A Michigan judge has gone viral again after a defendant swore profusely in court and was sentenced to more than a year in prison for contempt of court.
Suspect Darrell Lester Jarrell appeared before Washtenaw County Judge J. Cedric Simpson on Wednesday as part of a preliminary hearing on a trespassing charge.
Since Jarrell could only communicate through a post office box, Simpson offered to reschedule the appointment so he could have time to speak with his attorney.
Despite the judge’s grant of extra time, Jarrell was angry at the prospect of the case continuing, saying, “I’m prepared to leave this state as soon as possible.”
He continued, “What’s going on? It’s trespassing. I can technically leave and you can put out a warrant for my arrest, as long as I don’t come back, you can kiss my ass.”
Defendant Darrell Lester Jarrell appeared before Washtenaw County Judge J. Cedric Simpson on Wednesday
Simpson tells Jarrell after the first curse that he is in contempt of court and sentences him to 93 days in jail
Visibly angry at the random outburst, Simpson replies, “No. No. No. You’re not coming in here.”
He is interrupted by Jarrell who then tells the judge, “F*** you,” and then repeats this five more times.
Simpson tells Jarrell after the first curse that he has contempt of court and sentences him to 93 days in jail.
Simpson then hilariously continues, “That’s another 93 days. That’s another 93,” as Jarrell continues his outburst.
At the end of the trial, Jarrell was sentenced to a total of 558 days in prison for his outburst.
The next case involved Keith Jenkins who watched the whole scene via Zoom, with a stunned look on his face and his mouth wide open.
At the end of the trial, Jarrell was sentenced to a total of 558 days in prison for his outburst
Simpson made headlines earlier this year after reconnecting via Zoom with a suspect whose driver’s license had been revoked and who was behind the wheel of a car.
Corey Harris told the court: ‘Actually, I’m driving to my doctor’s office. So just give me a minute… I’m pulling over now.’
The footage from the Zoom call shows the lawyers standing in the courtroom in shock, while the people in the back of the room do their best to contain their laughter.
The judge, stunned and bewildered, then asked if Harris was standing still, to which he replied, “Give me a minute.”
In an effort to limit the inevitable fine for Harris, his public defender requested an extension of “possibly up to four weeks, if the court would grant it.”
Later, at another court hearing, it emerged that Harris had never had a driver’s license
But Simpson said, surprised, “Okay, maybe I don’t understand something. This is driving while your license is suspended. [case]and he was just driving, and he didn’t have a license.’
“That’s right, Your Honor,” the public defender admitted, defeated. “I don’t even know why he would do that,” the judge replied.
“The defendant’s bail in this case has been revoked,” he said. “The defendant is required to report to the Washtenaw County Jail at 6:00 p.m. today.”
“Oh my God,” Harris replied, shocked that they would rush to judgment without hearing his side of the argument.
Later, at another court hearing, it emerged that Harris had never had a driver’s license.