Man Jailed for Yawning.

[SpeterMan3]

http://news.aol.com/article/clifton...le/clifton-williams-jailed-for-yawning/610205

As Clifton Williams sat in the courtroom in Joliet, Ill., awaiting his cousin's sentencing on drug charges, little did he know he would soon be the one in jail.
As Judge Daniel Rozak sentenced Williams' cousin to two years probation, Williams yawned, an act that earned him six months in jail on contempt charges, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Skip over this content
Williams' father said he was "flabbergasted" by the sentence, the maximum issued for a contempt charge without a jury trial. "It seems to me like a yawn is an involuntary action," Clifton Williams Sr. told the newspaper.

The court disagreed. While Rozak did not comment on the charges, a state's attorney's office spokesman, Chuck Pelkie, said Williams did not let out a "simple" yawn. "It was a loud and boisterous attempt to disrupt the proceedings," he said.
According to the Tribune, Rozak is particularly fierce on courtroom decorum, issuing contempt-of-court charges at the highest rate of any judge in the county. The broad discretion of judges to control their courts has prompted Rozak to file contempt charges against people for everything from swearing to not silencing their cell phones.
However, some of the people Rozak assigned harsh sentences to were shown leniency if they apologized.
Williams will have to serve as least 21 days, the Tribune reported, and he has been locked up since July 23. In a letter to his family, Williams wrote, "I really can't believe I'm in jail."

 

[Aesop Rocks]

Awesome. Maybe that's the same judge that sentenced that immigrant to jail for raping a girl he didn't rape.

America! **** yeah!

 

[Marlboro Man]

Um... why is the state of Illinois wasting money to house this man for six months, when there are other criminals far more deserving of his jail cell?

 

[Marlboro Man]

Awesome. Maybe that's the same judge that sentenced that immigrant to jail for raping a girl he didn't rape.

America! **** yeah!

This is the same country that won't allow DNA tests in some murder trials, and sentences child molesters and attempted murderers directly to probation. But yawning in the courtroom? You deserve to go to jail for being bored in court, damn it!

 

[RockSP]

Insanity

 

[Gmanofsteel]

wow, welcome to America folks, where any action is now a crime

 

[Addendum]

I almost got arrested for contempt of court a few years back

I was waiting for my deal to come up, and one of the cases ahead of me was a dude got a DUI while riding a bicycle. Several of us in the courtroom were laughing, but I guess I was a bit loud. The judge told the baliff to take me out.

I told the baliff that I was sorry I laughed loudly, but I couldn't help it since it was pretty damn funny. He told me he thought it was funny as well, but to just keep it down. Then when I got up for my deal, I also apologized to the judge and nothing happened.

 

[Sawyer]

Ugh, this country...

 

[Majic Walrus]

I'm reminded of when I got in trouble once went I went to a private school for the very same thing, it was dumb then and it's dumb now.

 

[Ghostvirus]

WOW!!!

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

This deserves a double-syllable da-yum.

So stupid.

 

[Sawyer]

Love the avvy, LS. Really looking forward to the series premiere in November.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Love the avvy, LS. Really looking forward to the series premiere in November.

Me too; I'm so stoked for it.

I'll be launching something for it here later so stay tuned!

 

[Sam Fisher]

Can someone arrest that judge for being stupid?

 

[Majic Walrus]

d-d-d-double post

 

[Majic Walrus]

He can't be arrested because he didn't do anything illegal. Although it should be stated that the guy will probably appeal and get out in just a few days.

 

[Marlboro Man]

It takes way too long to appeal anything in this country. By the time he gets to appeal the sentence, he'll have served his time.

 

[Sawyer]

Can someone arrest that judge for being stupid?

If I was that guy, I'd just be like "Well, if I'm getting arrested, it might as well be for something real," then walk up and punch the judge in the mouth. I'd get arrested with my head held high.

 

[PyroChamber]

Only in Illinois.

 

[Nirvana]

lawl

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

When I was 6, I got kicked out of the class room before being yelled at because my zipper was down-True story.

 

[ARROGANCE]

I find this story hillarious

 

[Sam Fisher]

When I was 6, I got kicked out of the class room before being yelled at because my zipper was down-True story.

Weren't you a bit young to be trying to impress girls?

 

[muertevilla]

i was gonna try and write something real clever, but im sleepy and going to bed.

 

[bullets]

The Judge should of just asked the guy to leave.