Quotes from the courtroom

Here are some of Judge Tim Bjorkman’s memorable comments to people in his courtroom during the past year:

• To Steven Youmans, a 21-year-old man who admitted to consuming alcohol and testing positive for marijuana while on probation: “When I look at the pre-sentence report, I see that you lied to me when you stood before me about your marijuana abuse. I don’t take offense myself as a person, but for the system of justice that governs … you offended that system when you lied.”

• To Amber Hofer, a 25-year-old mother facing a drug sentence: “It’s interesting that all I’ve heard, really, is excuses from you. How precious is a little life, and you put some ‘methhead’ ahead of your child. There’s no other way for me to respond to what you did.”

• To Chad Nelson, a 21-year-old facing a drug sentence: “If you stay around drug users, you’re going to be in drugs again. I want you to have every chance to cut bait and start fresh from your past.”

• To Timothy Rollins, a 21-year-old man facing a drug sentence: “I think I count eight convictions since you turned 18 other than this one. I’d say something bad has happened repeatedly to the people of the state of South Dakota.”

• To Franklin Whiting Jr., a 30-year-old being sentenced for his fourth DUI charge: “I think it’s obvious to everyone here that you’re part of a sad family cycle of abuse, but I see so much potential in you and so much talent and giftedness. You’ve violated the law, but you’ve still got time to turn it around.”

• To Kent Koeshall, a 41-year-old being sentenced for his third DUI: “I want to give you every shot to quit drinking … because, if you’re not working the program, you’ll go to prison. I’d like you to show yourself and others what you can accomplish. Go out and make a good change for yourself.”

• To Javier Rico-Torres, an 18-year-old Dolton man who admitted to having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old Mitchell girl: “You sat in here all afternoon. You’ve heard there are some other bright people come through the court system and that doesn’t always mean that they use that intelligence that God gave to good ends. The jury’s out on you.”

• To Patricia Erler, a 61-year-old woman who admitted to receiving approximately $2,000 in fraudulent unemployment funds: “I’m torn, Ms. Erler, because of the insidious nature of fraud. It’s hard to detect. It’s a blight on our society, frankly, and there seems to be an increasing disrespect for money that comes from the government. There needs to be a clear message, in my view, that it won’t be treated lightly.”

• To Loren Mead, a 19-year-old man who admitted to drinking alcohol while on probation: “Every time that you appear in front of the court, any sympathy that your own personal history might generate is less and less. He didn’t set any beer in front of you or make you drink or cause you to skip out on your treatment program. Those were all choices you made, weren’t they? That’s really what life is all about. Sometimes to be an adult man or woman is about accepting the moral responsibility for our own actions and not looking for someone else to blame.”

• To Layne Morisch, a 21-year-old who received two concurrent five-year penitentiary sentences for aiding, abetting or advising a crime and fourth-degree rape: “You have been through a lot and you’ve committed a lot of crimes and you’ve abused, by your report, about every drug you can imagine. I’d like to know what Layne Morisch is like clean and sober. Would you?”

• To Michael Rinker, a 40-year-old who fled after being charged with grand theft in 1996: “Your conduct after you pled guilty to stealing these four tires just demonstrates an enormous lack of respect for your court services officer and the court system. I understand you’ve apologized to me. It’s the system of justice you’ve offended.”

• To Jesse Fischer, a 20-year-old who admitted to violating probation: “You were on probation for a serious violation: handing out Adderall pills basically like candy. You need to know how to avoid taking advantages of females, frankly, so you don’t repeat that.”

• To Jeffery Koscynski, a 21-year-old who violated probation: “Missouri is known as the Show Me State. That’s kind of the way I feel. If you’ve changed, show me. I’m not sure you appreciate the gravity of your circumstances and the fact that you really stand at a fork in the road. One side looks down to a law-abiding life and a life that you can find honor and dignity, and one will lead you to a life where you wake up every morning looking at bars.”

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