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TMZ: Rampage is in the hospital
By Zach Arnold | July 15, 2008
Report here, in their own inimitable style.
Will Rampage face any jail time?
Here is an LA Times wire report.
MMA Opinion: Pictures of Rampage Jackson’s arrest
Topics: MMA, Media, UFC, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback | Share This
If the allegations are true, SHOULD he serve jail time? Absolutely. But WILL he? Probably not. Plea bargains run rampant in our justice system. This is a country where everything from murder, rape, and manslaughter on down get plea-bargained down to lesser charges every day.
In addition to any jail time that he may (or likely won’t) get, he should also be suspended for at least as long as a steroids suspension will garner. There are plenty of fighters on steroids that we never know about. There aren’t other fighters driving the wrong way towards incoming traffic and also driving on the sidewalk, endangering people’s lives, as they flee from police following multiple hit-and-run incidents.
We have no clue if there are any mental health issues at stake. What if Jackson happens to take anti-depressants or some other drugs for mental health reasons?
Too many people are jumping to conclusions and not leaving enough space for the story to process and be digested.
Judging by how lightly people seem to get off in southern California, I doubt Rampage will do jail time. If he does, it’ll be a few days.
I’m also hesitant to take TMZ’s word on how wild the chase was. They’re the gold standard in sensationalist journalism, if you remove the journalism part.
I second that, Zach.
TMZ writes: “… but they determined he was “medically unfit” to be booked… Rampage is currently in an O.C. hospital.”
Usually they’d book you, if you’re just drunk or high, regardless if you’re a celebrity or just some Joe Schmo.
Mental health issues wouldn’t excuse, explain, or justify that behavior. That would only change whether he would deserve to spend a few months in a traditional prison or a few months in a mental facility (again, if the allegations are true). Millions of people are on anti-depressants, and when they commit crimes, they are still responsible for their actions.
If it turns out that he was drunk and/or high, which is of course a big “if,” then he would deserve significantly more jail time than he’s already facing.
Doesn’t Rampage have a prior for felony assault? That will effect the sentence I am sure, though I don’t know much about the sentencing guidelines in CA.
We have a right to form any opinions we want based on whatever evidence we care to look at, as long as we aren’t the judge or jury. Personally, I prefer to wait a bit and see what other facts come out of this. I don’t have enough reliable evidence to make a strong judgement.
I agree with Zach, and I’ve written a piece in regards to Frank Trigg jumping the gun so quickly.
I’m not speaking for anyone else, but I haven’t jumped the gun. I haven’t said that Quinton Jackson IS guilty of anything. I have said that IF he is guilty of what he is accused of doing, then he deserves a significant suspension from MMA and, more importantly, a prison sentence. If he’s not guilty, then of course he doesn’t deserve that.