Poster Boy: Victim Of Vindictiveness?

Yesterday word got out that Poster Boy, 28-year-old Henry Matyjewicz, was tossed in the slammer on Friday after missing his court appearance last week. The street artist claims to have had the date wrong, and showed up one day late apologizing.

Justice Michael Gary didn't show any sympathy, however. To recap, last year Matyjewicz negotiated a probation deal with the DA, which evaporated when he was arrested again—however, Gary neglected to warn him that the deal would be off if he got cuffed again, so he went free. The Post is now calling the judge vindictive for sending Matyewicz to jail for 11 months, using his missed court appearance as a reason; he told him in the courtroom last Friday: "I owe you nothing."

Matyjewicz's lawyer, Kerry Gotlib, plans to appeal, telling the paper his client is "speechless. He's shocked. The guy should not be there." The paper notes that in 2003 Gary showed some signs of vindictiveness when he handed down a 15-year maximum sentence for a robbery case, after the defendant had beaten a murder charge. The case went back to sentencing to a different judge. So... does Poster Boy deserve 11 months behind bars?

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By Jen Carlson in News on May 11, 2010 11:15 AM

Comments [rss]

Spirit of 76

If I were on the verge of going to jail, I would check and double-check my court date. I'd also hire a good lawyer, someone who would call me and remind me of such a critical appointment.

Huffy6241

Looks like the judge has the spotlight on him and "has to set an example".

Unfortunately, people in power can be driven by ego - not unlike like the motivation for poster boy to leave behind his "art"

To me, poster boy is just another street artist. Taking away his freedom for a victimless crime is a bit extreme.

Locking this dude up in the same place we do killers, rapists and the violent really says something about how we "judge".

Mordicai

He's not in this trouble for being a litterbug (passing his litter off as "street art") but rather for a litany of much more serious offenses, like violating parole & failing to attend court dates. Here is a tip; you might want to double check the date on your case, not like, pull a Palin & write it on your hand. I'd normally say that this vandalism is being over-punished, but he's clearly in contempt of the system & a recidivist. Sorry kiddo; if you wanted community service you should've taken the plea bargain.

Daveon8th

This judge seems like a real quality guy. Do a little digging around about the guy, as a prosecutor he created fake documents in an attempt to get witnesses to change testimony. http://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/11/nyregion/judge-is-assailed-in-waldbaum-fire-case.html

An asshole of the highest degree.

ProcedureTurn

These vandals need to be locked up. 11 months?... heshould get 11 years for ruining the walls and subway stations.

They have work for him in JAIL too!!!

kazubes

If anything it gets the point across to 'poster boy' that this isn't a big joke since that seems to be how he treats this whole process. That being said, no one is really served by putting this kid in a cell for that long.

Politburo

Kid?

bobchadwick

It sounds like this story is full of pieces OS.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

He is a victim of vindictiveness because this same POS judge sentenced the dog killer only 4 months for beating to death a 5 month dachshund puppy. and it was the 2nd dachshund victim. This judge is a POS and i wonder if he is elected but someone needs to kick this POS out of the courtroom.

kswissreject

Yep, exactly. Michael Gary is totally unfit to be a judge. It's kind of ridiculous.

SP

He should get 6 months of community service picking up cigarette butts in the park. 11 months is absurd and frankly an outrageous imposition on the taxpayers' dollars to house and feed and provide security for this guy while he's adding nothing to society, wasting time in prison. Put him to work. Stupid asshole judge.