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Title: Homeless Mother Who Sent Six-Year-Old Son To Better School In The Wrong Town Sent To Prison For Five Years
Source:
From The Trenches
URL Source: http://www.fromthetrenchesworldrepo ... o-prison-for-five-years/169638
Published: Sep 6, 2016
Author: Jeremiah Jones
Post Date: 2016-09-06 21:35:49 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 5949
Comments: 30
A homeless mother who pleaded guilty to fraudulently enrolling her six-year-old son in the wrong school district has been sentenced to five years in prison. According to Graham Smith with Daily Mail, Tonya McDowell sent her son to an elementary school in Norwalk, Connecticut, instead of her home city of Bridgeport. The 34-year-old, who was homeless when she was charged with felony larceny last year, said she wanted the best education possible for the boy. McDowell entered her plea at Norwalk Superior Court under the Alford Doctrine, which means she does not admit guilt but concedes she does not believe she will win the case. Even though she was homeless, authorities said that she used a babysitter’s address to enroll her son in kindergarten in Norwalk when he should have attended schools in Bridgeport, her last permanent address. Her case drew national attention and support from civil rights leaders and other advocates who wanted the charge dismissed. The 34-year-old, who was homeless when she was charged last year, said she wanted the best education possible for her son. McDowell told police she was living in a van and occasionally slept at a Norwalk shelter or a friend’s Bridgeport apartment when she enrolled her son Norwalk’s Brookside Elementary School. Police accused McDowell of stealing $15,686 worth of ‘free’ educational services from Norwalk. Smith also reports, “McDowell’s lawyer, Darnell Crosland, said she agreed to accept a plea bargain rather than continue fighting the charges even though she insists she is not guilty.” Mr Crosland said: ‘You shouldn’t be arrested for stealing a free education. It’s just wrong.’ Why is a homeless lady being treated this way? If she lives in a van and sometimes stays in Norwalk, then how can they accuse her of stealing a free education? This isn’t justice! This is taking away an opportunity for the son of a homeless woman and unjustly imprisoning someone who wants opportunities for her son. 
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#2. To: Deckard (#0)
Bizarre.
Charged with stealing a free education - totally bizarre.
Not at all. She has tried to ensure the best education for her child under extraordinary conditions and is rebuffed by a cold, callous school bureaucracy. To me, it appears she didn't fight city hall hard enough. If she is actually sentenced, she stands no chance to continue her fight.
Tanya McDowell, who became a sympathetic national figure after being charged in April with stealing the education of her young son from the Norwalk school district, offered a Stamford undercover officer crack cocaine, marijuana and the use of prostitutes McDowell was pimping from her aunt's home in Bridgeport, according to warrants for her arrest. Police sources told The Advocate that McDowell took a break from her son's birthday party in late May to sell drugs to an undercover officer at the home on Dover Street in Bridgeport. According to three Norwalk arrest warrants, McDowell, who claimed to be homeless while sending her son to school in Norwalk, sold drugs to officers in Norwalk on three occasions between May 27 and June 3. She also allegedly told the undercover officer she was living with her aunt on Dover Street, and he was welcome to party at the house and enjoy the services of two women McDowell was pimping out. [...] In November, McDowell was arrested in Norwalk for being in possession of marijuana and crack cocaine. Because police found her in possession of dozens of individually packaged baggies containing the drugs, she was charged with possession with intent to sell. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Ten years ago, McDowell, was convicted of robbing a Trumbull bank, and in a separate incident, of being in possession of a pistol. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Tanya McDowell, the Bridgeport mom arrested last April for sending her 5-year- old son to a Norwalk elementary school and while out on bond was picked up for selling drugs to undercover officers five times, was sentenced to five years in prison and another five years of probation after pleading guilty to drug and larceny charges Wednesday.
All the standard BS you throw at her is a clear indicator that you do not understand her motivation for the choice of schools for her child. So, now the child is on welfare. Despite ALL your BS, society loses. You are as much a loser as she is, pal.
Despite ALL your BS, society loses. You are as much a loser as she is, pal.
Yeah, you are cryin' just like the welfare plunderer. You did nothing to collect your federal stipend of any worthy note.
Thank you for your contribution. I appreciate spending your money.
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#5. To: buckeroo (#2)
Bizarre.
#16. To: Deckard (#5)
Charged with stealing a free education - totally bizarre.
#17. To: buckeroo (#16)
If she is actually sentenced, she stands no chance to continue her fight.
#18. To: Gatlin (#17)
#19. To: buckeroo (#18)
All the standard BS you throw at her is a clear indicator that you do not understand her motivation for the choice of schools for her child. So, now the child is on welfare.
#20. To: Gatlin (#19)
#21. To: buckeroo (#20)
You did nothing to collect your federal stipend of any worthy note.
Replies to Comment # 21.
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