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Laurinda Drake Acquitted of Kidnapping Charges
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by Jordan Yerman | September 11, 2009 at 11:05 am
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Laurinda Drake was acquitted of kidnapping a six-year-old boy near Jo Mackey Elementary School last year. Laurinda Drake grabbed the kid off the street and took him to her friend Elaine Clermont's house as a stunt to show how lax school security was at Mackey Elementary, where her own son went to school. This was a very strange thing to do, because her statement is admission of committing the crime, and kidnapping, no matter what the stated motive, is definitely a crime in all 50 states.
Laurinda Drake turned down a plea bargain so she should prove her innocence, even though, technically, she was guilty by her own admission. The jury had mercy on her, though, considering her a well-meaning mom with poor judgment rather than a malicious criminal.
Drake picked the boy up near the school and drove around the area to several locations, including a Wal-Mart store and the house of a friend, 40-year-old North Las Vegas resident Elaine Clermont.
"She wanted vindication by a jury. And she just got it," said one of her attorneys, Chief Deputy Public Defender Jordan Savage.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 13:29 on September 11th, 2009
Having watched the trial coverage on court TV I am apaulled at the fact that this women was even charged! This is politics at it's finest. I can imagine the legal costs and the emotional trauma this woman has endurred. I think restitution should be made to this women. I am glad she fought the system and stood up for her rights. Just imagine serving jail time for a good deed in protecting a child. This is why our society is the way it is any more. The legal system doesn't want to prosecute those who truely deserve it and let those off that have committed some of the most hideous crimes. But yet they spend tax payers money on prosecuting someone doing a good deed.
at 13:35 on September 11th, 2009
Then again, she did kidnap a kid whose mother had no idea where he was. Laurinda Drake did not "protect" a child; she grabbed him off the street and wouldn't let him leave her friend's house.
I doubt the boy's mom took such a charitable view of Laurinda Drake's actions. She's quite lucky with the outcome, really.
at 07:56 on September 18th, 2009
When I was young i got on the wrong bus and an older child took me home. The bus driver didn't care what happened to me. He was going to make me sit on the bus for 2 hours until he arrived at the garage at the end of the run. Her mom took me in and called my parents. I was taught my phone number. Laurinda did the right thing. As a mom and grandmother, I saw the dangers were out there. True, she didn't use the best judgment. i would rather have a person with a flawed judgement pick up my kid than a predator, or have the child wandering around.It was obvious she wasn't the brightest star in the heavens but the kid is alive and well. Besides how do you kidnap a kid for two hours, call the school and the police. Where was the intent? Should she get life in prison for two hours?
at 03:18 on September 12th, 2009
In response to Jordon's post: No, I think the mother is quite lucky that someone took an active interst in seeing to his care. The outcome could have been much worse. I would be so greatful if someone like Laurinda would have done the same for my child. I can't help but wonder if it is not the mother who pushed for prosecution of this case for montary gain in a personal action case if the state would have prevailed in a conviction. I think it is sad that some thing so horrible came of this when this woman was only attempting to do something good. Yes, now I am sure Laurinda would have done things a little bit different but her heart was in the right place and everyone has forgotten that. After all we are all only human and I don't know one person that makes the right decisions all the time. The outcome is that the little boy is safe and the mother should be thankful that he was not abducted by a sexual preditor.
at 16:46 on September 12th, 2009
I don't know if Jordan watched the trial, but I did and I got something entirely different then he. Yes, Laurinda was wrong. Yes, she made a poor decision. Yes, by law she kidnapped this kid. But had my 7 year old been wandering around 3 blocks away from his school in the middle of a desert, I would hope that a kind mother would 'kidnap' him. This boys mother, nor school administrators or teachers, were aware that this CHILD had even left the premises. And, further, Laurinda made several attempts to find out where this child belonged. NO ONE KNEW HE WAS GONE!!! I personally think the school district should have been on trial! Thank the good lord that this decision was left in the hands of 12 people and not 12 politicians. I'm very pleased Laurinda was aquitted.
at 10:06 on December 3rd, 2009
THOSE TWO LADIES DID NOT KIDNAP THAT BOY. THIS IS THE BIGGEST CASE OF INJUSTICE IN AMERCAN HISTORY. THE D A SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE. THE D A SHOULD BE CHARGE WITH MALICIOUS PROSECUTION AND THE VIOLATION OF THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS. THOSE LADIES SAVE THAT LITTLE BOY. THE SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN BE CHARGE WITH INDANGERMENT TO A CHILD BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE HAD A PROBLEM. THE DA NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE U S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE SCHOOL DISTICT WAS GOING TO COVER THIS UP IF THE MEDIA DID NOT GET INVOLVED. THIS INJUSTICE SHOULD BE ON EVERY NEWS CAST. THEY SAVE SOME CHILD LIFE BECAUSED OF WHAT THEY DID.