Girl's dying wish is to see her daddy...

**lynnzop**[$] · #1 03-19-2008, 04:31 PM

...but he's in a Federal minimum security prison serving a term on a drug conviction.

So what you do think? Should Jason Yaeger be given a 30-day release to see his daughter before she dies?

Or should he be forced to serve out his term...if you've done the crime, you have to serve the time.

**theworm**[$] · #2 03-19-2008, 04:37 PM

ya'll know I'm tough on drugs and have little sympathy for those convicted. I do have sympathy for the kid, though, and I think this is dumb. Let him out - give him an ankle bracelet. After the daughter dies, make him finish his full time. If he uses when he's out - lock him up for life.

*emeleel* · #3 03-19-2008, 05:15 PM

What Wormie said. I feel badly for any child whose parent is in jail, but it's an unfortunate fact of life. But a dying child is definitely "extraordinary" circumstances to me.

Quote:

Jason and his family say they're not asking for Jason to be free or to shorten his sentence. He's even offered to double his prison sentence.

And that would make a huge difference to me if I were in charge of granting requests. That speaks a lot to his character, I think.

**lynnzop**[$] · #4 03-19-2008, 10:33 PM

I first heard about this story on the college radio station while driving in this a.m. Most people were on the same page as you guys...but there were a couple who said "Too bad...dude, you sold drugs and broke the law. You should have been thinking about your daughter when you did that! Stay in jail."

The other argument was that if the judge makes concession for this family, the next one will say "My mom is dying. Let me out to see her." and there will be all kinds of requests, lawsuits, etc.,

I guess my take is that since the daughter wants desperately to see her father before she dies, let him out. Supervised, yes. But after all, he's in a minimum security prison...it's not like he's on The Rock or something. A child with a fatal disease has way more emotional pull than an 80-year old mother.

**jgibson2**[$] · #5 03-19-2008, 10:36 PM

Even if there's an 80 year old mother involved, with less than a year to serve, I'd let the man have an ankle bracelet and permission to visit. Cousins, step-mothers, great-grandchildren: too bad. Kids, moms, maybe even siblings get my vote.

realtraveller · #6 03-20-2008, 07:25 PM

This is not a good guy. The longer article on ABC News said that the girl was diagnosed with cancer at age 3, 7 years ago. The father was a meth seller and user and committed the crime after she had been diagnosed. So he knew that if he were caught, he wouldn't be there for her.

Nevertheless, no need to make a child suffer for that. Seems he could be moved to a county or city jail so that he could have daily visits with her with an ankle bracelet.

An exception for a dying child is one thing. But the jails can't be opened up for every dying relative of anyone who has committed a crime.

On the other hand if this guy gets some sort of special release, then someone else will petition for release for his dying mother or wife. And then claim discrimination if he doesn't get it.

Magick1 · #7 03-21-2008, 09:56 AM

This is a tough one. She seems to be hanging onto that last visit though. If only they could figure out something brief. I don't care if he knew she had cancer going into the drugs, selling, or not.

OTOH, just because someone is diagnosed with cancer, it is not an automatic death sentence. The father likely did not think of his little one as being on her death bed.

It's a longshot, but if he was doing the meth, making, selling, using, after finding out, do you think he might have been trying to cover the pain and possibly make money to help his kid: The increased medical bills, doctor's visits.

Who knows. I did not walk in his shoes, but I sure know the hurt and pain some little angel is feeling, regardless of whether her dad did these miserable things or not.

**Prepoia**[$] · #8 03-21-2008, 10:09 AM

One thing that you can't believe....the druggie daddy. Users would lie to God if necessary.
Too bad he's her dad, but if done for her it's acceptable to most of us....but not sure the ramifications of the precedence (sp.looked couldn't find ) it sets legally. And Kim, I hope you always receive the same amount of compassion you give (but look out for the bad guys.)

Magick1 · #9 03-21-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Prepoia said

And Kim, I hope you always receive the same amount of compassion you give (but look out for the bad guys.)

That's a problem....I am too much of a softie when it comes to kiddos any more. I have been burned, but I always have a hard time dealing unemotionally when children are involved.

**pippadaisy**[$] · #10 03-21-2008, 05:52 PM

a) I have problems with our Draconian drug laws that don't do anything to actually rehabilitate anyone

b) I've personally watched poverty-edge families end up in this situation. Want to know why a lot of fathers end up on meth or coke? It's not to get high; it's to stay awake to work the 2nd or 3rd full-time job to support their families. It's very easy to sit in middle-class land and never look at why or how the drug use started and say he's a loser father, but he may very well have gotten in over his head trying to support a family in a country that often doesn't pay a living wage, especially if your child has medical issues.

**lynnzop**[$] · #11 03-24-2008, 12:50 PM

Heard a bit more about this today on the radio.

Evidently, in the "extraordinary circumstances" clause, part of the interpretation is the ability to foresee (when the crime is committed) that the event might happen.

So since Jayci was diagnosed with the cancer prior to Jason being put in jail, that alone should have been enough of a deterrant to keep him on the straight and narrow. Since it didn't, it's now "too bad, tough luck".

**drmomentum**[$] · #12 03-24-2008, 01:24 PM

I see that as a more compelling argument than simply "he's a bad guy." It's too bad his daughter has to suffer for it, and he'll suffer a lot longer.

Can you imagine? If a situation like this isn't deterrent enough, what could possibly be?

Ugh, what a horrible situation. That poor girl.

Magick1 · #13 03-28-2008, 11:48 AM

He was able to see his daughter yesterday.

Today, she passed away.

*emeleel* · #14 03-28-2008, 06:21 PM

**lynnzop**[$] · #15 03-28-2008, 06:22 PM

I heard yesterday that they'd been able to visit for 30 minutes.

I did not hear that she had died today. (Not paying attention to the news)

I'm so glad she got to see him.

**theworm**[$] · #16 03-28-2008, 10:20 PM

I'm glad they got to see each other. I hope she knew he was there.
Poor kid.

Magick1 · #17 03-28-2008, 11:32 PM

Yeah, it made me tear up reading it, but I half way expected it. When her mom stated that she had respiratory problems three or four times Wednesday night, then I read that he was able to visit Thursday, I knew.

May she rest in peace and not have any more pain from the suffering that little trooper has been through.