2007
The Jena 6: Mychal Bell’s Criminal History
I have posted a lot of about the Jena 6, and nearly all of it has been supportive. I still believe that attempted second-degree murder charges are excessive and that this should have been handled within the juvenile justice system. But I have to acknowledge that several commenters (From Jena, James Black, Lillie) who have insisted all along that Mychal Bell had priors were correct. While I don’t necessarily agree with the way those priors were characterized (”Bell terrorized his own community,” etc.) this article confirms the fact. While it’s undisputed that Mychal Bell was an honor roll student, it is now also proved that he had a criminal record, including violent crimes, starting two years before the Justin Barker beating.
- Battery - 12/25/2005
- Criminal damage to property - 7/25/2006
- Battery - 9/2006
- Criminal damage to property - 9/2006
This explains the fact that Bell’s bail was much higher than the others. As I said, I still disagree with the 2nd degree attempted murder charge and the fact that 5 of the 6 are being charged as adults in any event - and for those who use Bell’s priors to justify it, how does that factor into the fact that the other 5 in the Jena 6 are still facing that charge? However, this is important information and should be noted by all Jena 6 defenders.
September 7th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
My comment is more of a question, since this town is so small and according to everything I have read about the town being 85% white, is there a reason the trials can’t be moved to another parrish for a better chance of the boys getting a fair trial.
I feel like violence is the wrong way to go, but appealing to others nationwide will get the word out, and will get more publicity for the boys that are on trial and to the town of Jena and other problems of racism that other Blacks are facing.
As a school employee, I have seen several fights and these fights are always handled within the school unless they happened off campus. In addition the administrators are suppose to be open to the feelings of every student in the district that they are heading.
Again I will say that NO, violence is not the way to go and I pray no is suggesting that.
September 7th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Most of the people here seems to be taking their eye off the prize.
The prize should be the punishment does not fit the crime.
yes there was a fight however it does not consist of serving life in jail to please the majority of Jena. It also does not mean that the minority should have to stop seeking justice and fair living conditions in Jena. The prize people Please stop focusing on spelling and white and black though they play a part it is not what this is about. Cause we all know if a group of whites men/boys/teenagers shoot throw some females up in this also. It seems in this town they would have been given metals and awards for taking the life of another black person. Is this what we want for our children’s children
September 7th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
I have traveled the world due to the military and I have lived in Mississippi for the past ten years, and yes the small town that I lived in was racially divided. The African Americans lived on one side of the tracks and Caucasians lived on the other side. There are still schools that are 99.9% caucasians. This is especially true in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. As far as the Jena Six, the punishment is crazy. Whatever happened to school suspension for fighting. Those African American kids WILL NOT get a fair trial in Jena, Alabama. I have worked in a law firm for the last couple of years in Mississippi and I have seen and heard a lot. I have seen in black in white where a caucasion judge will give a lighter sentence (a slap on the wrist) to a caucasion person and then turn around and give an African American with no record jail time and outrageous fines for the exact same crime. People need to wake up and realize that racism exists and as people continue to tolerate it then it will continue to exist “in the open”.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:30 am
This case is just another example of racism. To be exact racial injustice. While it makes me absolutely ill to my stomach, racism will NEVER go away. So what he had a past–we all do. It does not justify why he was charged so heavily. His past had nothing to do with them wanting to sit under a tree that the Almighty God created, but it was called the “white” tree. That is extremely ridiculous–especially in this day & age. Why weren’t the causcasian children charged? Tell me that? They hung nooses which shows a clear hatred for blacks. Reed Walters came to that school and told blacks students that he can destroy there lives with a stroke of a pen. So, he’s not racist, huh?
September 8th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
they should have gotten the same treatmeat as the white kids this is not 1955 were white were treated better than blacks that is wrong
September 9th, 2007 at 12:24 am
I dont know where all of you people went to school or where you live, but I thank god I dont live anywhere a 6 on 1 fight is just a school fight. If that is they way it is where you live you better try to fix it before it is to late. If 1 of those boys had wanted to fight Barker and had kicked his *** nothing would have been said it would have been just a school fight. They both would have been suspended. But no like cowards are some kind of gang it took six. Apparently you live in very violent places , we dont put up with that here and nerver will black or white. You commit a crime you will do time. That is the way it should be everywhere and then things like this would happen less often. A black guy shot me the bird today , tomorrow 6 of us are going to beat him senseless. NOT REALLY but you see you are all condoning this type behavior. You need to think about what you are calling a regular school fight.
September 14th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I live In New York now, but I grew up In B’ham, from the age of 10 to 19 then I move back to new york . But i grew up in a Jim Crow town, which make me want to help in some kinda way. What I did was sent the Jena 6 web site around in the job and ask would my co-worker either sign the petition or give to a collection for their defense. I work for Verizon, now what I need to know is who would I send the collection to.
I was listening to Micheal Basin and I heard him say that the Bell kid was being release and it brought tear to my eye . I was very happy to hear that, May god Bless him and his family, now i would like to hear that with the other 5 kids,for their family to have the same joy and would love to see the official down there have them removed from their jobs that goes for the lawyer,Da,and the Judge,and the School official that chg the desicion and said it was a prank
September 14th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Free Jena6.
It’s funny when children try to discuss a topic they know nothing about. (RACISM , LAW & INJUSTICE). Get alife and contribute more to society. Why, don’t you began by donating some of your time to helping the less fortunate, since you have all this time to debate back and forth. Why, don’t you write a book about ALL your opions, oops.. No one would by it!
FREE JENA6
The Aliens Are coming to Jena on The 20th to help the other Aliens
September 14th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
No one would buy it !!!
FREE JENA6
September 15th, 2007 at 12:13 am
I have been reading this blog and I really don’t know what to say. I was born and raised in Louisiana and left in 2003 when I graduated from college. I can’t say I am surprised by what happened in Jena. It happens over the entire state. Obviously some of the comments from the citizens of Jena clearly represent the fact that there is a visible amount of racial tension in the town. How in hell are you going to declare a “White tree” at a public school that everybody’s tax money funds. Let me stop before I start saying stupid stuff like some of these other people here have been saying. Sneakers are not a deadly weapon, no one should be spending 22 years in jail because of a fight, and white children should not hang nuses in trees if they don’t want to get beat down, the DA should be fired and forced to go to a real law school, the trial should be moved to another city, and the appropriate sentences should be handed down for the actual crime. I am not surprised that there are not federal laws against hanging a nuse in a tree or racism but it seems like something that will possibly be hitting the books in the near future. If the white people in Jena are getting death threats, tell them to go and ask the black citizens who have been dealing with this mess for years how to handle it. There are problems in Jena, the state of Louisiana and the majority of the old south. I am glad I left, and although I visit from time to time, I can only stay for a short while because I am sickened by the ignorance and stupidity that still exsists there. The justice system in Louisiana will never be just as long as the ones responsible for upholding the laws are wearing hoods when they get off work.
September 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Is it true that a minority was assaulted by a group of (5) white kids a day before this incident? Why were they not charged? This was a over kill by the DA,s office. The defendant,s lawyer should be disbarred for legal misrepresentation, Judicial forms should be filed against the Lawyer, prosecutor, and judge. this is a horrible tragedy and those six kids will be scared for life.
[The incident at the Fair Barn where Robert Bailey may have been beaten or was in a fight is very much in dispute. The Town Talk, which has provided a lot of good reporting on the Jena 6, interviewed Donald Washington, an FBI agent (who came to smooth things over, not investigate, as his disingenuousness about selective prosecution proves) said that it wasn't a white on black beating - it was several black teens, several white teens and men, and evidently Bailey didn't go to the hospital, so any injuries he may have had are not documented. - Laura]
September 15th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
I believe when Bell, Bailey and Shaw came out of that store and Justin pointed the shotgun at him, the 3 kids “wrestled” it from him and later turned it over to the police. It has been a while since I read the details of that, but I do believe the 3 kids got charged with crimes. Perhaps the “battery” charge was due to the fighting over the shotgun and perhaps the shotgun was the “damaged property”. Many kids get into fights. In a racist town like Jena, I would not be surprised that the prior “criminal” charges were similiar to the thrumped up charges. Cospiracy to commit murder? If that were even a remote possibiltiy then the kids would have been choosing to spend their lives in jail, knowing a fight at school would get them arrested.
DA Reed’s career is being investigated for past misconduct.
[alyce, Justin Barker was not at the Gotta Go. Bailey definitely was, I'm not sure about Bell and Shaw. What happened at the Gotta Go has been disputed; we need more information about it which I have so far not been able to get. I agree that there was no conspiracy. I haven't seen a thing to persuade me of that so far. As for Reed Walters being investigated, I haven't seen that anywhere, got a link? - Laura]
September 15th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
djmmm
No its not true.e nobody was attacked by white students or whites in general the day before or any other time.
Went to the homecoming football game last night as usual blacks and whites were sitting together throughout the stands. Absolutely no problems as usual. Carwin Jones”s sister was on the homecoming court as was another black girl. The black news reporter for KALB asked all the homecoming court and cheerleaders along with several citizens about their feelings about Bells conviction being thrown out. Apparently she didnt get find anything juicy enough from the Jena people to put on air, she did put comments from 2 people in the stands from Jonesvilles team on the 10 o clock news> One defended Barker and the other defended Bell.
I also saw three pictures of Robert Bailey’s brother on myspace with several hundred dollar bills hanging from his mouth and several thousand dollars laying in his lap, not to mention his large gold chain and pendant. His mother also just bought a new jaguar. Pretty good for someone who doesnt work and lives in a run down trailer. Just thought all of you donaters would like to know where the Jena 6 defense fund was going. This is the best thing that ever happened to them or so it seems.
I am glad Bell will be in juvnile court now. Everything he has done in the past comes into play now, in the previous trial he was only tried for this beating. Now all priors are in play, he violated his probation that was in effect until his 18th birthday. All his school behavior and detention is also considered. There will be no jury so no one can cry because of a all white jury. No press will be allowed in the courtroom. They also will have no access to anything that goes on. Only him and the judge. 4 years is the most I believe he can get, dont be surprised if he gets it.
Laura
I also dont think you are considersd a juvenile if you are over 16 which the others were. That is in Louisiana anyway.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:48 am
This was racial turn political ****. how can the supertrend justify the noose hanging the tree as prank (i don’t see any thing funny) about that. the DA and the judge should be a shame of them self due to the fact they HS diploma is black and white so how can they do that to that young boy and they bleed the same color as a black person this is not the 60’s anymore so they need to get off the bull ****
they trying to give him time like he shot some one. the kids beat his *** that all. they lucky they don’t live in NY & attend NY school. they would not been able to put the noose in the tree. they lucky that he got a *** whipping and he is not dead. just one thing i don’t under stand why they did not get charge for putting the noose in the tree. if he would had hung that noose up in NY he would been in it hanging. I’m very mad at that stuff. how do you give some one 22 years and give someone 3 days suspension that don’t add up. just you give someone 3 day’s for attempt murder 1 day for murder that don’t sound right. no no so why must he get 22 year’s. they had tolerance so why he did not get in trouble for the noose and Mychal got 22 for a fight on school ground.
September 21st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
what is the source for his criminal record? Not disagreeing necessarily, just want a link or source so I can back it up if I use it.
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:02 am
I normally do not blog however the Jena Six case has really grasped my attention. I thought that all juvenile charges were private. I wonder how many successful public figures (politicians, ministers, etc.) would be were they were if the public had access to their juvenile records. It is bad enough that it is LIES all around us but of course allot of people cover up there deceit very well. No one knows why Mychael even has those charges. Honestly, I do not care. What is going on is racism and injustice in my eyes. The media will not persuade me to change my mind on what is really going on. I looked at least two of the other Jena six accused on television only to hear one say he wasn’t there at all and the other admitted to looking on only. Both stated they never even touched Justin period. I truly think he would have been beat a little worst then that just by looking at the picture. I have seen people beat up worse than that by one person. I wonder if they are doing 20, 30 or 80 years for fighting. I doubt it. I can tell you know….I am Happy the Society is Showing Me that Blacks have not Arrived as Many may think. I am very successful, intelligent black woman. Know that I know where I came from and I thank my ancestors for getting me this far. My ancestor fought too hard to have me think I am above the cause. It is bad enough we are still under that Willie Lynch mentality. DON’T BE MANIPULATED!!!! LOOK UP WILLIE LYNCH…IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY!!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I have three things I’d like to say:
1. Blogs are a tricky business. While they offer greater democracy, in giving people space to have their voices heard, they also tend to have lower standards of verification than the journalism i was trained in. So, as the mega-corporate news media become more and more lazy, greed-based and corrupt, and less and less committed to verification and providing accurate and fully or fairly contextualized stories, we have the internet and rise of blogs to fill in holes. Unfortunately, some of the holes being filled in may be false information, similar to the garbage our politicians often hand the news media as facts. It’s called spin.
I don’t trust any single source of information, or even multiple sources, which may in fact just be repeating the same rumor. To wit, I don’t trust 167 James Black’s claim that the parent of one of the Jena Six is driving a new jaguar now purchased from donations to their defense. If it is a true fact and not a rumor, I would like to know Mr. Black’s sources for the allegation. It is a very serious accusation. If it is true, it is indeed a terrible abuse of people’s trust. But if it is a lie, then Mr. Black is guilty of a terrible abuse of people’s trust.
What are the standards on this blog of fact-checking before releasing such allegations over the airwaves? Ms Laura has made some good decisions, it seems to me, about questioning certain claims some writers have put forth here. I wonder why no such question was voiced adjacent to Mr. Black’s allegations in entry # 167?
2. Separating the issue of racism from the issue of violence is important in this matter. Certainly it is reasonable to question whether beating up Justin Barker was called for, and it is reasonable to expect consequences for anybody, white or black, who gangs up on a single individual, even one who rudely insults them. But the larger issue in this case of the Jena Six is clearly the unequal treatment blacks and whites are handed by the legal justice system, which racists continually exploit, given their greater clout in society since the so-called “end of slavery.”
3. Thus, I believe we all, whites especially, must step forward to defend the rights of the Jena Six to fair and equal treatment before the law, and law enforcement officers, be they cops or judges, lawyers or prison guards, must have justice meted out against them to the extent they violate defendants’ rights to just treatment and respect as human beings who are innocent until proved guilty, and that charges and punishments must be proportional to the offenses committed. As far as fighting and levels of violence, or violation of others’ rights during a fight, there are reasonable ways to teach errant young people how to correct their ways, how to handle offense with dignity and how to communicate with others of different cultures or skin colors as human beings of equal and infinite worth, as fellow creatures of God with equal duties to be kind and polite and equal rights to fair treatment and general respect. Oh, and whether any of the defendants has any prior convictions is irrelevant. Each case must be judged on its own merits. And for anyone to deny that blatant racism permeates this case is to be like the people who cut down that tree. Pretending you can make something disappear by not letting it be seen doesn’t change the fact of its existence. Nooses placed on a tree by white kids used to arrogantly presuming exclusive title to the shade of a tree that every student’s parent shares ownership of as taxpayers is nothing if not the crudest and most blatant and appalling slap in the face to both the blacks of this country and all the whites and other people of whatever color and culture who have sacrificed so much to create a dignified polity and society for all of us. Perpetrating racism hurts us all, and all our children and their children, but most especially those it targets.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:41 am
well i really don’t think that michael bell’s past should be an issue here, and another thing , i thought that if you are under the age of 21 and have a criminal record it supposed to be sealed, well i think that michael bell’s family should take action on that , he is a juvinile, so i don’t think that his records should be aired in the first place other than his lawyer. SEALED POINT BLANK.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:02 am
WELL IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA WHERE I AM FROM , IF A PERSON OR PERSON’S UNDER THE AGE OF 19 AND HAVE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND , THE BACKGROUND SUPPOSED TO BE SEALED WHERE NOONE CAN GET IN IT, SO WHY IS MICHAEL BELL’S PRIVITE DOCUMENTS ARE SCATTERED ALL ACROSS AMERICA, I THINK HIS PARENT’S SHOULD LOOK DEEPLY INTO THAT, BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS BROKEN THE LAW THEMSELVES.
November 29th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
[Edited by Laura - I'm *not* getting into all this again. I thought I had closed comments on all these old posts. Read the most recent Jena 6 posts, especially the final one.]