Why isn't Sheldon Richardson in jail?

RayClay said:

Or at least suspended? He got zero discipline for this...

His 4 game suspension for pot was not extended.

Integrity?



contributing to the delinquency of a minor?



Jets DE Sheldon Richardson busted for allegedly driving 143 mph, resisting arrest

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The answer is that he plays for the New York Jets and will be a significant contributor in trying to dethrone the Patriots.

its amazing how in-your-face Godell and the NYJFL front office is when it comes to creating advantages for the Jets and weaken the Patriots off the field

Bobsyouruncle said:

Has he gone to trial?

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Nope. Got off scott free.

Outrageous.

Officials didn't reveal the identity of the child, but it's believed it may have been a relative of Richardson. In such cases, authorities sometimes find it difficult to prosecute because there can be a lack of cooperation from the child's family.

Lohmar said there were no drug-related charges because police found no marijuana in the car.

"We're pretty darn sure we know what was going on there," he said. "It reeked of marijuana ... but without the [marijuana] itself, you don't have enough evidence to support drug charges."

There was "nothing illegal whatsoever" in regard to the handgun, according to Lohmar. Guns are legal in Missouri, and Richardson possessed it in the proper manner, he said.

A few other details: Richardson's car was towed and he was transported to the police station, where he was arrested, booked and released, all within an hour.

Richardson, already facing a four-game ban for violating the league's substance abuse policy, figures to receive additional discipline for what could be a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy. The league is reviewing the matter.

"All relevant information will be taken into account," league spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email.

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Prosecutor explains why Sheldon Richardson wasn't charged for drugs - New York Jets Blog - ESPN

supafly said:

I thought that he'd be suspended for one lousy game for this, possibly two at the most. I remember discussing it when the arrest occurred. I certainly didn't expect him to go to jail--lol.

That said, where do you think we live where having a semi automatic weapon in the car "isn't a crime in most areas?"

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I don't know of any place that's a crime. But there probably are some. Where it is a crime is usually not based around having the weapon itself, but on its storage method in the vehicle and whether it's loaded. I don't know of any laws that are specific to semi-automatic handguns since outside of revolvers essentially all handguns are semi-automatic. So for this specific case- In Missouri, as far as I know has no laws against carrying a loaded weapon in your car not visible (which doesn't necessarily mean concealed) with no special permits as long as you are not a felon, or otherwise restricted from owning a gun.

Speaking of places I've lived in the last 15 years (4 different states), none of them consider it a crime to have it not visible and loaded in the vehicle with no special permits. Maybe it's a cultural thing or something but I know several people who have loaded guns in their cars and it's not a big deal. When I have gotten pulled over I told them I had a gun, they checked it, checked that I wasn't a felon and moved along (of course they gave me the speeding ticket I was pulled over for). But that's it.

Unless he had the valid credentials AND a concealed carry permit (or was driving to/from an approved firing range), he very well could've been charged with illegal possession of a firearm, and possibly illegal transportation. I suppose whether or not the weapon was loaded may have come into play, as well as where the ammunition was located, but he certainly avoided a potentially serious charge.

Supposedly, the 12 year old kid wasn't going to cooperate and claimed that he was never scared etc, so that's likely why that angle wasn't pursued. Again, it definitely could've been.

The smell of marijuana, while not necessarily a crime in and of itself, certainly allows for probable cause to search the parties/vehicle involved, and possibly even blood test them to see if impairment occurred via DUI.

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I'm sure it does, and they may have done that. But if they question is why wasn't he suspended or arrested for that, the answer is because he wasn't charged with anything related.

I'd have to read the specifics again, but is it possible that he had a "fall guy" who took the blame for the gun and/or weed?

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To me the most concerning issue is that he had a 12 year old in the back while going 140.

RayClay said:

Doesn't matter to Goodell now, does it? He was clocked at 143. That's enough for a suspension, since the commissioner doesn't need to wait for a conviction.

I'm just using hyperbole to point out what a sh*theel Richardson is and what a crook the commish is.

There's virtually no gun laws in Missouri, but I had to laugh that reaching under your seat for a loaded semiautomatic handgun after being stopped is only "resisting arrest."

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Yeah, I get that, the Commissioner is a hypocrite. I think we're also being a bit hypocritical if we ask for suspensions without any precedence in the CBA after just fighting that he tried to suspend Brady with no CBA precedent.

This is worse than deflated balls (even if they weren't imaginary), but so is everything. Jay Walking is a bigger deal.

My take on what went down is:

A 24 year old man with a car that he has smoked marijuana in before decided to show off to his friends his fast car. After flying by the police he realized he was in trouble so he decided to turn off the road hoping the police wouldn't see which way he went (up to this point, it's not much different then something I have done when I was younger). But the police saw which way he went, so when he realized he was screwed he stuffed the gun under his seat probably unsure if it was legal, and not wanting to spook the police by having it near him (never did that, but I can see why he would). At least that seems more plausible then he was reaching for the gun, he was likely trying to hide it.

The biggest issue IMO is that the kid isn't old enough to make stupid decisions for himself like the adults. So yeah, I agree there maybe should have been jail (a few days maybe) but I don't think he's some menace to society. He's young, male, stupid, and rich. I've been all of those before except for the last and managed to grow up and not be a burden to society so I'm a bit sympathetic I suppose.

And he still has a trial date where he's facing a fine and up to a year in jail.

Bobsyouruncle said:

I don't know of any place that's a crime. But there probably are some. Where it is a crime is usually not based around having the weapon itself, but on its storage method in the vehicle and whether it's loaded. I don't know of any laws that are specific to semi-automatic handguns since outside of revolvers essentially all handguns are semi-automatic. So for this specific case- In Missouri, as far as I know has no laws against carrying a loaded weapon in your car not visible (which doesn't necessarily mean concealed) with no special permits as long as you are not a felon, or otherwise restricted from owning a gun.

Speaking of places I've lived in the last 15 years (4 different states), none of them consider it a crime to have it not visible and loaded in the vehicle with no special permits. Maybe it's a cultural thing or something but I know several people who have loaded guns in their cars and it's not a big deal. When I have gotten pulled over I told them I had a gun, they checked it, checked that I wasn't a felon and moved along (of course they gave me the speeding ticket I was pulled over for). But that's it.



I'm sure it does, and they may have done that. But if they question is why wasn't he suspended or arrested for that, the answer is because he wasn't charged with anything related.



To me the most concerning issue is that he had a 12 year old in the back while going 140.

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Lol what about driving 143 while high as **** with a loaded gun under your seat with a 12yo in the back?
Yeah we're probably overreacting...

RayClay said:

Contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

Jets DE Sheldon Richardson busted for allegedly driving 143 mph, resisting arrest

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I respectfully disagree.

At 143 Miles An Hour, he was clearly making a strong effort to contribute to the punctuality of a Minor.

#integrity= highfaluting claptrap

robertweathers said:

Nope. Got off scott free.

Outrageous.




Prosecutor explains why Sheldon Richardson wasn't charged for drugs - New York Jets Blog - ESPN

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From what I read he's still facing charges. Just not related to marijuana.

Richardson did absolutely nothing to threaten the integrity of the game, his tires were perfectly inflated. #INTEGRITY

Bobsyouruncle said:

From what I read he's still facing charges. Just not related to marijuana.

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Well maybe if hes convicted he'll be suspended again.

nabwong said:

Because he's a combination of famous, NFL & rich. I should design a new monopoly 21st century edition. There are different laws for different socio-economic groups.

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Yes, there are.

The explanation of the local prosecutor all makes sense, and I can see why Richardson wasn't thrown in jail. Here are the things that really piss me off though. First I'd like to know WHY Richardson wasn't made subject to a pee test (at least). It might not be enough to prosecute in court, but since he was already in the League's drug protocol, I would think that being pulled over by the cops for speeding, and having the car reeking of weed on the arrest report, would be enough evidence to require a test by the league. Second, while it might be difficult to prosecute with an uncooperative witness for endangering a minor, that kind of reckless behavior SHOULD be subject to league scrutiny. And third, there has been precedent for speeding putting a player into the league's punishment program.

Remember this isn't a first time offender. If that were the case, you off with some kind of warning. This is a guy who as already done enough things wrong to get a 4 game suspension. The very fact that the league has done exactly NOTHING since the incident is infuriating. The fact the their media lackys haven't questioned the lack of any action nearly sends me off the edge. Even locally it has hardly been mentioned during Jet week.

I find it humorous when fans use the NYJFL symbol to snark on Goodell and the league, but at least in THIS case it is warranted, as once again the league seems to treat the Jets so much differently than they do the Patriots.

nabwong said:

Because he's a combination of famous, NFL & rich. I should design a new monopoly 21st century edition. There are different laws for different socio-economic groups.

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Famous, NFL*, and rich, also describes Tom Brady, and look at all he went through for nothing.
Pats are STILL minus a 1st round pick for an offense that likely never occurred.

The NFL has kinda gone AWOL on all suspensions since Brady beat them. Why else is Alson Smith also still playing right now?

Because normal people who are pulled over and their car smells like weed while driving around a 12 year old, are given the benefit of the doubt.

The Gr8est said:

Famous, NFL*, and rich, also describes Tom Brady, and look at all he went through for nothing.
Pats are STILL minus a 1st round pick for an offense that likely never occurred.

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Federal court. Not kangaroo court.

patfanken said:

I find it humorous when fans use the NYJFL symbol to snark on Goodell and the league, but at least in THIS case it is warranted, as once again the league seems to treat the Jets so much differently than they do the Patriots.

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In THIS case?
I hope you didn't miss another recent move by the NYJFL where despite draft pick loss precedent, the Jets were simply fined $100,000 for tampering with Revis.

PatsWickedPissah said:

In THIS case?
I hope you didn't miss another recent move by the NYJFL where despite draft pick loss precedent, the Jets were simply fined $100,000 for tampering with Revis.

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That $100k is less than a percent of Revis' $16mil salary for 2015, and came a year after Woody got a warning for comments about DeSean Jackson, and the second time he was accused of tampering with Patriots negotiations since the Deion Branch trade in 2006.

It's the weakest penalty for tampering in the history of the NFL, with Goodell taking away draft picks and swapping midround picks as recently as 2011, and the Lions didn't even get a warning. The NFL might as well get rid of the rules on tampering if they're not going to enforce them equally as written.

People.. Lets remember that it took the league a YEAR to impose the penalties on Blount and Bell for their marijuana mishap.

Also, the league has a pending court issue with Brady that is sucking up all the legal time of their lawyers.. Do you really expect them to have time to go to court over another suspension?

memento said:

That $100k is less than a percent of Revis' $16mil salary for 2015, and came a year after Woody got a warning for comments about DeSean Jackson, and the second time he was accused of tampering with Patriots negotiations since the Deion Branch trade in 2006.

It's the weakest penalty for tampering in the history of the NFL, with Goodell taking away draft picks and swapping midround picks as recently as 2011, and the Lions didn't even get a warning. The NFL might as well get rid of the rules on tampering if they're not going to enforce them equally as written.

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I think the NFL* WILL punish tampering, as long as it does not involve punishing his favorite team.