Bad News -- recruit Leitao arrested

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by Joe Fan, Feb 28, 2017.

  1. Badass

    Badass 2,500+ Posts

    A grand jury indictment is a secret process (not open to public) whereby the defense is usually not allowed to appear, speak, put forth any controverting evidence or cross examine the state's witness on either substance, credibility or bias.

    Also, The Grand Jury determines if the Government has probable cause to pursue the case. Probable cause is a much lower standard of proof than the standard of proof in a trial,

    A CHARGE is not a CONVICTION. In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty AFTER trial where the defense has an opportunity to do all of the above.

    What you describe as guilty people plea down for judicial economy, I could just as easily describe as a case in which the prosecutor wrote a check he cannot cash or prove beyond a reasonable doubt after the defense has an opportunity to investigate and present controverting evidence to the DA.

    The asst DA gets promoted based on their conviction percentages. They don't plea down easy wins.

    Just my $.02 from a legal perspective
     
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  2. MudHorn

    MudHorn Admin Moderator

    This is a good thought, especially with a young person. I have been fortunate enough to escape some dumb decisions I made as a youth. The other side of this coin is that Herman's decision here will be perceived by many (fairly or not) as a statement of his values. Hard to say what is the right thing to do both short- and long-term.
     
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  3. Phil Elliott

    Phil Elliott 2,500+ Posts

    As someone else said, I have no problem with him getting a 2nd chance. It doesn't have to be at Texas, tho.
     
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  4. bystander

    bystander 10,000+ Posts

    And when you add it to the hiring of the former Baylor coach a pattern starts to emerge, fair or not...
     
  5. OldHippie

    OldHippie 2,500+ Posts

    Giving someone a second chance is a good thing. But when someone messes up their first chance, maybe someone else who is still working on their first chance should be given first choice in a selection process. Maybe the person needing a second chance should have to step back down the ladder and have to start at a lower level and work a little harder to prove deserving.

    This is a tough decision for Herman and the athletic department. If they go out on a limb for this player, they are risking a "win at all costs" reputation like OU and Baylor have earned. But if they pass on him, he could easily come back to haunt them by being an extremely motivated and gifted athlete playing for OU, Baylor or a similar team against UT.
     
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  6. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    Folks, he was selling xanex. That it not a "mistake". Getting caught with marijuana, getting caught drinking underage, getting caught somewhere you shouldnt be, public intoxication, etc, etc, etc are young people mistakes.

    Sellling xanex is a tier above "young person mistake" which I think is what above posters meant by discussing feloneys.

    ^ that is not a common young person mistake. I am usually on the defense side (example: later he did worse things, but I did not agree with beating up on Manziel for partying in college) and argued against charlie getting rid of players for mere marijuana use, but being a drug dealer is a bridge too far for me. I agree with the Charlie Strong "get rid of them" approach for something that serious. Let him have a second chance elsewhere. The risk of leading other players to trouble is too big for me with a drug dealer.
     
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  7. Omniscient.one

    Omniscient.one 500+ Posts

    He was young and made a mistake=young person mistake.

    Have you ever done anything illegal? If not then go on
     
  8. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    Where to draw the line though? Armed robbery or murder could be a “mistake” that a young person makes. I think the point here, for some of us, is that selling drugs is a more calculated decision and not just a simple error in judgment.
     
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  9. moondog_LFZ

    moondog_LFZ 5,000+ Posts

    My friends and I sold pot to each other in high school.
    It was a felony back then if they found a seed on the floorboard of your car.
    I guess we were technically "drug dealers" but really only helping friends party and get high.
    I got busted also and had the charges dropped.
    He seemed to be doing the same thing.
    He wasn't cooking meth in his bathtub and selling it to twelve year old kids on the street.
    I think "drug dealer" is a little harsh.
    It won't bother me if he get's on the team.
    He is on probation so the court system already has him on a short leash.
    Let him on the team but one minor infraction and adios.
     
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  10. The Eyes of Texas

    The Eyes of Texas 500+ Posts

    He had $1300+ dollars on him..... he was not just selling some pills to his friends.
     
  11. mb227

    mb227 de Plorable

    That does not, in and of itself, mean he is a dealer of any scale. It does not look good from the optics standpoint, but hell...I've had times were I probably had $5K in the pocket just from playing poker.
     
  12. moondog_LFZ

    moondog_LFZ 5,000+ Posts

    Well, I don't know how much you charge for this stuff and he might have a lot of friends. :)
     
  13. The Eyes of Texas

    The Eyes of Texas 500+ Posts

    Ever have that cash when you were 18 years old, at school? There is a reasonable limit to benefit of the doubt.
     
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  14. horninchicago

    horninchicago 10,000+ Posts

    Let another team do the forgiving. I'm with those saying Texas doesn't need this riff raff.
     
  15. mb227

    mb227 de Plorable

    Actually, yes...I did occasionally carry large amounts of cash (back then, $500 was a good-sized sum).
     
  16. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    He does deserve a second chance, just not at the University of Texas. Let him go to a Oklahoma JUCO; stay clean and graduate; and then finish at Texas.

    Texas [the staff; support staff; and local law enforcement (who would have to keep up with the probation requirements)] does not need this distraction right now. After a few of Herman's "Championships" maybe; just not now.
     
  17. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    There's so much to a story that affects the labels and significance.

    "hey, my mom has a bottle of Xanax that she doesn't take anymore, I wonder if we could party with it."
    "dude,you could sell those easy. Pay for spring break."
    "how much do these sell for?"
    "won hundo Bruh."
    "sweet!"

    I'm just fine with Coach using his discretion.
     
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  18. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    @Dionysus already said, but I will repeat. I have never sold drugs. I already said, I am generally pro second chances for young people crimes, including DWI. Selling Xanax and having $1300 is another level. If he had been caught with a few pills and no $, meaning he was using them for himself, I would have to say give him a second chance (although I would hope someone would be involved to get him off xanex). Selling that in high school is just another level and I think his second chance should be elsewhere.
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2017
  19. gahornphan

    gahornphan 500+ Posts

    Not worth it. Has shown he has questionable judgement.
    Good luck to him tho.
     
  20. Detective Shilala

    Detective Shilala 2,500+ Posts

    agree with HTown. I did a lot of really stupid things as a HS kid. I ran with some kids that were even dumber than me and I went along (maybe they'd say the same lol).

    But the kids that I knew who sold drugs in HS were not just making stupid mistakes or being peer pressured into doing anything against their better judgment.
    Even as a 17 year old idiot I knew to listen to Jimney Cricket and not get caught up in that. At that point its not boys misbehaving...
    Of the kids I know of who sold drugs in HS, they ALL went downhill from there.
     
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  21. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    Never been caught...well twice, once by the Russian Army for espionage (taking pics of tanks in a forbidden zone) and once by the Egyptians for black market money exchange. I got out of both though mainly since I was 16 at the time.
     
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  22. moondog_LFZ

    moondog_LFZ 5,000+ Posts

    Two of the biggest dealers I knew in HS ended up on the Austin Police force.
     
  23. Detective Shilala

    Detective Shilala 2,500+ Posts

    ^^^ See, There you go ;)
     
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  24. Omniscient.one

    Omniscient.one 500+ Posts

    I am switching positions and like the JUCO route idea. That said, I think a team takes him this year if Texas doesn't, but my money is on Herman taking a chance on him and supervising him closely. The cash on him is the biggest concern, as mentioned above by others. I did the math and if it was solely from selling Xanax for say $6 a pill, which is on the cheaper end, that's about 215 pills sold in as small a timeframe to still have the cash from it on him. I just can't see that, it would mean he was doctor shopping, though doubtful as the DA would've discovered that and it would've been a separate felony charge, meaning a plea deal down to a misdemeanor would be impossible IMO, or he's a kingpin, which if true would have also been uncovered and negated a plea deal.

    BUT as he had it reduced to a misdemeanor in a very conservative state notorious for not being easy on drug charges, he must've had proof of the cash being from another source, I'm thinking gambling as mentioned above, he sold something he owned like a laptop, or he gave up some names. I think Herman says no for only the last one.

    Anyone know his explanation for the money?
     
  25. VYFan

    VYFan 2,500+ Posts

    Midnight Express
     
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  26. rattfatt

    rattfatt 500+ Posts

    I don't understand what the big deal is. Look around, America is addicted to prescription medications. Texas has had plenty of athletes especially football players that have gotten arrested and charged with a crime and was allowed to stay on the team. In my opinion Texas did the right thing by allowing a 17 year old kid to come. If he gets into trouble you just kick him off the team it's that simple.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2017
  27. rattfatt

    rattfatt 500+ Posts

    Have you ever taken xanex or smoked the power strains of weed that are smoked today?The effects of each drug really aren't that different. The fact of the matter is that alcohol is a bigger issue to me for young people than xanex. By the way your personal doctor is probably the biggest "drug dealer " that you know.
     
  28. LonghornCatholic

    LonghornCatholic Deo Gratias

    Have I ever done a anything illegal? All I'm gonna say is they never tied the corpse to me so no, no I haven't.
     
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  29. 4th_floor

    4th_floor Dude, where's my laptop?

    Apparently Leitao is coming. I don't agree with this decision, but hopefully it will work out for us and for him. Herman needs to keep this kid under watchful eyes and let it be known that this type of behavior is not at all acceptable.
     
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  30. LonghornCatholic

    LonghornCatholic Deo Gratias

    The liberal in me says don't judge him like crack dealer, give him benefit of the doubt and not assume his judgement is forever flawed.

    The conservative in me agrees with a few of you, give him a second chance............elsewhere.

    I'm still good with what Herman decides. He knows more than me about the circumstances.
     
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