Let him go.
CLINTON, N.C. --- Eighty-one-year-old Willie Parker has had trouble getting around since suffering a stroke, and his right arm curls inward as correctional officers help him move about the Sampson County jail.
But he has made the most of his time there since his arrest last week, 43 years after walking away from a prison work detail in Maryland.
"They call me 'Pops,' " Mr. Parker said of his fellow inmates, adding that he advises the younger men to "leave other people's stuff alone."
Mr. Parker was finally tracked down as part of Maryland's effort to clear more than 80 outstanding warrants.
Mr. Parker's lawyer, Andrew Jackson, said Wednesday that he hopes to get him released on bail.
Mr. Parker served about 10 years of a 40-year sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon, decided that was enough and left the Eastern Correctional Camp in Maryland. He was arrested Feb. 20 in Clinton, where he was receiving part-time home health care services.
Comments
Let him go.
Hey that's Morgan Freeman...they got the wrong guy. What's Ashley Judd going to do without his wonderful acting skills? You would think with him being on TV so many years, they would have caught him sooner:)
That's Morgan Freeman, you would think with him being on TV so many years the law would have aprehended him sooner!
if he stays in jail he'll get full time health care.
I agree. Let him go!!!! (as soon as he finishes the last 30 years of his sentence. He'll only be 121 by then and will have good health care, three hots and a cot.)
on the lam for 43 years? Yeah, we can get rid of illegals in the USA. NOT.
he belongs in jail!!!! no matter what age he is , had he done his time he'd be out.
He was receiving part-time health services, but now he's receiving them full time.
now he can run all he wants , on the jail track
Let's see, he's 81, had a stroke, and apparently has kept his nose clean for the last 43 years. Yep, he's a real danger to society. Keep him in there and waste more of our tax money!!
My word, this man is 81 years old and evidently kept himself out of trouble for 43 years. I agree it wasn't right for him to escape but come on....this man is not a threat to society. Why put him in jail, wasting space, money, and manpower.
Let the man go. It's a waste at his age to keep him in the system. At 81 years of age, I don't think he is going to harm anyone nor committ any more crimes. That jail space that he is holding up really could be used by someone who has a tougher sentence. If he was really that bad, in the 43 years of freedom he would have done more than escape. Most criminals are repeated offenders!
yeah let him go and give all jailed convicts incentive to escape.
The fact is he is a decrepit 81 year old man. He escaped and justice was not served. I think you have to know when to cut your loses. I think in this case the bad guy wins. Let him go. Free up the cell space.
I believe the man has been rehabiliated if he has not caused any trouble in 43 years. I would let him go after formal proceedings.
oh my god let that man go if u have more reason to believe that he is still a menace to society keep him but if not let that old man go. i dont see anything in your report that said he has commited any crimes since he has been out except walk away from u guys years ago, yall are crazy, but i think he should be set free. dang isnt he sick i mean h e is old just put him on probation not in jail
learn jokes that are actually funny PoliticallyNcorrect. Morgan Freeman is a successful man who makes your lifetime salary in one movie.
He should be set free if he has not been in any trouble in the last 43 yrs. He is old and in bad health. It would serve no purpose to keep him locked up.I think 43 yrs is time enough for him to prove he is not a threat to society.
powfe im surprised u think he should be set free!!! I also agree its just a waste of taxpayers $$$ R.I.P deon, can't believe its been a year!!!
He was given a B***s*** sentence in the first place. Reminds me of Martin Lawrence in that movie where he was given life in prison. Forty-three years ago a black man didn't stand a chance against the judicial system. That Morgan Freeman comparison is hilarious and he does kinda look like him.
You bring up an iteresting point, pablanco. If this particular prison-escapee was let out, on account of the fact of him merely being old, then why not let all serial-killers and chain-rapists go, if they only have a few more years left to go on their LIFE sentences and they're nice and old. I mean, no harm will come of it, surely? People, please get your heads out of your fourth point of contacts and look at the big picture. This man is a criminal. He will always be classified as a criminal until he dies. It only takes one felony for your reputation to be permanently crippled. I do not care if this man has been a good little boy for 43 years. He still ran away from his well-deserved punishment. Now, when I was a boy, if my father grounded me, and I snuck out of the house while I was grounded, and he caught me, he couldn't care less that I didn't do anything bad, because all he would care about is the fact that I broke the rules. Period. I might have not gone to a strip club or a "hootchie house", but that is what is expected of you. You are expected to be good. That is why we punish bad behavior more than we reward good behavior. It teaches us a firmer lesson. Good day!
He has a kind demeanor. I wish we could tell if someone was rehabilitated by his appearance, but that's not the case. I wonder how things will turn out for him.
Lock him up and throw away the key. He deserves capital punishment.
There ought to be a statute of limitations on prison escape. If you don't get caught in ten years you ought to automatically be pardoned.
He "served about 10 years of a 40-year sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon, decided that was enough and left"....I wonder if other inmates realize it's just that easy!
Once again, he's 81 years old and NO THREAT to society at this point. Let's save our jail space for oh, I don't know - murderers, child molesters, and rapists who are STILL able to harm society....personally, I find this to be a huge waste of time and tax money.
Incarceration has built-in benefits like free healthcare. I could see Hollywood agents salivating after his life story. This man had an exciting life. Only in America !!!
For all of you just remember you must appear before Christ Himself and he knows your human heart so be very careful what you wish on others. It is truly a blessing not to have man be the final Judge.
I wonder if he actually committed the crime he was convicted of. Even if he really was guilty, I agree, if he was able to stay out of trouble for 43 years then surely something could be done to allow him to live out his life without having to return to prison. We're not talking about someone who is a real threat to society, are we? No.
Little Lamb - nice idea about the statute of limitations when it comes to this man, but unfortunately you have to consider a statute of limitations on prison escape could, and would, also cover many unsavory characters who really need to be put back behind bars. Would you really want Charlie Manson to remain free after ten years if he managed to escape?
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