The Trial Tax & The Enquirer’s Circus
It’s been a hell of a week in Cincinnati for anyone still nursing the delusion that our courts deal in "justice." Between courtroom brawls, judges posturing with "I told you so" arrogance, and local news outlets cherry-picking stories for clickbait, the mask is completely off.
But don't worry—I’m here to help you filter through the Cincinnati Enquirer bullshit and see the rot for what it really is.
The Manslaughter Discount
On Tuesday, 20-year-old Latrelle Rogers pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Edwin “Myzell” Arrington. He walked away with 12 to 17 years.
Instead of looking at the numbers, the local media is obsessed with the "chaos" that erupted afterward. They’re salivating over body cam footage from the Sheriff’s Office showing a family member trying to jump Rogers on his way back to lock-up. It turned into a 40-person yelling contest that required the deputies to actually do their jobs for once. No one was seriously hurt, but the media treated it like a riot because they need the drama to distract you from the math.
Court records show Rogers shot Mr. Arrington in the back more than five times. He’s a killer who got a sweetheart deal. Why? Because he didn't make the court work.
The Cost of "Due Process"
Now, look at Cole Hornsby who was also sentenced this week. Cole, age 24, shot his neighbor five times during a dispute. Same horrendous act, same body count. The difference? Cole had the audacity to vigorously defend his case. He wanted his day in court. He wanted a trial. His counsel filed a half dozen pre-trial motions!
The result? 24 years to life. That is double the sentence Latrelle Rogers received. That, my friends, is the Trial Tax. The Trial Tax is the dirtiest open secret in the legal world. For a system that pretends to be based on Due Process, it sure loves to level excessive, life-crushing penalties on anyone who refuses to bend the knee and take a plea. It’s a protection racket for lazy prosecutors and judges who want to clear their dockets before lunch.
Instead of calling out this blatant injustice, what does the media do? They blow up a story about a grieving family’s inability to understand why a killer got a slap on the wrist. They want you focused on the fight in the hallway so you don’t notice the robbery happening inside the courtroom.
A 12-year discount for "compliance" while a man gets life for wanting a trial?
Make that shit make sense.
