POLL: Should Law Go Easy on Senior Facing Drug Charges Because of His Age?
Donald Edwards was arrested Friday by Orland Park Police for selling drugs, according to a Sun-Times Media report. At 73, should the Frankfort Township resident's age be a factor for law enforcement?
A four-week investigation by Orland Park Police led to the arrest Friday, June 8, of a 73-year-old Frankfort Township man for dealing drugs, Sun-Times Media reports.
Donald Edwards, of the 11200 block of North Woodland Circle, near Mokena in unincorporated Will County, was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and intent to deliver after police searched his home Friday, the report said. Edwards is still being held in Will County Jail, and his bail is set at $7,500. His next court date is July 2.
A woman also living at the same address was arrested Friday, according to the report. Brandy Derkacy, 25, was charged with possession of marijuana and intent to deliver, the report said.
During a search of Edwards' home, police found unspecified amounts of cocaine and marijuana of Police recovered “a quantity” of cocaine and marijuana, the report said. Police Cmdr. John Keating told Sun-Times Media these arrests were a victory for public safety:
Any time you can shut down a source of illegal narcotics, we consider it a success. This was in a residential neighborhood where there are young families, on a street just off Wolf Road with homes on either side (of the house).
If convicted on the charge of cocaine possession with intent to sell, Edwards faces a minimum of six years and a maximum of 60 years in prison depending on the amount of drugs found.
Given his age, should law enforcement officials go easy on Edwards? The law creates a distinction for minors committing crimes. Should it do the same for senior citizens if they're considered less of a danger to the public than younger offenders? Or should age play no role when it comes to pursuing and punishing law-breakers? If you were on the jury, would you be able to vote for the conviction of a 73-year-old man?
Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Cathy Schullo Nayder
5:12 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
How much of a threat can he be?? He is a drug dealer! Someone is buying the drugs and using them! Any drug dealer is a menace to society!
char
11:23 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
How much of a threat can he be? You obviously didn't correlate between the decisions he made and his age. He's old enough to be in a nursing home! A person of his age and history is more than a menace to our society hes a predator to mankind.
D Wilson
7:34 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
As a relative it will be most beneficial for society that age not be taken into account...
Jill
9:38 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
There are wayyyy too many drugs within Mokena. Keep giving the teens a "slap on the hand" and one day they will be just like this 73 year old man. If you do the crime, you do the time. Put him (and any kids) through the Joliet courthouse, not little ole "Mokena Court."
Toma
6:53 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
He's somebody's grandfather... selling dope to our kids. Go easy on him when you put him behind bars for the rest of his live. Piece of garbage!
D Wilson
7:35 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Some things just don't change with some people....
Noah
7:43 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
There is a thing called 410 probation for first time offenders. If he is truely and honestly sorry about his "mistake", then he will have no problem completing its terms and being released from probation. If, however, he is still going to mess up he will fail probation and have the book thrown at him.
D Wilson
7:35 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Far from being the first offense...
Geno Lane
9:16 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
People we are talking drugs here, made Illegal by the drug companies lobby'ists,This is rididculous!! outlawing drugs versus legal drugs, whom is to decide which or what drug should be LEGAL ? YOU can be addicted to and over dose on so called *legally perscribed drugs* The *war on drugs* is a farce and all masterminded by the the *drug companies* to make YOU use their drugs!! geez wake up people
frank
1:19 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Again, COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!
74 years old with a 25 year old woman in the house? Relative or not, you throw the book at them.
They both know right from wrong.
It's not their first time, most likely the first time they have been caught.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...
D Wilson
7:36 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Not even the first time being caught
Dave Dutro
9:31 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
He's 74 years old, he knows the score, time to take out the garbage....there's too much of it on the streets as it is.
Kathie
2:59 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
I wish there was a "thumbs up" button on all of the above replies... I AGREE! What happened to becoming wiser with age and having more respect for others? He should be ashamed of himself!
Lydia J
9:30 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
"During a search of Edwards' home, police found unspecified amounts of cocaine and marijuana"
This is the problem I have here. I've seen local police push felony distribution on 1/2 oz of weed. How much are we talking here? pounds? grams? Why so tight-lipped on the haul? Sounds super fishy to me. Give me one good reason not to publicize the amount he had in his house.
The age of the woman is irrelevant. It could have even been her dope.
Lydia J
1:59 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
Well, the way I understand the law sets forth specific penalties based on the quantity of drugs recovered. You are sending these people to live in a cage without knowing if they were a tiny bit bad- (grams)- or very bad- (tons).
Sharia law? You sound like a progressive person.
Why the police would issue an incomplete report omitting a key component of the arrest is suspect.
The Patch also owes it to it's readership to either accurately depict the facts or hold-off publishing until the basic details are in.
The mayor of Chicago today introduced legislation to decriminalize 1/2 oz or less.
Charlene Bergman
2:22 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
A sniff or snort - tsp.or gallon is way too much when talking drugs being sold to young people. These two should be arrested/jailed and daily given doses of whatever they were distributing and watch them die a slow and horrific death - put it on TV better yet so we can keep checking their condition as they are indulged with their product. Sympathy is in the dictionary and should not even be considered in these cases. I find it abhorrent that a person close to my age would even think of doing such a thing - throw the book at him and her both. End of story
Lydia J
2:25 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS !!!
Lydia J
2:26 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
GET THE PITCHFORKS !!!
Tara
10:02 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Age doesnt matter, you have no idea what this man has done in the past! I know this for a fact, he molested me when I was 4 and raped my cousin. He has been in jail for years and still hasn't learned his lesson. Let him rot in jail!
char
10:45 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Over twenty years ago, this man had victimized my family in such ways that are unimaginable. This story had led me to believe that no matter how much time a person has to think about what they have done, it will NEVER change them. I'm sure he has victimized that 25 year old girl in the same ways he victimized my mother when she was 25. The results are a beautiful young girl without a father and countless numbers of people feeling the pain he caused due to his sick, evil actions. I hope he rots in prison the way he should have the last time they locked him up.
char
11:10 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
By the way, he has never been charged for the rape and molesting he did to our family. The children were too young to say anything at the time, as in many cases. He may never be found guilty of those actions and I have little hope that he hasn't harmed other innocent children. Its been 14 years now since he was released from a 10 year sentence for the possession of cocaine and again I hope they give him a lengthy sentence, minimizing his chance to do harm to others in the future.