Full Version: Treffly Coyne--deadbeat mom?
QUOTE
CHICAGO - Treffly Coyne was out of her car for just minutes and no more than 10 yards away.
But that was long and far enough to land her in court after a police officer spotted her sleeping 2-year-old daughter alone in the vehicle; Coyne had taken her two older daughters to pour $8.29 in coins into a Salvation Army kettle.
Minutes later, she was under arrest — the focus of both a police investigation and a probe by the state's child welfare agency. Now the case that has become an Internet flash point for people who either blast police for overstepping their authority or Coyne for putting a child in danger.
The 36-year-old suburban mother is preparing to go on trial Thursday on misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and obstructing a peace officer. If convicted, she could be sentenced to a year in jail and fined $2,500, even though child welfare workers found no credible evidence of abuse or neglect.
<snip>
But that was long and far enough to land her in court after a police officer spotted her sleeping 2-year-old daughter alone in the vehicle; Coyne had taken her two older daughters to pour $8.29 in coins into a Salvation Army kettle.
Minutes later, she was under arrest — the focus of both a police investigation and a probe by the state's child welfare agency. Now the case that has become an Internet flash point for people who either blast police for overstepping their authority or Coyne for putting a child in danger.
The 36-year-old suburban mother is preparing to go on trial Thursday on misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and obstructing a peace officer. If convicted, she could be sentenced to a year in jail and fined $2,500, even though child welfare workers found no credible evidence of abuse or neglect.
<snip>
LINK: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_...KTal96P7vVH2ocA
Questions for Debate:
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
3) Should she be prosecuted?
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
30 feet. Ten Yards. Ya, we have some overzealous prosecution here. The very fact they want to "prosecute" a misdemeanor on this tells me that someone has an axe to grind, and is wasting goverment resources, and needs to be fired or riegned in.
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
30 feet? You betchya. Line of site, always, but damn, what we are talking about here is minor, big time.
3) Should she be prosecuted?
Persecuted is the more correct term. Sounds like someone needs to replace a DA and anyone that forced this case forward.
To put it in perspective, see how many assaults that are really felony assaults in that area go unprosecuted. It wil show you how few resources they have even to put away the immediately violent that is open and shut type stuff.
This is malicious prosecution, no doubt in my mind.
30 feet. Ten Yards. Ya, we have some overzealous prosecution here. The very fact they want to "prosecute" a misdemeanor on this tells me that someone has an axe to grind, and is wasting goverment resources, and needs to be fired or riegned in.
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
30 feet? You betchya. Line of site, always, but damn, what we are talking about here is minor, big time.
3) Should she be prosecuted?
Persecuted is the more correct term. Sounds like someone needs to replace a DA and anyone that forced this case forward.
To put it in perspective, see how many assaults that are really felony assaults in that area go unprosecuted. It wil show you how few resources they have even to put away the immediately violent that is open and shut type stuff.
This is malicious prosecution, no doubt in my mind.
QUOTE
CHICAGO - Treffly Coyne was out of her car for just minutes and no more than 10 yards away.
But that was long and far enough to land her in court after a police officer spotted her sleeping 2-year-old daughter alone in the vehicle; Coyne had taken her two older daughters to pour $8.29 in coins into a Salvation Army kettle.
Minutes later, she was under arrest — the focus of both a police investigation and a probe by the state's child welfare agency. Now the case that has become an Internet flash point for people who either blast police for overstepping their authority or Coyne for putting a child in danger.
The 36-year-old suburban mother is preparing to go on trial Thursday on misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and obstructing a peace officer. If convicted, she could be sentenced to a year in jail and fined $2,500, even though child welfare workers found no credible evidence of abuse or neglect.
<snip>
But that was long and far enough to land her in court after a police officer spotted her sleeping 2-year-old daughter alone in the vehicle; Coyne had taken her two older daughters to pour $8.29 in coins into a Salvation Army kettle.
Minutes later, she was under arrest — the focus of both a police investigation and a probe by the state's child welfare agency. Now the case that has become an Internet flash point for people who either blast police for overstepping their authority or Coyne for putting a child in danger.
The 36-year-old suburban mother is preparing to go on trial Thursday on misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and obstructing a peace officer. If convicted, she could be sentenced to a year in jail and fined $2,500, even though child welfare workers found no credible evidence of abuse or neglect.
<snip>
Questions for Debate:
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
Based on the info provided, no she was not.
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
Oh my. I do this all of the time. The big dilemna is at the gas pump. I've got my 6 yro, 4 yro, and 8 mo resting in the van. The van has tinted windows preventing anyone from noticing the children. The gas station attendant is in line of sight though access to him requires that I go into the building for a couple of minutes. I lock the doors and run for it... Hurry! hurry! - quick glances out to the car - waiting for customer to get through his stupid ritual of buying 6 different kinds of lottery tickets - cursing at him under my breath - run back to the van - check to see if all are still resting - large sigh of relief...
The prospect of waking everyone up to go into the store is crazy-making. My wife would kill me though if I lost all three kids in the process...
3) Should she be prosecuted?
Did she act like a bonehead with the officers? I can't believe they would arrest her for the initial infraction. What was the nature of this "obstructing justice"?
From the AP today:
QUOTE
CHICAGO - Charges will be dropped against a woman who briefly left her 2-year-old daughter alone in the car to take her two older daughters to pour coins into a Salvation Army kettle, prosecutors said Thursday.
The woman, Treffly Coyne, was charged with misdemeanor child endangerment and obstructing a peace officer after a Crestwood police officer spotted her sleeping daughter alone in the vehicle Dec. 8. The mother claimed she was close by at all times and was gone for just minutes.
The woman, Treffly Coyne, was charged with misdemeanor child endangerment and obstructing a peace officer after a Crestwood police officer spotted her sleeping daughter alone in the vehicle Dec. 8. The mother claimed she was close by at all times and was gone for just minutes.
Questions for Debate:
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
No.
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself? Yup.
3) Should she be prosecuted? No.
The key charge, the one that indicates everything ya need to know, is "obstructing a peace officer." She failed to kowtow to the cop....
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
No.
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself? Yup.
3) Should she be prosecuted? No.
The key charge, the one that indicates everything ya need to know, is "obstructing a peace officer." She failed to kowtow to the cop....
QUOTE(quick @ Mar 12 2008, 03:48 PM) 
LINK: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_...KTal96P7vVH2ocA
Questions for Debate:
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
3) Should she be prosecuted?
Questions for Debate:
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
3) Should she be prosecuted?
1) No, she wasn't wrong. This whole thing is ridiculous.
2) Yes. I've left the baby in the car and gone back in the house for a second to grab something. I refuse to believe there is anything wrong with that.
3) Absolutely not. This reminds me of a story related to me by someone who had to wait all day in court. Apparently some kid was before the judge for violating curfew. He was outside of his house walking his dog at night and a police officer arrested and fined him. The judge threw out the case and gave the office an earful, which is what I hope happens in this case.
Questions for Debate:
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law? No
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself? Yes
3) Should she be prosecuted? Absolutely Not!
This is another example of a police officer on a power trip. Police really should have more important things to do. I have waiting more than a month for the police to act here. Someone stole our business checkbook and cashed various bad checks. The bank provided surveillance video and original checks with fingerprints and based on the teller's description one of my staff was able to provide the name of someone on work release that matched the description. It has been nearly 6 weeks and they haven't found time to issue a warrant yet.
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law? No
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself? Yes
3) Should she be prosecuted? Absolutely Not!
This is another example of a police officer on a power trip. Police really should have more important things to do. I have waiting more than a month for the police to act here. Someone stole our business checkbook and cashed various bad checks. The bank provided surveillance video and original checks with fingerprints and based on the teller's description one of my staff was able to provide the name of someone on work release that matched the description. It has been nearly 6 weeks and they haven't found time to issue a warrant yet.
Questions for Debate:
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
The byline says Chicago, but it doesn't necessarily say where. I can see the officer noticing a young child alone in a car...
I was parking my car at the Doctor's office a few days ago when I noticed a car with an open driver's door and a child standing on the driver's seat playing with the steering wheel. She was not tall enough to reach the roof of the car. Across the street is the police dept. The neighborhood is one where white people are advised against patronizing the restaurants for their own safety. A friend of ours, an ex-policeman, has told me that children are routinely kidnapped from the neighborhood, smuggled to Mexico, and sold into slavery.
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
When my children became old enough to ask to be left in the car, I have rolled windows down far enough to vent, locked the doors, etc. It has always been against my better judgement, but try arguing with a tired teen-ager...
3) Should she be prosecuted?
That would seem to be a decision best left up to a prosecutor with all the facts.
1) Was Ms. Coyne wrong, regardless of the applicable law?
The byline says Chicago, but it doesn't necessarily say where. I can see the officer noticing a young child alone in a car...
I was parking my car at the Doctor's office a few days ago when I noticed a car with an open driver's door and a child standing on the driver's seat playing with the steering wheel. She was not tall enough to reach the roof of the car. Across the street is the police dept. The neighborhood is one where white people are advised against patronizing the restaurants for their own safety. A friend of ours, an ex-policeman, has told me that children are routinely kidnapped from the neighborhood, smuggled to Mexico, and sold into slavery.
2) Have you ever done such a thing yourself?
When my children became old enough to ask to be left in the car, I have rolled windows down far enough to vent, locked the doors, etc. It has always been against my better judgement, but try arguing with a tired teen-ager...
3) Should she be prosecuted?
That would seem to be a decision best left up to a prosecutor with all the facts.
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