No Replacement For Displacement

Winona on Trial

Winona Ryder is set to go on trial this week. If she gets off, don't say it was because she was a Hollywood actress and used her money to get acquitted. There is a lot of evidence that this is a politically motivated prosecution.

First of all, she was arrested on drug charges. These charges stemmed from the fact that she was prescribed a name brand medication, and the pharmacist substitutded a generic, of which she had two pills on her person. The charges were dropped in pre-trial hearings.

Secondly, they state that they have her on video stealing merchandise, except the video shows no merchandise was stolen.

Third, she was indicted on felony theft charges. In no situation has someone accused of shoplifting what Ryder was alleged to have stolen ever been charged with a felony in California. (Needless to say, this was a first offense, which would argue against launching felony charges).

Fourth she paid for merchandise and left the store, and again, has no history of shoplifting, or even being detained for shoplifting by store security, yet she is being prosecuted on a felony charges that can carry a three year jail term.

This is not OJ part II here. They are going hammer and tongs to give jail time to go after someone is a first offender, and at worst, should pay a nominal fine and get a short probation. Lizzie Grubman got forty days for nearly killing a dozen people. Wynona Ryder should not be forced to deal with jail time for doing what is functionally the same thing as taking candy from the corner store. If she even intended to shoplift at all, from which I can definitely see reasonable doubt in that regard.