WashTimes: Police say Taylor did not fire gun...and was also a victim - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**WoodysGirl** · 06-07-2005

Police say Taylor did not fire gun

By Jody Foldesy
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Miami police confirmed yesterday that Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor fired no shots in Wednesday night's incident in southern Dade County, a crucial fact given Florida's stiff mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes.

Meanwhile, two sources familiar with the investigation said there is a second phase of the case in which Taylor is the apparent victim. In the first phase, according to police, Taylor pointed a gun at two victims and physically assaulted one. Subsequently, sources said, there was a retaliation in which shots were fired at Taylor.

Detective Mary Walters of the Miami-Dade County Police Department, who confirmed Taylor did not fire his gun, declined comment on the second phase of the case. It was unclear when police might release information in connection to the shooting.

The two pieces of information uncovered yesterday helped clear up some of the uncertainties that lingered in the wake of Taylor's arrest Saturday night on two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, a third-degree felony, and one count of simple battery, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Police on Friday said they were searching for Taylor in connection with a "shooting," but a press release obtained Sunday said no shots were fired. The existence of a second phase of the case could explain the discrepancy.

After posting bond Saturday night, Taylor was released. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 24, five days after the Redskins conclude minicamp, the final element of their offseason workout program.

Coach Joe Gibbs said Taylor has been excused for the remainder of the workout program. The move was somewhat superficial, considering Taylor hadn't shown up for the program or even talked to Gibbs this offseason, but the team seemingly wanted to make clear that Taylor has no Redskins commitments for the foreseeable future.

"As of today, Sean is excused from the participating in the remainder of the club's voluntary offseason workout program and the upcoming mandatory minicamp beginning on June 17," Gibbs said in a statement. "As an organization, the Redskins believe that it is in Sean's best interest to focus on his personal and legal issues at this time."

Gibbs directed any further inquiries to the NFL, which has a personal-conduct policy to discipline players for crimes.

The fact Taylor didn't fire any shots could be crucial because of Florida's "10-20-Life" law. By not discharging the weapon, Taylor could face a mandatory minimum sentence of just three years rather than 20.

The "10-20-Life" law was instituted in 1999 as part of Gov. Jeb Bush's effort to get tough on crime. The law set minimum sentences of 10 years if a gun is present when certain crimes are committed, 20 years if the gun is fired and 25 years to life if someone is shot.

Taylor is subject to the "10" level, but aggravated assault is one of three crimes that qualifies for just a three-year minimum sentence. The loophole closes at the "20" level, meaning he could have faced 17 more years in jail if he had fired the gun, even if the shots went nowhere near the victims.

Mandatory minimum laws are fairly common across the country and often controversial. "10-20-Life," for example, appears to have deterred crime, but state attorney Barry Krischer said the 10-year penalty can be "Draconian," according to the Palm Beach Post.

The state attorney's office was not able to confirm whether "10-20-Life" would be applied in Taylor's case. A spokesman said that would be left up to the prosecuting attorney.

The incident occurred Wednesday evening in southern Dade County when Taylor, Charles Elwood Caughman and several other individuals drove up to the two victims and accused them of stealing a pair of all-terrain vehicles.

Taylor pointed the gun at the victims. The group drove off and returned about 10 minutes later, at which point Taylor punched one of the victims, and Caughman, wielding a baseball bat, chased the other.

Caughman was arrested later that night. Taylor was at large until Saturday night, when he turned himself in, accompanied by Coral Gables attorney Fred Moldovan.

http://www.washtimes.com/sports/2005...0506-9397r.htm

Yeagermeister · 06-07-2005

It won't be long now until the headlines read Taylor cleared of all charges.

ChrisZ007 · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeagermeister

It won't be long now until the headlines read Taylor cleared of all charges.

Yep.

They're already putting a spin on this to give them an out. Its a damn shame these guys are above the law because they play a game.

dbair1967 · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisZ007

Yep.

They're already putting a spin on this to give them an out. Its a damn shame these guys are above the law because they play a game.

he's keeping his spot on my all-thug team however

David

**WoodysGirl** · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisZ007

Yep.

They're already putting a spin on this to give them an out. Its a damn shame these guys are above the law because they play a game.

I still don't see how he can get away with this, because it still says he violated the gun law. He was only a victim in that the guys retaliated by shooting at him. It was just plain ol thug behavior on both sides. It just lessens what kind of charges he could possibly be convicted of and the sentencing.

Yeagermeister · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody'sGirl

I still don't see how he can get away with this, because it still says he violated the gun law. He was only a victim in that the guys retaliated by shooting at him. It was just plain ol thug behavior on both sides. It just lessens what kind of charges he could possibly be convicted of and the sentencing.

I understand what you are saying but I still say he never sees the inside of a prison and at most gets probation.

notherbob · 06-07-2005

Even if they only give him probation or even let him off completely, the NFL will almost certainly suspend him for a year, especially in view of the fact that he walked out on a class intended to teach him not to do this sort of thing. I guess he just didn't want to hear it. He'll probably have to give some money back to the Redskins as well. He really knows how to win friends and influence people. Of course, his lawyer is gonna cost him a bundle. Yeah, really breaks my heart.

Yeagermeister · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by notherbob

Even if they only give him probation or even let him off completely, the NFL will almost certainly suspend him for a year, especially in view of the fact that he walked out on a class intended to teach him not to do this sort of thing. I guess he just didn't want to hear it. He'll probably have to give some money back to the Redskins as well. He really knows how to win friends and influence people. Of course, his lawyer is gonna cost him a bundle. Yeah, really breaks my heart.

3 games at the most......Jamal Lewis only got 3 games for arrainging a coke deal.

Did Ray Lewis even get suspended?

Hostile · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeagermeister

I understand what you are saying but I still say he never sees the inside of a prison and at most gets probation.

I agree and if he's not guilty that is how it should be.

I am not an attorney, I just play one on this forum, but a 1st year lawyer could get him off now.

Make no mistake about it, he's wrong for a lot of reasons, but it won't matter.

**WoodysGirl** · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeagermeister

3 games at the most......Jamal Lewis only got 3 games for arrainging a coke deal.

Did Ray Lewis even get suspended?

Don't think he was suspended, but I do believe he was fined $250k which was probably more than he would have lost being suspended, I think.

**WoodysGirl** · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

I agree and if he's not guilty that is how it should be.

I am not an attorney, I just play one on this forum, but a 1st year lawyer could get him off now.

Make no mistake about it, he's wrong for a lot of reasons, but it won't matter.

I agree, we're all amateur legal sleuths on here. It's just that if he's convicted, I'm not sure if he'd be able to get off with simple probation.

Hostile · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody'sGirl

I agree, we're all amateur legal sleuths on here. It's just that if he's convicted, I'm not sure if he'd be able to get off with simple probation.

Call me skeptical, but when I see him as victim in the media already I can read the tea leaves.

jman · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody'sGirl

Police say Taylor did not fire gun

By Jody Foldesy
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

...
Meanwhile, two sources familiar with the investigation said there is a second phase of the case in which Taylor is the apparent victim. In the first phase, according to police, Taylor pointed a gun at two victims and physically assaulted one. Subsequently, sources said, there was a retaliation in which shots were fired at Taylor.

http://www.washtimes.com/sports/2005...0506-9397r.htm

If this is true, it just makes that much clearer on why you don't do what he did, and you call the police and let them sort it out. Screw going to jail for a short time...that can get you dead real quick.

silverbear · 06-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by notherbob

Even if they only give him probation or even let him off completely, the NFL will almost certainly suspend him for a year,

Jamal Lewis only got a 3 game suspension...

Crown Royal · 06-07-2005

What the hell are you all talking about? "Getting off?'

First, as I have repeated over and over and over and over and over again - HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF NOTHING. NOTHING AT ALL. A COURT OF HIS PEERS HAS NOT CONVICTED SEAN TAYLOR OF A SINGLE THING REGARDING A GUN. NOT ONCE. How do you 'get off' when you haven't been convicted?

Second - It isn't as if the charges have changed. Not once has the police report, the police spokesman, or any member of the police department come out and said that he ever once fired a shot. Never. The only thing that has made that comment is the media and the people (us) who analyze the situation.

Third - The situation in which Sean Taylor was ALLEGEDLY shot at, thus making him a victim, has absolutely no baring on the other charges. None. So what if the media has called him a victim? He is still being charged with the same thing he was charged with yesterday, 2 days ago, 3 days ago, etc.

But really - go read some more John Grisham....