Probation For Doctor Who Made NWA Bomb Threats
04-04-2008, 01:36 PM
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Probation For Doctor Who Made NWA Bomb Threats
Judge Richard Jones was a King County Superior Court judge before moving to the Federal bench. His brother is Quincy Jones. He was also the judge who presided over the horrific and arduous trial of the Green River Murderer. The Bar and the legal community consider him one of the finest legal minds in the State. I am honored that I once stood next to him when we both received an award from the Seattle University School of Law. And now if I can only be half the judge he is; lots to learn from the master.
From Seattle Times:
A Tennessee physician who phoned in three bomb threats to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last year to keep his plane from leaving without him has been given three years of probation and ordered to 500 hours of free medical service to the poor.
Kou Wei "James" Chiu, 32, of Nashville, told U.S. District Judge Richard Jones that he realized he was fortunate for not going to prison, and said he was grateful for the "consideration" shown him by federal authorities and their recommendation for probation.
Chiu had faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Lang defended the government's recommendation for a lenient sentence, saying Chiu had a "unique constellation" of qualities, including no criminal history and the ability to pay back society with medical care.
Chiu claimed in court documents that he had failed to take his antidepressants responsibly in the days leading up to his arrest and that his "impulsive" action was connected to a "maniclike episode" brought on by fluctuating drug levels.
According to court documents, Chiu admitted calling in three bomb threats in July 2007 because he had missed boarding his Northwest Airlines flight and thought he could delay it. When the first and second calls from an airport pay phone had no effect, Chiu called in a third threat, indicating there was a bomb on board the flight, he admitted in a November guilty plea.
The third call prompted the plane to return to the airport, and it was grounded for several hours.
Chiu was arrested after people reported hearing him at the pay phones making the threats.
When Port of Seattle police confronted Chiu and asked him if he had made the bomb threats, Chiu replied: "Regrettably, yes, I did," according to court documents.
FBI investigators said he made the calls thinking Northwest "would ground the plane for a couple of hours," according to court papers.
Chiu had been on a business trip to Seattle and was flying home. He missed the flight, according to statements from his travel companions, because he was tinkering with his rental car's GPS device and wasn't paying attention to his driving.
He became angry, court documents allege, when a gate attendant barred him from boarding the plane he had only just barely missed.
Federal prosecutors said the incident cost Northwest Airlines more than $81,000, which Chiu was ordered to pay in restitution.
A Tennessee physician who phoned in three bomb threats to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last year to keep his plane from leaving without him has been given three years of probation and ordered to 500 hours of free medical service to the poor.
Kou Wei "James" Chiu, 32, of Nashville, told U.S. District Judge Richard Jones that he realized he was fortunate for not going to prison, and said he was grateful for the "consideration" shown him by federal authorities and their recommendation for probation.
Chiu had faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Lang defended the government's recommendation for a lenient sentence, saying Chiu had a "unique constellation" of qualities, including no criminal history and the ability to pay back society with medical care.
Chiu claimed in court documents that he had failed to take his antidepressants responsibly in the days leading up to his arrest and that his "impulsive" action was connected to a "maniclike episode" brought on by fluctuating drug levels.
According to court documents, Chiu admitted calling in three bomb threats in July 2007 because he had missed boarding his Northwest Airlines flight and thought he could delay it. When the first and second calls from an airport pay phone had no effect, Chiu called in a third threat, indicating there was a bomb on board the flight, he admitted in a November guilty plea.
The third call prompted the plane to return to the airport, and it was grounded for several hours.
Chiu was arrested after people reported hearing him at the pay phones making the threats.
When Port of Seattle police confronted Chiu and asked him if he had made the bomb threats, Chiu replied: "Regrettably, yes, I did," according to court documents.
FBI investigators said he made the calls thinking Northwest "would ground the plane for a couple of hours," according to court papers.
Chiu had been on a business trip to Seattle and was flying home. He missed the flight, according to statements from his travel companions, because he was tinkering with his rental car's GPS device and wasn't paying attention to his driving.
He became angry, court documents allege, when a gate attendant barred him from boarding the plane he had only just barely missed.
Federal prosecutors said the incident cost Northwest Airlines more than $81,000, which Chiu was ordered to pay in restitution.
04-04-2008, 02:23 PM
#2
Che Guevara
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,408
If you ask me they should have nailed him with the fine. A DWI carries a larger punishment than 3 bomb threats to an airline
He should also be flagged and never allowed to travel on any air carrier again.
This doesn't even include the lawyer costs and cost associated with getting your license back. 3 bomb threats to an airline causing it to come back and you get probabtion. Three DWIs and you get 2-10yrs prison and will lose out more than this guy was forced to pay.
He should also be flagged and never allowed to travel on any air carrier again.
Texas DWI
First Offense:
* up to a $2,000 fine
* 72 hours to 180 days in jail
* driver’s license suspension: 90 days to 1 year
Second Offense:
* up to a $4,000 fine
* 30 days to 1 year in jail
* driver’s license suspension: 180 days to 2 years
Third Offense:
* up to a $10,000 fine
* 2 to 10 years in penitentiary
* driver’s license suspension: 180 days to 2 years
First Offense:
* up to a $2,000 fine
* 72 hours to 180 days in jail
* driver’s license suspension: 90 days to 1 year
Second Offense:
* up to a $4,000 fine
* 30 days to 1 year in jail
* driver’s license suspension: 180 days to 2 years
Third Offense:
* up to a $10,000 fine
* 2 to 10 years in penitentiary
* driver’s license suspension: 180 days to 2 years
Last edited by ToiletDuck; 04-04-2008 at 02:30 PM.
04-04-2008, 02:59 PM
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Duck, do not give up your day job. Definitely do not give it up to become a lawyer. 
First of all, you are comparing apples and oranges. He committed a federal crime, while you are discussing the Texas DWI law (and hopefully not because of personal experience!!).
Second, the judge did order him to pay restitution so NWA is made whole again.
Third, the prosecutor was the one who recommended probation given the facts and circumstances presented to him. We don't know what they are precisely, but judges are not precluded from giving deference to recommendations from lawyers, unless they are outrageous. When I used to appear in hearings, judges would ask me all the time, "so Ms. vagabond, how should I rule?"
Fourth, do not discount the 500 hours of community service. It's not easy to get those kinds of hours. Think how long it took you to get 500 hours of flight time.
Fifth, the justice system worked like it should. The judge had a lot to do with it and that is one of the reasons I prefaced this post with a description of Judge Jones. And it wasn't solely because his brother is Quincy.
First of all, you are comparing apples and oranges. He committed a federal crime, while you are discussing the Texas DWI law (and hopefully not because of personal experience!!).
Second, the judge did order him to pay restitution so NWA is made whole again.
Third, the prosecutor was the one who recommended probation given the facts and circumstances presented to him. We don't know what they are precisely, but judges are not precluded from giving deference to recommendations from lawyers, unless they are outrageous. When I used to appear in hearings, judges would ask me all the time, "so Ms. vagabond, how should I rule?"
Fourth, do not discount the 500 hours of community service. It's not easy to get those kinds of hours. Think how long it took you to get 500 hours of flight time.
Fifth, the justice system worked like it should. The judge had a lot to do with it and that is one of the reasons I prefaced this post with a description of Judge Jones. And it wasn't solely because his brother is Quincy.
04-04-2008, 03:49 PM
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Position: ATP, CFI etc.
Posts: 6,056
It seemed like this doctor is a person of good moral character overall, and was very remorseful about his temporary lapse of judgment and recklessness at the time when he made these threats. The argument about his being on medication seems kind of implausible to me, but regardless many among us suffer a lapse of judgment at some point in our lives and need a little mercy on which to recover. The punishment seems fair and I do not think one should suffer complete and lasting ruination for a simple one-time lapse of judgment, especially where there is only financial damage and inconvenience to an offended party.
04-04-2008, 04:06 PM
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Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,275
Originally Posted by Cubdriver
It seemed like this doctor is a person of good moral character overall, and was very remorseful about his temporary lapse of judgment and recklessness at the time when he made these threats. The argument about his being on medication seems kind of implausible to me, but regardless many among us suffer a lapse of judgment at some point in our lives and need a little mercy on which to recover. The punishment seems fair and I do not think one should suffer complete and lasting ruination for a simple one-time lapse of judgment, especially where there is only financial damage and inconvenience to an offended party.
04-04-2008, 04:24 PM
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I hasten to admit that TD raises a valid concern, because in several or many occupations there are dire implications if an employee accrues even a single DUI/ DWI. For example, engineers are subject to scrutiny in public record, such that if they get a single DUI then they likely can expect a pink slip very soon. The reason is not at all moral or personal. It is that if there is a failure in the work the employee performs a lawsuit often follows and the company will lose a lot more money than they would if they hired somebody else. Still, I do not think the law or even the companies should be totally unforgiving. At the end of the day we all have to operate by our conviction or convictions, and we are all human.
04-04-2008, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Cubdriver
I hasten to admit that TD raises a valid concern, because in several or many occupations there are dire implications if an employee accrues even a single DUI/ DWI. For example, engineers are subject to scrutiny in public record, such that if they get a single DUI then they likely can expect a pink slip very soon. The reason is not at all moral or personal. It is that if there is a failure in the work the employee performs a lawsuit often follows and the company will lose a lot more money than they would if they hired somebody else. Still, I do not think the law or even the companies should be totally unforgiving. At the end of the day we all have to operate by our conviction or convictions, and we are all human.
04-04-2008, 05:17 PM
#9
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Posts: 348
Originally Posted by rickair7777
Knowing the whole story, including the medication issues, I tend to agree that the decision was reasonable. He didn't actually plant a bomb or endanger anyone.
04-04-2008, 05:32 PM
#10
Che Guevara
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,408
Originally Posted by vagabond
Duck, do not give up your day job. Definitely do not give it up to become a lawyer.
First of all, you are comparing apples and oranges. He committed a federal crime, while you are discussing the Texas DWI law (and hopefully not because of personal experience!!).
Second, the judge did order him to pay restitution so NWA is made whole again.
Third, the prosecutor was the one who recommended probation given the facts and circumstances presented to him. We don't know what they are precisely, but judges are not precluded from giving deference to recommendations from lawyers, unless they are outrageous. When I used to appear in hearings, judges would ask me all the time, "so Ms. vagabond, how should I rule?"
Fourth, do not discount the 500 hours of community service. It's not easy to get those kinds of hours. Think how long it took you to get 500 hours of flight time.
Fifth, the justice system worked like it should. The judge had a lot to do with it and that is one of the reasons I prefaced this post with a description of Judge Jones. And it wasn't solely because his brother is Quincy.
First of all, you are comparing apples and oranges. He committed a federal crime, while you are discussing the Texas DWI law (and hopefully not because of personal experience!!).
Second, the judge did order him to pay restitution so NWA is made whole again.
Third, the prosecutor was the one who recommended probation given the facts and circumstances presented to him. We don't know what they are precisely, but judges are not precluded from giving deference to recommendations from lawyers, unless they are outrageous. When I used to appear in hearings, judges would ask me all the time, "so Ms. vagabond, how should I rule?"
Fourth, do not discount the 500 hours of community service. It's not easy to get those kinds of hours. Think how long it took you to get 500 hours of flight time.
Fifth, the justice system worked like it should. The judge had a lot to do with it and that is one of the reasons I prefaced this post with a description of Judge Jones. And it wasn't solely because his brother is Quincy.
I'm no lawyer or judge, if I was I wouldn't vega on email speed dial, but the medication issue is weak. He was coherent enough to operate a vehicle, to fiddle with a GPS, he was coherent enough to make multiple attempts to stop the flight. I don't believe the "medication" issue for one second. It seems like every time there's an incident they try and pass the buck on medication.
If he was on medication why does it matter? He still performed the act. Are we saying that with medication he's incapable of being held accountable for his actions? Not me. The stuff doesn't alleviate a person of responsibility. I don't read that on the labels of anything I've ever taken. Medication or not it's confirmed this person blatantly did something EVERYONE knows they aren't to do. I don't care about regret. Most people only regret once caught. I'm pretty sure most criminals in jail regret their actions while the ones at large are living it up.
Vega as a lawyer you know there needs to be an argument made as best possible for both sides. I guess it's you and me!
Last edited by ToiletDuck; 04-04-2008 at 05:45 PM.
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