NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) -
There are hundreds of court files in every
county courthouse involving a second chance for the violator.
Ashley Nicole Gleitsmann was in jail this week
after being arrested for driving while intoxicated. She's only 26, but has a
rap sheet longer than some felons twice her age.
Since 2005, Gleitsmann has been in and out
of jail and prison for numerous felony and misdemeanor cases. It began when
Gleitsmann admitted to striking and biting a 65-year-old woman. The courts
allowed Gleitsmann to go through a six-month state lockdown substance abuse
program.
Assistant county attorney Stephanie
Stephens can't talk about Gleitsmann's numerous cases, but she knows from
experience as both a prosecutor and former defense attorney, sentencing leniency
is common among substance abusers.
"It's not unusual to see those people get
a second chance, even a third, sometimes a fourth chance if that's what it
takes to try to fix the issue, " Stephens said.
Probation doesn't always work.
Gleitsmann received numerous rehab
deals, has been in and out of jail, monitored, and has had charges reduced
or even dropped. Eventually, multiple motions to revoke her
probation were recommended. Even so, additional chances still came her way.
Some observers question if this kind of
thing is a race issue.
Stephens adamantly
disagrees.
"I don't think race is a factor in
it," Stephens said. "I think youth is more of a factor.
Other factors include good attorney
representation, a forgiving judge, and personality.
They're willing to admit they have issues.
They're willing to try to get help and want help for their problems."
Meanwhile, it's argued, the rehab costs
climb and the risk factor to innocent people never goes away. That's a lot to
go home with each night.
"If you put someone on probation for
driving while intoxicated which happens every day of the week, all over the
country, and you wake up tomorrow, and that person has hit a school bus full of
children or committed some other crime while they're intoxicated, you know
you're going to have to look at yourself in the mirror every day," Stephens
said.
In all those case files there will be some
who received more chances, less chances or none at all.
"But would it be fair to say though that
everybody, eventually, runs out of those chances?" Stephens said. "Absolutely.
Absolutely."
Copyright 2013 KTRE. All rights reserved.
Ashley Gleitsmann (Source: Nacogdoches County Jail)
