Man Faces 6 Months In Jail For Yawning - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 08-12-2009, 12:04 AM

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Man Faces 6 Months In Jail For Yawning
Judge Finds 33-Year-Old In Contempt

Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Updated: 9:41 pm CDT August 11, 2009

AP Photo/Will County Sheriff
Joliet, Ill. -- Drowsy spectators in one suburban Chicago courtroom might want to stifle their yawns from now on.

Clifton Williams, 33, of Richton Park, is facing six months in jail for making what court documents call a yawn-like sound in Will County Judge Daniel Rozak's court last month. The yawn happened as Williams' cousin, Jason Mayfield, was being sentenced for a drug charge on July 23.

Rozak found Williams in contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in jail. However, Rozak could free Williams after a status hearing Thursday, if Williams apologizes and the judge accepts. By then, Williams will have served 21 days.

Witnesses disagree about whether Williams' yawn was out of line.

Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, said the prosecutor in the courtroom at the time told him that what came out of Williams' mouth could hardly be called a "yawn."

"This was a very loud, boisterous, deliberate attempt on the part of this individual to disrupt the proceedings and show disrespect to the court," Pelkie said. "It was not a guy who involuntarily yawned. This guy was making a statement -- a very loud statement -- in court."

Mayfield disagreed, saying it was "not an outrageous yawn." Williams has written his family to say that he can't believe he's in jail "for nothing."

A message left for Rozak Tuesday was not immediately returned.

Six months is the maximum sentence judges can give for criminal contempt without a jury trial.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

catlover79 · 08-12-2009, 12:10 AM

TheGreatPretender · 08-12-2009, 12:13 AM

This world is so ****ing stupid. Meanwhile rapists, child abusers, and extortionists are out and about.

Marvo301 · 08-12-2009, 12:43 AM

I hope Clifton will use his time in jail to do some growing up!

Darren J. · 08-12-2009, 12:55 AM

Deal drugs, get probation. Yawn and get 6 months? Sounds too stupid to be true.

dawsongirl · 08-12-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatPretender

This world is so ****ing stupid. Meanwhile rapists, child abusers, and extortionists are out and about.

No kidding.

Doodyville10019 · 08-12-2009, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren J.

Deal drugs, get probation. Yawn and get 6 months? Sounds too stupid to be true.

...only in suburban Chicago does stuff like this ever happen.

One time I was covering a civil status call in DuPage County (another suburban Chicago mess) and I saw a judge actually kick a lawyer out of a courtroom (and ream the attorney out a new a**hole in the process) for not exactly, shall we say, taking a ruling the judge made against said attorney too well.

You can get away with (comparatively) all kinds of crap in Cook County, but not in the collar counties (including Will and DuPage) - lighter caseloads (on both the civil and criminal sides) allow for more strictness and attention to decorum.

PZelda · 08-12-2009, 03:03 AM

Gee, I wonder what the judge would have done if Williams had picked his nose instead of yawning.

beautifuldreamer · 08-12-2009, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PZelda

Gee, I wonder what the judge would have done if Williams had picked his nose instead of yawning.

Good one!
It probably would've gotten him life!

dawsongirl · 08-12-2009, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PZelda

Gee, I wonder what the judge would have done if Williams had picked his nose instead of yawning.

spunkygirl · 08-12-2009, 12:12 PM

Oh how stupid, of all the things to throw someone in jail. Yet we have child molesters, rapists and whatnot out there committing crimes and they want to jail someone for this?!?!

That judge should be thrown off the bench

OH Nuts! · 08-12-2009, 12:51 PM

Talk about the punishment NOT fitting the crime. If it wasn't a yawn but a deliberate attempt to disrupt the court than a REALLY GOOD CHEWING OUT a la Judge Judy would have done the trick. But no $ or jail time imho.

Adamantium · 08-12-2009, 12:58 PM

This man should be with his family, not a jail cell for yawning. Jail is for criminals. This man is not a criminal.

This Judge sucks.

catlover79 · 08-12-2009, 01:01 PM

Just one more example of our wonderful government at work!!

OH Nuts! · 08-12-2009, 01:14 PM

The judge sound a bit ippie in the kaboodle, if you catch my drift.

08-12-2009, 12:10 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-12-2009, 12:13 AM	#3
TheGreatPretender just because Forum Veteran Join Date: May 22, 2004 Location: Trying to think of a creative, witty location. Posts: 7,628	This world is so ****ing stupid. Meanwhile rapists, child abusers, and extortionists are out and about.
	__________________ Peace is a good thing and so is salmon when it's smoked

08-12-2009, 12:43 AM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,465	I hope Clifton will use his time in jail to do some growing up!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

08-12-2009, 03:03 AM	#8
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,236	Gee, I wonder what the judge would have done if Williams had picked his nose instead of yawning.
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

08-12-2009, 12:55 AM	#5
Darren J. Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 19, 2009 Posts: 692	Deal drugs, get probation. Yawn and get 6 months? Sounds too stupid to be true.

08-12-2009, 12:12 PM	#11
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,565	Oh how stupid, of all the things to throw someone in jail. Yet we have child molesters, rapists and whatnot out there committing crimes and they want to jail someone for this?!?! That judge should be thrown off the bench

08-12-2009, 12:51 PM	#12
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Talk about the punishment NOT fitting the crime. If it wasn't a yawn but a deliberate attempt to disrupt the court than a REALLY GOOD CHEWING OUT a la Judge Judy would have done the trick. But no $ or jail time imho.

08-12-2009, 12:58 PM	#13
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	This man should be with his family, not a jail cell for yawning. Jail is for criminals. This man is not a criminal. This Judge sucks.

08-12-2009, 01:01 PM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	Just one more example of our wonderful government at work!!

08-12-2009, 01:14 PM	#15
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	The judge sound a bit ippie in the kaboodle, if you catch my drift.