I clicked through on THIS STORY based on the pull quote, "Hendrix will enter the state prison system not only as a transgender inmate, but also as a snitch." Yowsa, take that snitch! That's really funny- for about half a second, until the reality of what that actually means sinks in.
Reading the actual circumstances, however, might lead you to considerbly more sympathy. Donnie Hendrix worked as a make-up artist, and was working on the side at "pumping parties," essentially giving cheap unlicensed cosmetic silicone injections. Unfortunately, one of the subjects died.
One of Hendrix' co-defendents actually got a murder conviction. Hendrix was convicted of practicing medicine without a license and culpable negligence, and given the maximum sentence of five years. Ouch.
On top of which, Hendrix has been cut off from the hormonal treatments, leaving the body reverting back towards unwanted male traits. This must just doubly-triply suck.
Responding to obviously legitimate concerns about the violence Hendrix has already faced in jail, much less a full-fledged prison, prosecutor Howard Scheinberg claimed it's not the defendant who needs protection: "It's only five years that we can protect the public from Mr. Hendrix."
All of which is nonsense. The guy VOLUNTEERED for the injection- and had done so at other such gatherings with other pumpers. Hendrix did not jump somebody in the street and victimize them.
Hendrix did not victimize anyone. Nor did Hendrix defraud anyone. Obviously, anyone would know that getting silicone injections at pumping parties in a motel room is a somewhat high-risk proposition.
Perhaps a modest fine for violating professional licensing laws might be reasonable. However, years in prison, deprived of your meds, and the high likelihood of dying in prison does not constitute any reasonable facsimile of justice for this victimless crime.
Article comments
1 - Bill Wallo
Hey, I agree that the penalty for participating in these "pumping parties" appears harsh, but characterizing this as a "victimless" crime would appear to be somewhat questionable as well - somebody died as a result of the unlicensed activities of the defendant and others. That's the reason for requiring licenses in the first place - they are an attempt to prevent harm to other people.
2 - Bill Wallo
Hey, I agree that the penalty for participating in these "pumping parties" appears harsh, but characterizing this as a "victimless" crime would appear to be somewhat questionable as well - somebody died as a result of the unlicensed activities of the defendant and others. That's the reason for requiring licenses in the first place - they are an attempt to prevent harm to other people.