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Reduced jail term to be sought 'McMissile' sentencing today in Stafford.
BY KEITH EPPS UPDATE: Judge rules woman should be released today.
Jessica J. Hall has spent a lot more time in Virginia than she ever expected, and she hasn't enjoyed it one bit. She and others are hopeful that today is the day she'll finally be able to return to her Jacksonville, N.C., home. Hall, 25, has been in the Rappahannock Regional Jail since Jan. 4, the day a Stafford County jury found her guilty of maliciously throwing a missile into an occupied vehicle. The jury recommended a two-year prison sentence, the minimum sentence according to the statute under which Hall was charged. Judge Frank Hoss will formally sentence Hall today in Stafford Circuit Court, and many people affiliated with the local legal system believe Hoss will reduce the sentence to the time Hall has already served, something defense attorney Terence Patton is sure to request. "That would certainly appear to be the right thing to do," attorney Mark Murphy said. "Everybody knows [the two-year sentence] is just wrong." The missile--a McDonald's bag containing an ice-cold drink--was launched into the car of another motorist in stalled traffic on Interstate 95 on July 2. Hall, who was traveling north with her three young children and her pregnant sister, got into an altercation with another motorist involving gestures and abrupt lane switches. The stories vary on exactly what happened, but everyone agrees that it ended with Hall throwing the bag, spilling drink all over the passenger in the other car. The case has been dubbed the "McMissile" case and has attracted regional and national attention. Court sources said CNN and several Washington television stations had requested cameras in the courtroom for the sentencing. No decision has been made on that request. At Hall's trial, the jury had the option of convicting Hall of "unlawfully" throwing a missile, which would have given them the option of giving Hall no jail time. But the jury was not aware of the two-year minimum before agreeing on the more serious charge. Jim Ilijevich, a local defense attorney, said the missile statute is one of several that need some fine-tuning. He said Hall was properly charged as the statute reads, but, "That statute is ridiculous. It doesn't really distinguish between a cup of ice and a bullet, and I can't believe this is what the legislature had in mind." Ilijevich said he finds it "unfortunate" that Hall, who had no prior criminal record, is now a convicted felon. Keith Epps: 540/374-5404Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
Date published: 2/21/2007
VA legal system needs to be sued for the damage that you have done to this woman's reputation. FOREVER she will need to advise potential employers that she is a convicted felon. For WHAT?? Doing what every single one of us wish we could do when some JERK cuts us off -- How about the fact that the JERK cutting her off was ENDANGERING her small children and pregnant passenger?? I'd call that self defense!! Overturn this one and comp her for the time she has been away from her kids. She is a martyr to me.
The commonwealth of virginia's prosecutor just RUINED this woman's life by giving her a TWO YEAR prison sentence for throwing a paper sack at someone. This is not justice, this is abuse. No harm was done in this case except to this poor woman who has been ABUSED by the justice system. DISGUSTING.
For those that want to see Ms. Hall in jail for two years, I have one question. Have you no humanity? She has served sufficient time to understand what she did was wrong. She has spent time away from her children. She is currently separated from her husband who is "dodging bullets" in Iraq. She has been publically humiliated. I say, enough is enough! Let her pay with time served, a fine, some community service AND an apology to the people she threw the, "mcmissile" towards.
I notice a sanctimonious tone in a lot of "could have caused a serious accident" postings about this case. If "could have" is our legal standard, we all need to lock ourselves up now, because we all COULD HAVE done potentially lethal things in a moment of stupidity. How about taking a breath, going to Wal-Mart and buying some common sense, and looking at what DID happen, which is that a smart-*** white boy from northern VA got a Dixie cup full of ice thrown in his lap. Could have? I'm not buying it.
Have any of you actually driven on that death trap 95? The root cause of the problem doesn't lie with Mrs. Hall, it lies with the jerk that cut her off. Road rage is a common occurence around this area and is getting worse as the population grows. Please people, get real.
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