless driving in North Carolina in 2000 for allegedly speeding at 150kmh, and in September 2002 police arrested him on suspicion of drink driving near a military base in Virginia.

: Hmm (none / 0) (#5)
by chemoelectric on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 03:10:10 PM EST

Hmm. So now Manitoba is in Australia? Live and learn! :)

Oh, the feds will probably pick (none / 0) (#4)
by Electa on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 02:33:22 PM EST

it up since he's AG's son. When I was incarcerated there were women who started out in the state system, where there's parole, but the feds picked up their cases, charged them with conspiracy. One woman was sentenced to 230 months because she refused to testify against someone she didn't even know.


It's similar to a manufacturing plant that (none / 0) (#6)
by bronte17 on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 03:16:40 PM EST

has a huge sign which reads: "One million hours worked with no accidents."

But, when you have over 2000 workers who each put in 50-60 hours per week, then your workplace is only "accident free" for ~10 weeks or so.

The "one million hours" makes the factory sound so safe.

His speed was:
150 kilometers per hour = 93 miles per hour
Kilometers to Miles / divide by 1.609

There are many "lead foots" in the US that hit those speeds. Especially in the cars that are engineered to hit those high speeds.


But no DUI? (none / 0) (#7)
by Dadler on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 04:13:10 PM EST

Interesting. Hope the kid gets help and gets healthy.

That is exactly what he needs (none / 0) (#8)
by Electa on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 06:47:19 PM EST

help not prison. Maybe now Gore will become a champion for reforming the WOD, sentencing and decriminalization. The climate is getting rather warm around the Gore camp although his son was probably a GOP political target. I put nothing pass those people. I've met women like that haters of the mom so they attack the children.


: Indeed. (none / 0) (#9)
by Gabriel Malor on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 06:58:03 PM EST

although his son was probably a GOP political target. I put nothing pass those people. I've met women like that haters of the mom so they attack the children.
The Bush twins probably agree.

Perhaps (none / 0) (#10)
by marmie on Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 02:16:11 AM EST

he may actually have broken real laws and may have been justly charged. Just a thought.

Indeed he may have (none / 0) (#11)
by Electa on Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 09:22:28 AM EST

broken "real" laws but in America jay walking is a real law, 2 teenagers having consensual sex broke an archaic real law, wearing sagging britches breaks a real law but did that young man who had oral sex with his girlfriend warrant a 10 yr. sentence that's ruined his life. The oral sex didn't ruin this child's life, prison and being labeled a life time sex offender has.

My point is when a system criminalizes every aspect of a society there is a loss of respect for the rule of law that renders an ineffective and unjust system. I read where so much of the federal code has been criminalized since the inception of the USSG that even the DOJ and legal scholars have problems interpreting and keeping up w/the laws. I suggest you read "Go To Jail: The Criminalization of Almost Everything" by Gene Hanley.

Everyone in America is at risk of going to prison under this current system. Finally the Justice system itself is being judged as the result of the prosecutor firings. Now the general public gets a look at just how unjust the so-called Justice system really is in America...CORRUPT.

Gore's son is a substance abuser not a criminal. IMO he needs long term treatment and probably a lot of counseling to help him deal with his father's celebrity.


: Well said.... (none / 0) (#12)
by kdog on Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 10:12:46 AM EST

The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
Ayn Rand

Apparently Gore was impaired and was (none / 0) (#13)
by JSN on Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 10:20:48 AM EST

a threat to his own safety and to the safety of others and was detained less than a day. In my view this is an example of preventive detention that occurs tens of thousands of times per day in this country. We are hearing about this case because he is the son of a former Vice President.

In his case the drug possession charges are the most serious problem. It does not appear that he is a drug dealer so the drugs probably were for his own use.

His family can afford to have him placed in a residential treatment facility but that might involve commitment proceedings and damaging publicity. Well now they have the damaging publicity. HIndsight is better than foresight.

: I agree with you with the exception (none / 0) (#14)
by marmie on Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 11:34:11 AM EST

that the drugs found on him were several narcotic prescription drugs for which he had no doctor's prescription.
Of course, it's news when a major celebrity or politician's family member has a problem of this nature, but is it a political vendetta, no. It's called everyday justice.
The police had no idea who they were pulling over in that Prius, afterall, it's not a fancy car, it could have been you or me, for that matter. Why does everything have to be a rightwing conspiracy?