When last we heard from our intrepid hero public embarrassment Joel Montgomery, he was denying that he participated in alcohol counseling, even though he was required to do so as a condition of the dismissal of public intoxication charges stemming from this charming incident. Prosecutors took exception to Montgomery’s assertion and asked Judge K. C. Hairston to reinstate the charges. The judge scheduled a hearing for yesterday.
Yesterday — surprise, surprise — Montgomery didn’t show up for the hearing. The judge said a notice of the court date had been mailed to Montgomery, but there was no evidence that he signed for it. So the hearing has been rescheduled for December 7, and the prosecutor says he’ll have a Birmingham police officer deliver the notice in person. Given Montgomery’s, um, tendency toward profanity, I hope the city will issue the officer a set of earplugs.
I have to ask — if an ordinary citizen, someone who wasn’t, say, a Birmingham City Councilor, got drunk and fell on his face in a parking lot, went on an obscene rant harassing and threatening the police officer who was trying to help him, publicly bragged that he hadn’t completed court-ordered counseling, and then didn’t show up for a court hearing — do we really think this ordinary citizen would get a do-over from the judge?
Isn’t that picture from one of those zombie movies you like this time of year?
I bet the Joel Montgomery Halloween costume will be really big this year!
Susan, that would be a hoot. If they can’t buy the costume, local drunks can easily replicate the abrasions by tripping over a curb and kissing the concrete. The arrogant sneer might take more work.
Bill, I think those zombies looked a little better than Joel.
Thank goodness for your entertaining politicians. I can always count on a laugh. And it is said California is full of fruits and nuts.