Q: WHY SHOULDN'T THIS DRUG DEALER GO TO PRISON? A: BECAUSE HE'S IRISH AND HAS LYME DISEASE (...OH, AND HIS DAD IS A CHIEF OF POLICE!) By LUKAS I. ALPERT
December 13, 2006 -- The Lyme made him coconuts.
A lawyer for the pot-dealing son of former NYPD bigwig and current Miami Police Chief John Timoney argues that his client shouldn't serve a day in prison because his battle with Lyme disease sent his life into a downward spiral of drugs and depression.
Sean Timoney, 26, is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Albany today - nearly a year since he pleaded guilty to trying to buy 400 pounds of marijuana from an undercover agent. Prosecutors have asked for a sentence of 30 to 37 months.
Sean Timoney's lawyer, Ed Hayes, said his client's march down a wayward path began in 1995 when he was diagnosed with the tick-borne illness that causes fatigue, swelling of the joints and neurological changes, including depression.
"It is my understanding from various medical experts that Lyme disease symptoms can span the range of both psychological and physiological problems in teens," Hayes wrote in a pre-sentencing letter to Judge Thomas McAvoy urging leniency.
Hayes also argued that "from a historical standpoint, both sides of Sean's lineage, like so many other of Irish-American descent, suffer from alcohol abuse," predisposing him to addictive behavior which led him to drugs.
Before contracting the illness, Hayes said, Timoney was a dedicated athlete who had "a special bond with his father" - then the NYPD's second in command. But Timoney's symptoms forced him to leave school before graduating and drove a wedge between him and his father, the lawyer said.
Things got worse when the elder Timoney moved to Philadelphia in 1998 to become police chief there - leaving his wife behind in Rockland County where she helped their son finish his high-school requirements from home.
Two years later, the mother and son moved down to Philly, where Sean Timoney enrolled at St. Joseph's University. Soon after, Mrs. Timoney was diagnosed with cancer, sending her son into a deep depression, during which he dropped out of school and turned to the heavy use of marijuana, the letter said.
Timoney cut ties with his family and friends as he sunk deeper into a malaise that culminated with his arrest Nov. 1, 2005, as he and a co-conspirator, Jae Seu, 23, met with the undercover at a Rockland motel. The pair had with them a duffel bag filled with $400,000 intended as a down payment for the drugs.
Timoney pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2005. Since then, he has had his sentencing postponed three times while he underwent drug and alcohol treatment and began communicating with his family again. He has also held down a steady job as a construction contractor, and his health has significantly improved, Hayes said.
Seu, on the other hand, pleaded guilty in February and was incarcerated immediately. He was formally sentenced to 37 months in August.
Hayes wrote in his letter that "Sean completely understands that his previous actions may warrant a sentence that includes jail time."
But the lawyer added, "Under these circumstances, a jail sentence may be counterproductive.
"For the first time since he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, Sean has been able to function without many of the strong side effects that plagued him in the past.
". . . Most recently, Sean spent the Thanksgiving holiday with his parents, sister and niece in Miami, Fla., where [his father], John, currently serves as the [head of] police," the lawyer said.
"He has found a great balance of work, therapy and family support that will not lead him down the path once taken."
[ 13. December 2006, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: Areneli ]
Posted by notcrazykate (Member # 10458) on :
I'm Irish and probably have lyme disease (we'll see in less than a week), what can I get away with?
Good to know I have a defense against all kinds of things built in.
Although I don't think buying pot should be illegal (*disclaimer* this is not to say that I buy it or anything).
Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
Is it just me, or is this thread super wide??? Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
THAT IS A DISGRACE!!!!
I am sorry, but his life sounds like a cake walk compared to mine. But at no time did I EVER try to buy 400 POUNDS OF POT!!!
The only reason someone would buy that much is to sell it.
Having Lyme, being Irish, having divorced and sick parents IS NOT a reason!
If it was, I would be doing it too!!!
That makes me SO angry!!! Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
Could someone please try to fix this post?? It makes me
Thank you! Posted by Areneli (Member # 6740) on :
The very long link did it. I have removed it.
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
i've got 10 kilos to sell. can't get covicted i'm jewish,and have lyme. maybe we can market illecit drugs on this site to pay for the ones we need.
mjdave Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
quote:Originally posted by stymielymie: i've got 10 kilos to sell. can't get covicted i'm jewish,and have lyme. maybe we can market illecit drugs on this site to pay for the ones we need.
mjdave
Ya!! I could use the cash too!!
Thanks Areneli!
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
All things considered....
This MAY be helpful in our plight!
It would set a precedent in a court of law recognizing lyme disease as a debilitating mind and personality reality.
I hope the kid gets off, for lyme related reasons!
zman
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
do yah think tony has ulterior motives for this case.
what you planning on doing tony, robbing a bank????
they would never convict you with that last name and lyme who thats a better ecuse than i have.
and from cleveland man go for the gold.
docbarb
Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
quote:Originally posted by lymie tony z: All things considered....
This MAY be helpful in our plight!
It would set a precedent in a court of law recognizing lyme disease as a debilitating mind and personality reality.
I hope the kid gets off, for lyme related reasons!
zman
I thought of it that way too.
If they had just left it at Lyme, I may not of been as upset. But then they talked about all the other stuff that thousands of people go through.
I think that really got me ticked! (no pun intended )
Posted by Areneli (Member # 6740) on :
Didn't work; Received 18 months in jail.
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
lioness: how's your banana with latex going??
figured it out yet???
docdave
Posted by Blackstone (Member # 9453) on :
Anything that helps to get the message out that lyme is a real, physiologic reason for some pretty terrible psychological effects (everything from "making horrible choices and being irritated because you're tired" to depression, lyme rage, psychosis etc..) is good in my book.
Trying to claim Irish heritage though is kind of a cop out. I wish they would have just stayed with lyme.
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
Dang....
Nobody feels sorry for the drinking IRISH...
OR for Jews either lately huh docbarb!?
I mean I thought there was a little animosity toward the jews in Mel's other movie "The Passion" but then he gets drunk and blows it wide open...LOL
And recently this so called whatever it was and Amadigihjan and David Duke getting together to compare notes....sheesh! Barb you ain't got a chance!
SO Who's It lately? Last I heard it was Charlie!
zman
Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
quote:Originally posted by stymielymie: lioness: how's your banana with latex going??
figured it out yet???
docdave
Nope, I've just been avoiding them both! Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
charlie can't figure it out.so i think he is still it,but he passed to cobby, i don't know if thats a legal pass or not.
david duke is very lucky, if there were no holocaust, there would be 40,000,000 jews living in new york and florida.
mel would have to go unground, as in six feet.
lioness: would you like the instruction manual, with free graphics.
gosh i've been around tony too much, got to find another job.
docbarbdave. Posted by wrotek (Member # 5354) on :
400 pounds = 181,436948 Kilos That is a lot medicine if he intents to use it that way.
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
WE NEED MORE MEDICINE IN THE US THAN IN EUROPE. WE GOT PRESIDENT BUSH REMEMBER. CRAZY GUY ,DUMB GRIN!!!LOL
docdave Posted by wrotek (Member # 5354) on :
He stresses people ?
Posted by griff (Member # 10253) on :
"WE NEED MORE MEDICINE IN THE US THAN IN EUROPE. WE GOT PRESIDENT BUSH REMEMBER. CRAZY GUY ,DUMB GRIN!!!LOL"
I would take Bush over nutty Gore or Soldier bashing Kerry anyday.
Posted by caat (Member # 2321) on :
I think you guys are all stoned.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
That's because you're from Humboldt County Caat where everyone IS stoned*)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by angel58073 (Member # 10807) on :
First of all you people have to remember that this article was taken a little overboard. Remember this dick head has nothing else better to do then to write **** he has no idea what the **** he is talking about.
Second of all you people also have to remember that **** we have all ****ed up once in our life the only reason why everyone is making a big ****ing deal about it is because of who his father is.
Third this article does forget to mention how good sean has been doing in the past year. He really has got his **** together and deserves a second chance. This is the first ****in time this kid got arrested I mean my God give the kid a ****in brake. I know I have been given a second chance. People learn from their mistakes. And if anyone says that they never done soemthing ****ed up i would like to meet them because that its not possible.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
Sorry to jump into this obvious light thread with a more serious question.
I was mostly wondering IF this guy was going to get lyme meds in jail/prison?? Does the county/state/jail system HAVE to treat him for lyme while he is their 'guest'??
Always heard jailed people get the best of medical/dental care,,,but dont know.
Would expensive medical problems be a reason for 'shorter' or deferred, suspended sentences so they DONT have medical/ RX expenses?? Or do they poo-poo the whole concept like many medical enities do???
Do they just let people be warehoused and suffer and die?? Cant believe they dispense any pain meds there!!I dunno cause I am --just don--
Posted by 3greatkids (Member # 3838) on :
Young brains,watching your Mom struggle w/ disease,Lyme infesting your growing brain,no where to turn.
Wow,and we turn our backs on these types of kids everyday.The only new thing w/ this case...Lyme is mentioned.
There are plenty more just like him out there,go into any court system.We just throw them away around the age of ,starting at 16.....too much to handle....too much trouble.
For every kid you save,there are 100s right behind them.W/ the NCLB program and requiring every kid to have a PHD before graduation,gee that helped!
Cocoon America and I thought Lyme instilled empathy.We need big brothers and sisters now than ever before,or parents to step up to the plate.
Don't think it's a lower income problem...the rich ones are spending it up their noses,faster than the parents can hand it over.The ones w/ out...steal and deal.
Posted by wrotek (Member # 5354) on :
I have watched once a movie (don;t remember a title) and a guy there said that government compaining is pretty much a national sport in USA Same in Poland LOL , but big part of people are fed up with it.
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
man angel your not speaking must like an angel.
your talking more like tony. never seen so many astericks in one post.
guess what folks, you break the law it don't matter what's wrong with you period.
you kill a kid drunk you go to jail. you have alzheimer's and run into a house you go to a nursing home with security.
you drive blind and kill someone you go to jail.
disease is not an excuse for breaking the law, here this tony, only ignorance.
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