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Tossing bag nets 2 years
Woman sentenced to prison for flinging sack containing soft drink from her vehicle into another on Interstate 95.
Date published: 1/5/2007
By KEITH EPPS
A Stafford jury yesterday recommended that a woman serve two years in prison for throwing a McDonald's bag containing an ice cold drink at another motorist on Interstate 95 last year.
Jessica Julia Hall, a 25-year-old mother of three, was convicted of throwing a missile at an occupied vehicle, a felony, stemming from a July 2 incident on Interstate 95 in Stafford. No one was injured in the incident.
A jury deliberated nearly five hours over two days before announcing its decision yesterday in Stafford Circuit Court.
Hall was also convicted of three misdemeanors stemming from the incident, which some around the courthouse have dubbed the "McMissile Case."
Hall's bond was revoked yesterday and she will be in jail at least until her formal sentencing on Feb. 21, when defense attorney Terence Patton is sure to ask a judge to reduce or suspend altogether the two years Hall is facing.
Hall, whose husband is a Marine serving in Iraq, had no prior criminal record.
According to evidence presented by prosecutor George Elsasser, Hall and other family members were on their way from North Carolina to New York when they ran into stalled traffic in the North Stafford area.
A fatal accident in Prince William was the reason for what Elsasser described as "slow and go" traffic.
Pete Ballin, a Washington man who was also heading north from North Carolina, testified that he was in the left lane going only a few miles per hour when Hall passed him on the shoulder of the highway, then cut in front of him, forcing Ballin to hit his brakes to avoid a collision.
Ballin said he got into the middle lane to get away from Hall, who he said had been driving erratically for some time. He ended up passing her again when the left lane she was in came to a stop.
Ballin said that after he returned to the left lane, Hall got onto the shoulder of the road and passed him again. This time there wasn't room for her to cut back in front of him, and Ballin said he wouldn't have let her in anyway.
Read more stories about Stafford
Date published: 1/5/2007
Most recent reader comments:
virgina is for losers not lovers
(posted by
aeingram
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
WHAT CAN WE DO? HAS ANYONE STARTED A PETITION? WE CAN NOT SIT BACK AND LET THIS YOUNG MOTHER GO TO JAIL FOR TWO YEARS FOR THROWING A CUP OF ICE. NOT ONLY IS THE PROSECUTOR A BARNEY FIFE OF THE LAW FIELD BUT, THE JURY MUST BE A BUNCH OF MORONS.
McMissile Case; No Faith In Judicial System
(posted by
cag_one
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Dear Mr. Elsasser, It is cases like this that cause law abiding tax payers to loose faith in our judicial system. Your decision to prosecute Ms. Hall is equally as "out of control" as her actions. Please tell me Sir, where is the justice. Do you really think the punishment equals the crime? Reality check; A husband (a Marine) can no longer focus on his critical mission in Iraq, wife incarcerated, and children separated. Tax payers get to pay her full care and the childrens! Wow, What a system!?!
Robert McDonnell
Virginia’s 44th Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
900 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-2071
mail@oag.state.va.us
2007 02 18
Dear Mr. McDonnell,
Prosecutor George Elsasser has earned his brownie points by securing a two year conviction of a woman who has a husband serving in Iraq, who has no previous conviction, who is working towards a useful job in society, and whose “crime” is, at most, a trivial laps of judgement under a stressful situation – t
Black History or Future Month?
(posted by
jjf357
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
How can this happen!!?? The actions of the State are more criminal than the crime by the bag lady. What is the punishment for abuse of power by the states attorney? Criminal charges should be brought against Elasser. See how he feels to sit in a jail for two years. Hey Elasser, you need to ask your law professors for a refund. you got ripped off since they did not teach you the difference between justice and tyranny. This is truly criminal justice-only the state is the criminal here.
OMG
(posted by
gingergggg
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
No matter what the womann's attitude she doesn't deserve to go to jail for two years. A felony conviction will ruin her life. She won't be able to get a good job, etc. Ballin and Fowle sound like mean vindictive people who are tattle tails. If there is one thing I despise it's a tattle tail. I think Ballin and Fowle are just are wrong as McMissile.
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