Correct the Overly Harsh Sentence Imposed on Cassie Jones

A request for assistance
This is a Group Petition Letter. We are requesting assistance from the people, regarding the out-of-line sentencing of Cassie Jones, on July 8, 2004. Handed down by Fifth District Judge G. Richard Bevin, and prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys, General Ken Robins and Ken Springfield, for the crime of witness intimidation.

This is a quote from a press release regarding the case, issued by the Idaho Attorney Generals Office on July 8, 2004:

"The charges arose from an incident in Fifth District Court in Twin Falls on, June 2, 2003. Following sentencing of her husband on other charges, Jones was said to of struck and shouted at two witnesses in that case. Jones was taken into custody and later indicted by a Twin Falls County Grand Jury."

You may have heard, Cassie was recently convicted in Twin Falls on two counts of "Intimidation of a Witness." The judge sentenced her to the maximum sentence allowed by law, which provides for up to five years in the state penitentiary on each count. What's more, he ordered that the sentences run consecutively instead of concurrently. That means that this 19 year old mom may spend the next ten years of her life behind bars, separated from her one year old daughter.

(As you read this, please keep in mind that this was Mrs. Jones' first offense as a young adult.)

Cassie Jones suffers from severe metal illness she has been diagnosed with: Bi-Polar Disorder, Major Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress & Intermittent Explosive Disorders, Separation Anxiety, and is a survivor of domestic violence, watching her mother take beatings from her real father as well as being hit herself. Cassie was molested as a child more than once by someone the family trusted, and was a victim of date rape by two boys in high school she thought she knew well. Cassie has also tried several times to take her own life, because of her mental health issues.

In her senior year of high school, Cassies Doctors found a combination of medications that combated both her tendency to go into deep depressions, as well as level off her extreme mood swings and violet rages. The use of prescription medication has been successful in decreasing the frequency of symptomatic episodes for her, but at the time of the crime that she was convicted of, she was eight months pregnant. Why this is important is because she was not allowed to take her medication in fear of harming her baby, along with the fact that she wanted to breast feed. This was her Doctor's order. Although counseling sessions during this time helped to a point, without her medication, the disorder impairs her ability to function in a consistent, rational pattern and therefore proves to be a disruptive influence in her life. The sentencing of her husband was a time of great stress, and only exacerbated the situation. We respectfully request that you examine the mitigating circumstances surrounding the incident, and voice your support in reconsidering the overly harsh and unjust sentence.

Now I know you may be thinking, as you read this, she did the crime, why not let her do the time. If we really felt she was guilty of this offense, we might agree. But because of Cassie's own history, we dont.

First let's describe what happened in the courtroom the day the alleged offense took place. Cassie's husband had just been sentenced. As the judge wrapped up the hearing, Cassie turned to her mother and told her, I've got to get out of here. She then got up and started to leave. As Cassie walked to the door of the courtroom she saw a crowd of people, including the victim whom Cassie's husband was in court for to begin with blocking the exit, and was unable to get out of the courtroom. Cassie became very upset because she could not see to get pass the people in the doorway and they were not moving. Cassies stability exploded and began screaming and striking out wildly. The young lady and her sister claim that Cassie struck them both. Cassie's mom caught up to pulled her away, and sat her down on a bench in the hallway, outside the courtroom.

Cassie was a few moments later arrested and taken to the Twin Falls County Jail where she was asked to sign a citation for battery, which she did.

(This Citation subsequently vanished after Cassie was indicted for "Intimidation of a Witness.")
There are a few things about this incident that bear noting: Cassie felt an explosion of emotion coming on and attempted to leave the area.There were people clustered in the doorway, preventing her exit.Cassie did not utilize any kind of directed force against any of the victims to make them feel or fear pain from Cassie. Additionally, the victim's stated on the stand that rather than being frightened (intimidated?) by Cassie's actions, they were "Pissed off."What happened to the citation for misdemeanor battery? We may never know.

All is not negative however. Cassie has always been an excellent Student. Cassie has been the recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement on more than one occasion, is in the Who's Who Book of American High School Students, and recently made the National Deans List in college. She also has numerous trophies for Dance and has won several modeling competitions. She was always the first to get a ticket off the "Christmas angel" trees in the mall and using her Money to buy the child on the ticket a gift. More recently Cassie is a hard worker. She held Part-time jobs throughout most of high school, and continues to work now as a college student and single mom. She was just made a supervisor in her workplace after having worked there only 5 months. Her boss wants her back and has said he'll write the judge if we think it'll help. She is also attending Idaho State University to complete her generals while she sorts out her life and decides where to go from here. As the single incident in the doorway is the only contact Cassie has ever had with these girls, it is obvious that no harassment could have taken place. We are not saying that Cassie should not be held accountable for her actions. She should definitely stay in counseling and on her medications and receive probation. However, Cassie is not guilty of the offense she was charged and convicted of, Witness Intimidation, but instead she is guilty of simple misdemeanor battery. We don't think justice is served by sending her to prison for up to ten years. It would not be fair to her or to her one year old daughter, a little girl who is missing her mommy very much right now, or the citizens of this state to allow this verdict to stand. The citizens of Idaho should be able to feel safe in the knowledge that criminals are being prosecuted and punished, but they should also feel safe from excessive prosecution and conviction of crimes they did not commit.

Thank you for reading this letter and we hope you will consider lending your assistance in an effort to bring Cassie to come home by signing this petition.

People for Cassie - Grass-roots effort
The following people believe Cassie Jones was unjustly prosecuted and convicted, and should have her out-of-line sentence changed