DA Recommends Scully Should Be Sent Back to Texas

On March 23rd I reported on the case of Raymond Scully, who was arrested during a routine traffic stop. Scully had escaped from a North Carolina prison in 1977, where he was serving a 10-year sentence on drug charges.

In my initial report, I wrote:

I hope there is leniency for Johnson. I hope that he has a smart and compassionate judge. A judge capable of judging the life Johnson has lived over the last 30 years.

I usually take a pretty hard stand against crime and criminals.

But in Johnson’s case, I hope they let him go home. Give him probation. Give him community service. But let him go home to the wife, daughter, and life that he has made an honest go of.

Well, it looks like this is what might happen. The Goldsboro News-Argus reports that District Attorney Dewey Hudson of Duplin County says he won’t prosecute Scully on the escape charge and is recommending he be paroled and sent back to live with his family in Texas.

Scully has lived an exemplary life since his escape, Hudson has told members of the state Parole Commission. Scully married, raised a daughter and has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. He has not been convicted of any crime during the past 28 years.

Hudson’s reasons for recommending Scully’s release:

“In reviewing all the circumstances of this case, I believe further prosecution of this case would serve no worthwhile purpose,” Hudson said. “In this day and age with prison overcrowding, I did not feel risking a dangerous criminal being released to provide bed space for Mr. Scully would best serve the citizens of my district.”

Which is how this case differs so much from that of Gary Garlinghouse. First of all, Scully stood trial and served (some) time for his crimes. Garlinghouse fled before he could stand trial. Secondly, Scully’s crimes (selling drugs) do not in anyway compare to the crimes that Garlinghouse has been accused of (kidnapping, raping, and conspiring to murder a young woman).

Also, Scully did not fight his extradition back to NC. Garlinghouse is still in Texas (on our tax dime) fighting his return to Michigan.

I’m curious, though, when Scully does come home to Texas:

• Will he continue to use his alias (Steve Johnson), or will he revert to his birth name? I’ll bet he stays with Steve Johnson.
• Will Dell rehire him? I hope so.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Friday, May 13th, 2005 | Trackback |