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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: 5989
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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#3. To: Deckard, misterwhite, nolu chan (#0)
(Edited)
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. Tanya McDowell was arrested in April 2011 for enrolling her six-year-old son in the wrong school district during a period of homelessness. Tanya McDowell was NOT sentenced to five years in prison FOR enrolling her six-year-old son in the wrong school district during a period of homelessness. Besides being arrested for enrolling her six-year-old son in the wrong school district during a period of homelessness, several weeks later Tonya McDowell was also arrested for more serious offenses involving drugs and prostitution. She was picked up on drug charges when police found her in front of Brookside Elementary School holding 30 small bags of marijuana and 23 small bags of crack cocaine, prosecutor Tiffany Lockshier said during her sentencing hearing. Judge Frank Iannoti said that the Norwalk case (arrest for enrolling her son in a Connecticut school) had nothing to do with why McDowell ws before him. He said to her: "This case is about the convictions for the sale of narcotics to an undercover police officer. I think you understand that because that is really the essence of what has gotten you into the predicament you find yourself today." In Bridgeport, McDowell pleaded guilty to two counts of sale of narcotics to undercover officers in Bridgeport and when she is sentenced faces up to five years in jail for those convictions.
#6. To: Gatlin (#3)
More verbal diarrhea from the site's pompous ass.
Thanks for providing "the rest of the story." His stories almost invariably suffer narrative collapse once you reach the Paul Harvey moment.
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Replies to Comment # 3. The Canary Clan is...is eminently qualified
#13. To: Gatlin (#3)
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