Soft on Crime Story of the Week
Meet Roderick Scallion, career criminal that loves the current soft on crime legislature. Scallion started his adult criminal career in Hobart in 2003 just after his 20th birthday, CF-2003-00060 possession of drugs, paraphernalia, and having an open beer in his vehicle. He pleaded guilty and was released due to time served in the local jail of 120 days and ordered to pay his court and incarceration costs. Which never happened so a warrant was issued for his arrest on failure to pay.
A few years later he had been caught, his suspended sentence revoked, and sent to local jail for sixty days. A year later Scallion is out and still refusing to pay so he is arrested again on a second motion to revoke the suspended sentence. This time they send him to Lexington for two years but of course he is released months later as three years means a few months in actual prison. By 2007 he is still refusing to pay fines and fees and his suspended sentence is revoked again.
By 2010 the state still hasn't managed to get a dime from Scallion and once again a warrant is issued for failing to appear to explain why he is not following his agreed payment plan each month. In 2011 he agrees to pay around $800 in arrears and then pay $100 per month but doesn't and it is 2014 before they catch up with Scallion again. Scallion once again agrees to pay and disappears once again with a warrant out for his arrest. Repeat in 2015 and 2016 with zero payment made on the original fines and fees.
Of course this 2003 was just his first adult arrest. The next was in 2005, CF-2005-00063 , escape from detention or arrest. He is let out of jail for time served and the costs waived, agreeing to move to Kansas it seems. By 2006 the dance begins anew with a motion to revoke this suspended sentence and a warrant for Scallion's arrest. 2007 ends with a new payment plan at $100 per month with no payments shown on the court record.
Third arrest in 2006, escaping detention and possession of drugs, CF-2006-00021 . Plead guilty to suspended sentence and probation, ordered to pay fines and fees but no record on the docket showing any was ever paid.
Next arrest was in 2010, petty larceny. Scallion pleads guilty, sentenced to time served and fees, doesn't pay.
March of 2010, Tulsa County, CF-2010-822 , assault and battery on a police officer, possession of drugs with intention to distribute, driving without a license, and escaping detention. This case winds on for years, multiple bondsmen, multiple attorneys of public defender, multiple failure to appears, warrants, and re arrests. By May of 2014 Scallion pleads guilty and receives suspended sentences, some time served, some community service, and of course agrees to pay fines and fees that he will never pay. By September of 2014 he isn't paying or appearing and another warrant is issued. By September the suspended sentences are revoked. Scallion once again cuts a deal and the suspension of the sentences stays in place but by early 2015 he is refusing to pay and appear once again and another warrant is issued and once again the suspended sentences are revoked. Around this same time Scallion has time and money to get married.
Next arrest in Kiowa County was late 2014, breaking and entering and escaping detention again. Plead guilty, sentenced to the 135 days of time served awaiting trial, and fines of course which were not paid.
By 2015 Scallion still isn't paying but the notes on the file show he did call in to the court clerk.....
2015, obstructing an officer, CM-2014-00373. Plead guilty because he isn't gonna pay anyway, doesn't show up again. On this one case Scallion has around $5000 in incarceration costs alone plus another thousand or so of court costs and fees.
September 2016 and Scallion has moved this business to Oklahoma County, arrested on CF-2016-7405 for assault and battery on a police officer, no doubt in trying to escape capture for one of his warrants. By May of 2017 Scallion has been through several attorneys, most likely not paying their bill, The case is still pending and scheduled to be heard August 2018, three years after the crime was committed.
September 2016 and Scallion has committed another series of crimes, CF-2016-7407 another assault and battery on a police officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, and concealing stolen property. Set for Jury trial in March of 2018 but continued to August of 2018.
A few days after committing the crimes above Scallion committed another felony, CF-2016-7519 , using a stolen credit card it seems. By May 20176 he has jumped bail and is on the run again. Scallion posts bond a few weeks later after being caught but jumps bail again a few weeks later. He pleads guilty in September of 2017 and gets a three year suspended sentence with 120 days credit for time served while awaiting trial. But Scallion once again breaks his deal and the case is set for jury trial again in August of 2018.
September 2016 another set of charges have been filed, CF-2016-7542 , committing felonies in two or more counties and Burglary first degree, and five counts of having and using a stolen credit card. Set for trial in March of 2018 but continued till August of 2018, nearly two years after the crime was committed.
Thirteen years of crime after crime after crime. The legal system choked with hearings and trials for a man that always pleads guilty after exhausting the delays, promises to pay and then disappears or simply doesn't pay any of the tens of thousands of dollars in court costs or incarceration fees. And time after time a judge gives Scallion another chance and kicks the can down the road.
People say we lock up too many people. The fact is you have to work really, really, hard to get sent to prison and you are there about one quarter to one third of the time sentenced if your victim is lucky.
