“I did something stupid, and something I shouldn’t have done” are the first words of Bill Peyser’s tale of how he ended up getting arrested and jailed for the first time in his life at the age of 73.
Peyser, a San Francisco cab driver, says he had been frustrated with a couple of noisy younger neighbors in the spring of 2017. Exhausted and angry after a sleepless night that had led to him skipping a day of work, he decided to confront them on the afternoon of April 17.
The “something stupid” that Peyser agrees he shouldn’t have done was to bring a .22-caliber handgun with him when he went to their apartment.
Though the men did not answer the door when Peyser repeatedly kicked it, they saw him through the peephole and called the police. There was no direct confrontation, but as Peyser was leaving, he fired the gun by accident while trying to uncock it in the hallway. According to one of Peyer’s attorneys, the bullet lodged in a wall in the lobby of the building a few inches off the floor. Nobody was hurt.
The police came and arrested Peyser. Peyser explained what happened, but he says police refused to believe it was an accident and insisted he was trying to harm his neighbors. He says he was prepared to plead guilty to what he had done—brandishing a weapon. But when he was brought before the court, he found he was being charged with attempted murder, two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling.
What happened to Peyser next illustrates a chronic problem, one civil rights advocates are attempting to force states and counties to address. Peyser ended up stuck in jail for six months while awaiting his trial not because he was a threat to society—he was a septuagenarian with no criminal record who hadn’t actually injured anyone—but because he didn’t have enough money to pay for bail. Activists argue that cash bail systems violate the rights of people like Peyser who have been charged, but not convicted, of crimes. More and more, judges, lawmakers, and even prosecutors are starting to agree.
Read the rest here: https://reason.com/archives/2018/07/14/innocent-until-proven-guilty-b
“Activists argue that cash bail systems violate the rights of people like Peyser who have been charged, but not convicted, of crimes.”
They SHOULD be talking about the non-existent DUE PROCESS we used to have.
“….. the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial….” (from sixth)
“……Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted……” (eighth)
Glad you posted this. You save me some work.
Now why do you think the Bill of Rights is no longer taught in schools? Because those with the balls or whatever to use the Bill of Rights to aid their cause would be, indeed, using the Bill of Rights to aid their cause or case. And judges, since they KNOW so few Americans have ever even heard of the Bills of Rights since it is not taught in schools anymore (and the teachers don’t know it either! And if they did, would not be allowed to teach it!), know that they can get away with violating the Bill of Rights. And We the People have let this situation happen! This is why FTTWR is so damned important. When you get back from vacation or whatever, Henry and Laura, keep it up!
“…..When you get back from vacation or whatever, Henry and Laura, keep it up!…..”
They do a marvelous job of keeping the truth, and the Bill of Rights alive, but we all have the same responsibility to spread the knowledge, and educate our neighbors.
You never ever heard of some rich asshole going to jail
Oh but not true ? there are rare occasions where the rich assholes wind up in a (country club) jail. ONE comes to mind a Berni MadeOffwith billions rich sombitch Now serving 150 yrs at window # 8 If you are arrested and cant make bail you are screwed …… And the rights we have are never afforded to us like A jury of your peers, your neighbors ,folks who know you … . But whats interesting is Peyser told police what happened ..Woops nevernever never say 1 word to LE without your public defender ,att,lawyer present .. If they ask you to answer questions you say NO….. thank you Sir And he insisted that he was guilty of being stupid ……..Most people dont know there rights