Post by Logan on Feb 8, 2016 4:33:23 GMT -6
GOP bill would toughen penalty for spitting on prosecutors
Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg was delivering his closing argument in the prosecution of a man accused of spitting on prison guards when he heard a crumpling noise behind him. Moments later, a wad of paper hit his shoulder — filled with the inmate's saliva.
Klomberg recalled the incident last year as a reason to support a GOP proposal that would make it a felony for anyone to throw or expel bodily fluids at prosecutors, punishable by up to 3 1 / 2 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
"The real concern is not just the gross nature of this, but communicable disease," Klomberg said. "When I'm handling these cases, I always kind of have to keep one eye on the defendant, and that's taking my focus away from the case at hand."
It's already a felony for such an attack on police, prison guards, firefighters and first responders such as emergency medical technicians and ambulance drivers. Spitting at a prosecutor is currently only punishable as disorderly conduct, which carries a penalty of up to 90 days in jail.
Read more: www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/gop-bill-would-toughen-penalty-for-spitting-on-prosecutors-b99665816z1-367968671.html
Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg was delivering his closing argument in the prosecution of a man accused of spitting on prison guards when he heard a crumpling noise behind him. Moments later, a wad of paper hit his shoulder — filled with the inmate's saliva.
Klomberg recalled the incident last year as a reason to support a GOP proposal that would make it a felony for anyone to throw or expel bodily fluids at prosecutors, punishable by up to 3 1 / 2 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
"The real concern is not just the gross nature of this, but communicable disease," Klomberg said. "When I'm handling these cases, I always kind of have to keep one eye on the defendant, and that's taking my focus away from the case at hand."
It's already a felony for such an attack on police, prison guards, firefighters and first responders such as emergency medical technicians and ambulance drivers. Spitting at a prosecutor is currently only punishable as disorderly conduct, which carries a penalty of up to 90 days in jail.
Read more: www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/gop-bill-would-toughen-penalty-for-spitting-on-prosecutors-b99665816z1-367968671.html