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In reply to the discussion: White House: America's prisons more costly than helpful [View all]Press Virginia
(2,329 posts)if we can figure out why he got that habitual offender enhancement, shall we?
Here is Noble's criminal record:
9-20-89 - Illegal possession of stolen goods
10-12-89 - First marijuana possession arrest
1-10-90 - Illegal carrying of a weapon and intent to distribute crack cocaine
11-14-90 - Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, second offense marijuana possession
2-11-93 - Third arrest for marijuana possession
1-30-96 - Arrested again for marijuana possession
1-16-98- Arrested a second time as a felon in possession of a firearm, drug possession and a third crack cocaine possession
2-25-99 Arrested a fifth time for marijuana possession
8-13-02 A sixth marijuana arrest
1-10-03 Seventh marijuana arrest, third crack arrest
10-27-10 Eighth marijuana arrest
Noble pled guilty six times for marijuana possession and twice for possessing crack. He received four suspended sentences and twice received inactive probations. He was acquitted only once for all these arrests.
Before his latest arrest and conviction, Noble only served a total of six months in prison despite being arrested eight times for possessing pot. He only received two years and six months for crack cocaine possession despite being arrested three times for it. He never served one day in jail for illegally carrying a gun.
Noble was eligible to be charged as a habitual offender with his third offense, but the Louisiana criminal justice system was lenient with him. He was allowed to plead to misdemeanor marijuana multiple times even though he was eligible to be charged with felonies. Despite his long criminal history the New Orleans DA still offered him a plea deal when he was arrested in 2010. He refused it.
He was then tried by a jury of his peers and convicted. It was only then that he was sentenced as an habitual offender.