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Al Gore III Pleads Guilty, Gets Diversion

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 04:45:46 PM EST
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Al Gore III pleaded guilty to drug possession in Los Angeles today and was granted diversion.

He pleaded guilty to two felony counts of drug possession, two misdemeanor counts of drug possession without a prescription, and one misdemeanor count of marijuana possession, the district attorney's office said.

Jaime Coulter, senior deputy district attorney, said Gore's sentencing will be continued until Feb. 7. If he has complied with all the conditions of the diversion program, the sentencing will be continued again for another year, with charges possibly being dropped in 2009. "At that point, he will be able to withdraw his guilty plea as if he never entered it," Coulter said.

That's the correct resolution. Now, if we could only ensure it was available to all who are similarly situated. Rather than castigate Gore for getting special treatment, as some undoubtedly will, I'd rather people use his case as an example and to send a message to prosecutors and legislators that this outcome should be available to all in need of drug treatment.

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    Al Gore III Pleads Guilty, Gets Diversion | 8 comments (8 topical)

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    Hear, hear (none / 0) (#1)
    by Electa on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 05:59:00 PM EST
    That's the correct resolution. Now, if we could only ensure it was available to all who are similarly situated. Rather than castigate Gore for getting special treatment, as some undoubtedly will, I'd rather people use his case as an example and to send a message to prosecutors and legislators that this outcome should be available to all in need of drug treatment.

    Just maybe now that it's happened to Al Gore III his sentencing scheme will set a precedence for so many others without the prestege of his parents.  Poor people deserve such leniency in sentencing as well.  I view the high profile prosecutions as a blessing.  Surely, the public won't stand by idlly and accept the blatant disproportionate treatment of wealthy offenders vs the common.  

    How is this diversion? (none / 0) (#2)
    by jerry on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 06:15:52 PM EST
    I had to do my work all day today and there was no car chase, or crying heir, or famous parents, or paparazi, or "video", or pocket dog, or talking heads, or pundits.

    Not much of a diversion if you ask me.

    Branson (none / 0) (#3)
    by TomK on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 06:20:37 PM EST
    Rather then castigate Gore, we should compare this case to the case of Mr. Richard Branson, a successful business man who recently spoke about smoking some joints with his kid while on vacation.  They seem happy and successful to me.  Pot doesn't hurt people nearly as much as alcohol, or even caffeine, do.

    At least he pled guilty and accepted what he did (none / 0) (#4)
    by Nowonmai on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 06:23:29 PM EST
    Unlike several other high profile young'uns that want to do whatever where ever, consequences be damned, and then whine that the justice system was unfair to them for wagging a finger at them saying "No No, that's not nice."

    I do agree, this Orwellian "All animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others" treatment for the wealthy has to stop.

    Yes (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 07:50:23 PM EST
    As Jeralyn points out, Gore Jr's treatment should be the standard, not the exception.

    Parent
    According to NPR this evening, (none / 0) (#6)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 11:47:30 PM EST
    Gore3 is the beneficiary not of a whiz bang lawyer and semi-celebrity status, but rather of voter approved California Prop 36, which, as NPR was particularly specific in pointing out, is afforded to all non-violent drug defendants regardless of whether, like NPR said, the defendant was off the streets or the son of a VPOTUS.

    iow, according to NPR, in Cali, Gore3's treatment is the standard and not the exception.

    fwiw.

    Parent

    And Then? (none / 0) (#7)
    by kaleidescope on Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 12:35:28 AM EST
    I thought Gore III was also charged with DUI.  What happened to that charge?

    NPR said this AM (none / 0) (#8)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 11:26:02 AM EST
    that he was not suspected of DUI.

    Parent
    Al Gore III Pleads Guilty, Gets Diversion | 8 comments (8 topical)

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