“Now
is as good a time as any.” That is
especially the case after entering a guilty plea and before being sentenced to
nine months incarceration. Just ask 29
year-old Kevin
R. Smith of New London. On Wednesday
of this week (January 15, 2014) Mr. Smith was admitting to a violation of his
probation in Superior Court in New London.
Judge John M. Newson canvassed Mr. Smith, ensuring that he understood
the rights he was waiving by admitting to this violation. At the end of the canvassing, the Judge asked
Mr. Smith if he had anything to add. In
response, Mr. Smith wheeled around to the gallery of onlookers, caught his
girlfriend’s eye, went down to one knee and asked her to marry him. Mr. Smith’s new fiancée said “yes” and Mr.
Smith was then sentenced to nine months incarceration and escorted from the
courtroom, leaving behind the whimpers of his new fiancée and the lingering
question for onlookers: why would you agree
to add a life sentence on top of your nine months?
