This man is Too Fat to go to Jail!
By jennybianca
@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
April 19, 2008 2:00am CST
A MAN considered too obese to be jailed - for smashing a glass over another man's head during an altercation at a pub.
Jackson is currently doing community service for smashing a glass over another man's head at a Shepparton bar on January 14, 2007.
The victim, Tim Kirkman, received a 4cm cut to his neck in the incident and required hospital treatment.
Mr Jackson, who weighed 190kg, had suffered three heart attacks earlier in life and suffered from ongoing arthritis, sleep apnoea and other weight-related ailments.
He has to do Community work instead.
I know many people are going to say that he should go to jail no matter what, but I honestly think he would present so many problems for the Prison Officers, that it is just not worrth it.
He is sorry for what he did.
Attached is a photo of this man.
13 people like this
23 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I think jailing him would cause more problems that the crime warranted. If it was a more serious crime then perhaps yes but I think community service which would involved physical work would be a lot harder for him than just sitting in jail.
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
The physical work will do him a lot of good, plus he seemed generally sorry.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
19 Apr 08
Hi jennybianca! I guess he does not really pose a threat to the safety of the public that is why he was also given some consideration aside from his condition. I just hope he tames his temper so that he won't be in any kind of misconduct again. Just my thoughts dear friend. Take care and have a nice day!
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
From what he said, he was truly sorry for what he had done. Plus community service may keep him active.
1 person likes this
@edigital (2709)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I think the judge do not jail the person he announce or decide juddgement based on the crime no question who did it. Though as the Jackson is a prominent weight lifter his jail may be condoned 50% after he enter jail for his misdeed. So the judgement was made is correct no doubt but the mercey for a nobel person is also a nice quality of a nice society
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I think it may be more beneficial for him to be doing community service, depending on what it is. Obesity is causing lots of problems in all areas of society.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
The community service may well keep him active & I suspect the Judge thought this would be better for him in the long run.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
19 Apr 08
Wow. I cannot beleieve they do not have some kind of means for this guy. It looks like they would take him to jail no matter what. Maybe they should take him in and put him on a strict diet or so many meals per day. That would work also.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
I guess going to jail could have helped him to loose weight.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
20 Apr 08
Well, considering he is so fat the court should older him to lose wait, 190 kilograms is just too much. Plus, since he has so many problems don't you think it would be nice if he lost some weight? He should be also prohibited from going to any pubs because someone who is 190 kg doesn't need to be drinking!
I really don't care if he doesn't go to jail, but the punishment should be more severe...how many hours does he have to do? 1000 hours? :D
Pablo
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
Dont worry about submitting it twice, this happens to every0ne on My Lot.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
20 Apr 08
sorry, I'm not sure why my post did it twice? :(
Pablo
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Apr 08
What I always wonder is how does Society and doctors allow people to get this Big? With all of the surgeries, etc. out there I would think someone would be a little more cautious and aware. But when it does come to Crimes, etc. this is minor since no one was killed, and they can't go jailing everyone for every little thing as the jails are over crowded as is. (Or at least here in the US they are.)
So maybe the system is wrong, or maybe this guy just was trying to get some justice, especially if someone was calling him a name or something. Sure wish they had more help available for people becoming overweight than they do. Might solve some of the serious Health problems out there as well.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
Apparently this man has been huge since a child. i think the Judge suspected he would be better off doing community work (& thus exercise) than hanging around in jail.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I hope that his community service lasts longer than the sentence. I also hope he gets some counseling too. Sounds like he has anger issues as well. I don't believe than imprisonment is always a good thing. People need to be responsible for their behaviors, but they also need assistance with finding why they are behaving the way they do.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
The community service will at least keep him active.
I dont know if the judge enforced anger management training; he should have.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I think if this was his first offense, then the punishment that he got was good enough anyway. It sounds like a simple battery case and most first first offenders get off with this type of punishment. I think the fact that he was obese was added to make the news headlines.
I'd bet if he was accused of aggravated assault and battery, or attempted murder, he would definitely be in jail no doubt about it. They have doctors in the prison system that can take care of his needs and he'd probably end up losing weight if he had gone to prison if this was a more serious crime.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
20 Apr 08
Well, considering he is so fat the court should older him to lose wait, 190 kilograms is just too much. Plus, since he has so many problems don't you think it would be nice if he lost some weight? He should be also prohibited from going to any pubs because someone who is 190 kg doesn't need to be drinking!
I really don't care if he doesn't go to jail, but the punishment should be more severe...how many hours does he have to do? 1000 hours? :D
Pablo
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
Im not sure on the number of hours, but it is mostly physical work which should help him loose weight.
@enchantedleppard (1541)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I think he should be charged the same as anyone else would. If this is going to be the laws response to crimes commited by obese people, I would think this would be a signal that says If you're too fat and you attack another person, you won't get as harsh of a charge. Lets hope it doesnt send that signal!
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Apr 08
In this case I dont think it will, at least I hope not. The man was truly sorry, & the community service he has to do may help him loose weight.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I bet it was an insurance issue. Or even afraid of being sued if he were to die in prison. However, he would benefit from the labor he'd have to do in hopes to trim him down a bit. Good gosh, why does anyone wait til they're that big before doing anything?
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
Actually, you could have a point there. It would be very difficult for the prison officers to provide facilities, & hence, there could be insurance issues.
@johndur (3052)
• Pasig, Philippines
21 Apr 08
im sure he knows what he is doing and hurting someone is a very thing to ignore,he should be imprisoned for doing it,he may have a lot of health problems but he also made some serious problem on the man he smahed a glass on the head.he should be considered a dangerous man and should be placed behind bars.we dont have to be kind to someone who hurts somebody,who knows who he might hurtr next if we forgive him this time.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Apr 08
Yes, you have a point. Lets hope he does a good job of his community service.
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
21 Apr 08
yes it is, he might be the headache of the officers but it is the law who decide not the people itself. who ever violates the law must sentence to prison. the officers will find solutions if the prisoner make any beyond doings inside the jail.
thanks for the post.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Apr 08
Well, at the moment he is not going to jail, but I imagine that will be his first & last chance.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I did not know that it would make a difference. They could put him on house arrest and comm. service and he would definitely feel like he was in jail.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
He is not on house arrest. I guess they thought his enormous size would make it very difficult for prison staff to cater for him.
The community service may get him active.
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
19 Apr 08
The community service is probably better for him gets him off his butt for awhile.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
19 Apr 08
if he was in america,he'd be going.
they'll jail anybody.
um..probably not just for the glass,if he did something more like murder,i'd say send him.
more trouble than it's worth probably.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Apr 08
Well, yes, I guess they though it was too much trouble, especially this man seemed genuinely sorry.
@sturner03 (326)
• United States
23 May 08
I see both points. But everyone needs to be held accountable for the actions no matter what. Whats to say he doesn't do something more serious are they gonna say the same thing then too?
