Poll: Most say drug sentence unfair

Many in the legal community, including District Attorney Jill Ravitch, expressed shock when Sonoma County Judge Jamie Thistlewaite announced her intentions to give Petaluma resident Scott Goree probation when he is sentenced in February after being arrested with more than 4 pounds of cocaine packaged for sale. She cited his ailing health and lack of criminal history as her reason for leniency, but most of those who took part in this week’s unofficial online poll said Goree deserved a stiffer sentence. Here were some of the comments:

“What makes one’s health condition a consideration when administering the law? Obviously this man is a drug dealer, endangering the lives of the people and children of Petaluma.”

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“This judge is either very naive or has some personal agenda she is exercising. If Mr. Goree was Latino or black, do you really believe the sentence would be similar?”

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“The judge slapped us all in the face with offering this major dope dealer probation. I’m sure that he would get the proper medical care he requires as a resident of one of our state prisons. This guy wasn’t selling a few joints.”

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“What’s next on the docket, dropping armed robbery charges for another criminal because he/she couldn’t pay their cable bill?”

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“When the country starts arresting large drug companies and doctors for all of the opiates on the streets, then they can start going after the little guys.”

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“She should have buried this guy. I don’t buy his sad sap story.”

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“Many people have major problems and they find a solution without breaking the law. So instead of figuring out something that was legal, he opted to sell cocaine and make other people’s lives and their families lives worse than they already are because he now contributed to their loved one’s addiction.”

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“If he wasn’t selling to kids and wasn’t connected to property or violent crimes, then it doesn’t really matter to me. However, that’s a lot of cocaine and under our current law it seems that some jail time would be appropriate.”

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