Liberty Minute September 22 2014

When someone is found guilty of a crime ? that is, a deliberate offense that injures the person or property of another ? justice requires restitution. How does one make restitution for a victimless offense? 

William Esbensen, former owner of the 45^th Parallel medical marijuana cooperative in Ontario, Oregon,  was convicted of ?racketeering? under a law that was no longer in effect. He was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay more than $18,000 in ?restitution? costs to the Malheur County DA's office, which was identified in the sentencing order as Esbensen's ?victim.?

No evidence was presented that Esbensen did any harm to anybody in the Malheur County DA's office, which funded the prosecution using money that had been confiscated from the defendant.

In addition to fines, probation fees, and restitution charges, Esbensen was informed that ?The court may increase the total amount owed by adding collection fees and other assessments. These fees and assessments may be added without further notice to the defendant and without further court order.?

All of this was imposed on someone whose supposed crimes had injured nobody ? and thus couldn't pay restitution to an actual victim. And this is utterly typical of the operations of the cynical racket we call the criminal justice system.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.