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Judge Says Willie Nelson Doesn't Have to Sing in Court

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 09:37:31 PM EST
Tags: Willie Nelson (all tags)
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Saturday we reported the prosecutor in Willie Nelson's possession of marijuana case offered to let him off with a fine if he sang at the courthouse.

The D.A. is 78 and Willie is 77. The DA says “He’s been my favorite artist all my life. We all know he smokes a little pot.”

Today, the judge said the singing part of the offer was a joke that had gotten out of hand and Willie won't have to sing at the courthouse. He can just pay a fine. (The fine is $100. and court costs are $278.)

Nelson was arrested Nov. 26 when a Border Patrol agent claimed to smell marijuana emanating from his tour bus at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint. After a search, just over six ounces of pot was found on the bus.

Which doesn't mean Willie isn't civic-minded. He'll be playing a benefit in Maui April 10 for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Nelson is a part-time Maui resident. Also performing: Michael McDonald and Mick Fleetwood.

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    Judge Says Willie Nelson Doesn't Have to Sing in Court | 14 comments (14 topical)

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    Even better... (none / 0) (#1)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 10:14:54 AM EST
    A private 1-song concert from a living legend probably has a market value of 5 figures...thats a seriously excessive fine.

    True, (none / 0) (#4)
    by sj on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 11:46:10 AM EST
    but I'm still a little sad that this is just a future urban legend.  

    I believe the judge when he says it was a joke after the county attorney Kit Bramblett joked here:

    Bramblett handles 10 or 12 personal use cases every month. The 6.24 ounces that was found when Willie was arrested is above the amount Bramblett can handle in his jurisdiction. Well, no problem.

    "Between me and the sheriff, we threw out enough of it or smoked enough so that there's only three ounces, which is within my jurisdiction," Bramblett said.

    I think the whole county law enforcement system was savoring the situation a bit.

    Parent

    Judge and Persecutor... (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 11:55:11 AM EST
    got some pair making all these jokes.

    I mean of course it is all a big f*ckin' joke but I was taught it is bad form to laugh at your own jokes...the law laughing at the law, just rubs me the wrong way.  

    Parent

    the thing is (5.00 / 0) (#6)
    by CST on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 11:59:35 AM EST
    If this wasn't Willie Nelson, and instead was some 19 year old from a bad neighborhood - would they be making the same jokes?

    Probably not.

    Parent

    That's what I'm saying... (5.00 / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 12:54:40 PM EST
    how dare they yuck it up over drug laws?  Humans are being caged over them, by them.  If they think they're funny, and they certainly are...why are they enforcing them at all?  

    Parent
    If this was (none / 0) (#13)