I find it very interesting that just a few short weeks ago the town of Welsh, La was ready to put local people and the kids of local people in jail for violating noise ordinances. Today Welsh elected officials and leaders want District Attorney Michael Cassidy and Judge Wendell Miller to show leniency in sentencing for a Texas man, Troy Slankard, who was caught with over 528 grams of cocaine in his vehicle.

According to the article approximately 10 Welsh officials, including the mayor, police chief, fire chief, assistant police chief, police department minister and street/water department employees attended a meeting to speak on behalf of the Slankard.

Slankard has found God while incarcerated in Welsh awaiting his trial, for the last 16 months, that could net him a 15 year prison sentence. None have said they want the charges dismissed but some believe he learned his lesson and paid his debt to society and should be released in the near future.

During 1989 to 2001, Slankard has faced four felony drug convictions and 2 misdemeanor theft convictions. To put things into perspective 528 grams of cocaine is 18.42 ounces of cocaine. Were not talking about a local kid caught with a joint or caught with something that overzealous cops would like to identify as “drug paraphernalia”.  Were talking about 1.2 lbs of a class of drug considered a “controlled dangerous substance”. With that amount, if correctly noted in the article, you have to wonder where the “intent to distribute” charge is. 

I’m sure Mr. Slankard is a fine fellow, but he is 42 years old with a criminal history of other drug offenses.
He wants to live in Welsh and he has found Jesus, and people in the community would welcome him into their homes and he talks of his “bad” past as if it were back in the early days but were talking 18 months ago.  

I’m all for leniency when were talking about a local kid who crossed the line and needs a second chance and maybe even a third chance. In my opinion, Mr. Slankard is running a cool “con-job” despite comments to the contrary. Mr. Slankard was caught on misdemeanor theft so we know that he has a past that includes being a thief. It has been my experience that when someone is a thief….they are a liar too! 

If the sentence is commuted to time served and Mr. Slankard is set free, the town of Welsh, will get egg in their face. Personally I would give anything to see that. So I too would like to join the ranks of those asking for leniency. “LET TROY GO”!

The part that I find most interesting goes back to the notion that the town of Welsh was more than willing to throw noise ordinance violators in jail just a few short weeks ago and today they are willing to go to bat for someone busted with 1.2lbs of cocaine. Beings that Welsh wants to be like Mayberry, then I must use a famous Andy Taylor quote…..”don’t that just beat all”!