Clermont and Drake Kidnapping: Jail for One, But Freedom For the Other

Kidnapping conjures up images of serious disgust. As the Hanged Juror states, "In a bank robbery, for instance, if a robber drags a bank clerk inside the vault and then fends off the police, that is kidnapping. (I doubt that any juror would object to that.)"

However in this case, justice was not served. From what I can tell, news reports and court documents:

A couple things I can draw from this: Chief Deputy DA Roy Nelson is a jerk, given this comment (after prosecuting both women), "Ms. Clermont always wanted her day in court and we were happy to give it to her." (LVRJ). In the DA's Office, what is the reason for the not-guilty verdict for Drake and the guilty verdict for Clermont? Even though the prosecutors think that Drake should have been found guilty, Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa Luzaich explained that, "Elaine Clermont had the motive and the political agenda that Laurinda Drake did not." (LVRJ). WHAT?!?

The result, if I see a 1st grader walking down the street in a horrible part of town, in the middle of the day, guess what...that little dude is on his own. I'm not going to jail for caring for anyone's children, except my own. Nice community the DA's Office is fostering.

Sentencing is set for January 7, 2010, while Clermont has been realeased on bond until she is sentences. (LVRJ)

Facts:

• both moms had kids at the school
• the boy was never in any danger
• CCSD got egg on it's face
• I've not seen one report about how they school should improve security
• There was not intent to kidnap
• both women look crazy
• one mother was found innocent, the other was found guilty
• The guilty mom did not 'take' the boy
• alleged kidnapping of a young boy who was walking near Mackey Elementary. It was Clermont's home the boy was taken to.
• In May 2009, Laurinda Drake was acquitted of all charges.
• In October 2009, Clermont was found guilty (LVNews 3)
  
• Incident occurred in September 2008
• The charge against Drake was: "We the jury, in the above and titled case, find the defendant Laurinda Drake as follows: Count 3, first degree kidnapping, not guilty." (LVNews 3)
  
• "I really think the state loses some credibility when it's over the top," says Jordan Savage, defense attorney. "Jurors can sense that and they sense when something's not fair." (LVNews 3)
• So the prosecution changed the charge for Clermont to: jury found Clermont guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and first degree kidnapping.
• The prosecutor did not charge Drake with the "conspiracy to commit kidnapping" charge & Drake was acquitted for the exact charge of "first degree kidnapping"
• GOOD JOB Clark County, you've now created another motherless child in Las Vegas in order to keep the CCSD from looking bad.
  

(For the wrong story Clermont guilty) OR Convicted


Comment from someone called "A Mother"
Wow! Your story is soooo, WRONG. Shame on you, along with the school district, the police and the district attorney's office.
Thank goodness there is still common sense in our community and the ability to discern when there is a political railroading to protect the school district that nearly lost another mother her child.
A mother finds a lost child on the side of the road, she tries to help him, she calls the school as soon as she knows it -- they don't know he was even missing. She asks the school to call his mom RIGHT AWAY, they say they cannot. She calls the authority for the school's, the school board, and takes him directly there.
The school lets the child walk out the front gate, they don't know he's missing, doesn't call the mom, doesn't care if it will ever happen again, AND THEN they and the DA thinks that the right place for the child to be is in police custody, because you know, that's where all "those kinds" of kids will end up anyway.
Kudos to that mom for caring enough to take the matter to the top. God bless her. We need more moms like this, then maybe our school district wouldn't be one of the worst in the nation! (LVNews 3)

She also comments: Guest Mom
Wait a minute! Did not this woman take the child to Walmart or something equally as crazy you put my child in a car and drive away, man you would have some hurt a coming! I do wish though the teachers overseeing the children in the playground would shut up and stop talking to each other and look after the children - it drives me crazy!!! Why if these women thought there was and clearly there was a problem why did they not go to the principal? (LVNow)

Another thought is: Guest
The Guest that says these two women should get a medal is an idiot. The school is responsible after the children get to school, not while they are on their way walking to the school. The parents need to be more responsible for their children and not pawn it off on everyone else. Those two women should be prosecuted just like any other person who takes a child who does not belong to them. They should go to prison just like anyone else who abducts a child. (LVNow)

Another parent comment, called Guest:
There needs to be better security in these schools. My child goes to 100 Academy and it is horrible! I have complained many times about how the side door is always unlocked and I have seen people just walking in it at odd times of the day with out having I.D checked or anything. And was this during school or after school? If it was after school where was this childs parents? I see too many small children walking to and from school all by themselves and I think that is a shame. I do not allow my child to walk anywhere alone and he is almost 9. Anything can happen to children out here and still parents are negligent in watching theor children closely. I think these ladies showed poor judgement. I would be upset also but I don't think I would be trying to get them put in jail for the rest of their lives. That is harsh. They did need some sort of punishment for this act though. It was very bad. (LVNews 3)

So why is THAT not the story. Thanks to the conventional media for making sure they DON'T report the real story.