Ben Barker
News Gathering
COURT STORY
Entering the courtroom the mood was immediately established as relaxed and orderly. Judge Judith Fabricant sat in the back of the room peering over her thick glasses at the attendees of the continued court case of Christopher Johnson who was pleading guilty of armed robbery. The jury’s leather chairs sat empty on the left side of the room while the court officers stood in the front right side looking on as Judge Fabricant prepared for the sentencing.
Johnson’s family sat in the back, looking tired and disheveled quietly discussing the bail money they had posted with one of the court officers who informed them that the judge would clear it up after the sentencing had taken place.
Johnson’s lawyer, trying to shorten his initial sentence, reminded Judge Fabricant of the information discussed in the previous sentencing. Johnson was trying to shorten the sentence recommended by the commonwealth, which had been upward of two years in prison.
After a short discussion, including Judge Fabricant establishing that Johnson had a “history of drug abuse related to crime,” the sentence was set at one to two years in prison.
“I have a broken wrist,” Johnson mumbled as he was handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom. The family was informed that they would not be able to receive their bail money at the time due to a $150 fee that they would have to pay first. Clearly not being able to pay the fine, the visibly upset family left the room, followed by their lawyer.
