May 16, 2008 7:54 am US/Eastern
Judge's Comments To Robbery Suspects Drawing Fire
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
An area judge is coming under fire after comments apparently praising suspects in a Northeast Philadelphia robbery for their tactics and downgrading the charges against them.
Raymond Ditri and James Pietrafitta were facing charges in the robbery of a Wawa at the corner of Torresdale and Levick in April. The two suspects were apparently given credit by Judge Nazario Jimenez for allegedly committing the crime without the use of a weapon.
Before a crowded court room, Jimenez said in part:
"…let's hope that if anybody is going to rob any place that it's done this way. Let's give credit where credit is due. No weapons were used…"
Charges of resisting arrest, assault and reckless endangerment were dropped at the preliminary hearing Wednesday. According to transcripts obtained by CBS 3, the suspects also had their robbery charges reduced.
"A person of authority should not be making statements as to how to commit a crime or how not to commit a crime," John McGrody said.
The Vice President of Philadelphia's Fraternal Order of Police told CBS 3 he spent the day hearing from police officers who were outraged by the judge's remarks.
"A robbery is a robbery, whether it is with a gun or without a gun and somebody's lost personal property and you know police officers are in jeopardy making those arrests," McGrody said.
The FOP hand delivered a letter to the Philadelphia Municipal Court President Judge. In the letter, FOP President John McNesby stated:
"I would like to publicly state our displeasure with these inappropriate comments, and call on Judge Jimenez to repudiate these remarks."
The FOP is awaiting a response from the letter that was delivered Thursday. Judge Jimenez, he was appointed to the bench in 1994.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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