Judge Says Willie Nelson Doesn't Have to Sing in Court

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 09:37:31 PM EST
Tags: Willie Nelson (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Saturday we reported the prosecutor in Willie Nelson's possession of marijuana case offered to let him off with a fine if he sang at the courthouse.

The D.A. is 78 and Willie is 77. The DA says “He’s been my favorite artist all my life. We all know he smokes a little pot.”

Today, the judge said the singing part of the offer was a joke that had gotten out of hand and Willie won't have to sing at the courthouse. He can just pay a fine. (The fine is $100. and court costs are $278.)

Nelson was arrested Nov. 26 when a Border Patrol agent claimed to smell marijuana emanating from his tour bus at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint. After a search, just over six ounces of pot was found on the bus.

Which doesn't mean Willie isn't civic-minded. He'll be playing a benefit in Maui April 10 for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Nelson is a part-time Maui resident. Also performing: Michael McDonald and Mick Fleetwood.

< Supreme Court Reverses $14 Million Judgment in Wrongful Conviction Case | The Failure Of TARP >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Judge Says Willie Nelson Doesn't Have to Sing in Court | 14 comments (14 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Even better... (none / 0) (#1)
by kdog on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 10:14:54 AM EST

A private 1-song concert from a living legend probably has a market value of 5 figures...thats a seriously excessive fine.

True, (none / 0) (#4)
by sj on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 11:46:10 AM EST

but I'm still a little sad that this is just a future urban legend.

I believe the judge when he says it was a joke after the county attorney Kit Bramblett joked here:

Bramblett handles 10 or 12 personal use cases every month. The 6.24 ounces that was found when Willie was arrested is above the amount Bramblett can handle in his jurisdiction. Well, no problem.
"Between me and the sheriff, we threw out enough of it or smoked enough so that there's only three ounces, which is within my jurisdiction," Bramblett said.

I think the whole county law enforcement system was savoring the situation a bit.


Judge and Persecutor... (none / 0) (#5)
by kdog on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 11:55:11 AM EST

got some pair making all these jokes.

I mean of course it is all a big f*ckin' joke but I was taught it is bad form to laugh at your own jokes...the law laughing at the law, just rubs me the wrong way.


the thing is (5.00 / 0) (#6)
by CST on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 11:59:35 AM EST

If this wasn't Willie Nelson, and instead was some 19 year old from a bad neighborhood - would they be making the same jokes?

Probably not.


: That's what I'm saying... (5.00 / 0) (#8)
by kdog on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 12:54:40 PM EST

how dare they yuck it up over drug laws? Humans are being caged over them, by them. If they think they're funny, and they certainly are...why are they enforcing them at all?

: If this was (none / 0) (#13)
by jbindc on Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 08:59:56 AM EST

some 19 year old from a bad neighborhood, why on earth would they make a joke about the kid singing?
Of course it's a joke.

Gotta disagree with you on this one (none / 0) (#7)
by sj on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 12:08:11 PM EST

They're doing right with the ultimate resolution to this situation. Not trying to make an example of "zero tolerance".

That the levity ended up public rather than private was probably an error in judging ... something ... and in self-editing. But I don't think it's disrepectful.

And if it's bad form to laugh at your own jokes my whole dang family is completely without class. We suppose we could stop joining (or starting) the laughter at our own jokes, but family events will be a he11 of a lot less fun. And I kind of like our family get-togethers. I'd rather my face and stomach hurt from too much laughing (true story) than because some one threw a punch.


: I'm very happy for Willie... (5.00 / 0) (#9)
by kdog on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 12:57:35 PM EST

and his sweetheart deal, but it ain't right or fair to the common schmuck subject to far greater punishments for the same non-crime.
Everybody should get this deal. No scratch that, this shouldn't even be against the law! But I'm preaching to the choir.

This is (none / 0) (#12)
by Socraticsilence on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 08:19:48 PM EST

starting to read like something out of a Hiaasen novel only its in Texas not Florida.


I bet he will sing anyway (none / 0) (#2)
by jbindc on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 10:19:47 AM EST

I vote for (none / 0) (#3)
by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 10:33:28 AM EST

"There's nothing I can do about it now."


: "On the Road Again" (none / 0) (#14)
by jbindc on Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 09:00:12 AM EST

sing about what? (none / 0) (#10)
by jondee on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 03:45:38 PM EST

that major cartel undermining the very foundation of decent society by selling marijauna to people by the ounce?


Honestly (none / 0) (#11)
by Socraticsilence on Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 08:17:46 PM EST

I'd be a bit suprised if Nelson doesn't show up at the Courthouse on his next swing through Texas- he's always struck me as the kind of guy who has a sense of humor and its pretty obvious the DA and the judge were just humoring him.