Douglas Maupin Jailed 83 Days For Skipping Jury Duty

McKINNEY, Texas — A man arrested for allegedly failing to appear for jury duty was released Saturday after spending 83 days in jail, a length of detention that a judge called "unacceptable."

Douglas Maupin was released a day after The Dallas Morning News brought his plight to the attention of a Collin County judge.

Maupin, a masonry contractor, was arrested Feb. 15 after police pulled him over for speeding. Police then detained him on a 2003 warrant for failure to appear for jury duty.

He wrote a letter to the newspaper about his lengthy jail stay, then said in a jailhouse interview that he, his friends and family could not afford his $1,500 bail.

He said his attempt to get a public defender was rebuffed by a jail clerk.

District Judge Chris Oldner said he was unaware of Maupin's detention until Friday, even though the case was assigned to his court. The judge who signed the original 2003 warrant had retired, and officials said the case was assigned to the court of his replacement but the offense didn't fall under that court's responsibility.

"He should not have spent that much time. This is unacceptable," Oldner told the Morning News. "I don't know why the process failed to notify us."

Oldner also said that Maupin should have been allowed to apply for a public defender.

Maupin, 34, said he just wanted his day in court.

"I do know I have the right to due process and a speedy trial," he said. "I've had neither. It's not right."

The judge said he was "disappointed this has happened," and promised to investigate.

Comments

[2Hope4ever]

02:22 PM on 05/10/2009

Not everybody can afford to take off work for the waste of time jury duty process. Especially­, in Texas they tend to plea deal at the end of the day while youv'e sat there all day wasting your time. Now, for me I don't mind because my employer pays me during jury service, but not all employers do. The $10 they give you for service don't pay the bills.

[speakingtruth2power]

01:58 PM on 05/10/2009

He can forget about getting any justice as long as he stays in the state's court system and if he goes

to a Federal Court, he better not get a Bush appointee or he'll get another three months for contempt.

[hotwire]

01:51 PM on 05/10/2009

Hey Maupin, this is the new and improved America, no more right to due process, that is unless you belong to one of the "oppressed groups". Throw a guy in jail for 83 days, for skipping jury duty, and protect Pedophiles under hate crimes legislatio­n, go figure.

[Spud777]

12:21 PM on 05/10/2009

Texas is now officially the Laughing Stock of the Nation. It took a lot of effort on their part to beat Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia, but George W. Bush was a huge help as was Rick Perry, the Governor. This informatio­n is just "icing on the cake" as it were! Wanda Sykes was totally correct, give them as a gift next time Obama goes overseas.

[OldenAtwoody]

12:00 PM on 05/10/2009

According the report, Mr. Maupin, at the time of his arrest, had 11 warrants out on him, any of which would land him in jail.

Eleven warrants?

1. Warrant for failure to appear for jury duty.
2. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
3. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
4. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
5. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
6. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
7. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
8. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
9. Warrant for failing to pay tolls
10. Warrant for speeding ticket
11. Warrant for driving with no insurance.

I’m not so sure I feel sorry for this lunkhead now.

[kareemachan]

01:15 PM on 05/10/2009

But he still deserves the right to a public defender.

[Castklearr]

11:31 AM on 05/10/2009

Vote like a Texan.....­.means you don't have a vote!

[ThomasMc]

11:23 AM on 05/10/2009

Texas doesn't think the US Constituti­on and Bill of Rights applies to them.

[noralou]

09:59 AM on 05/10/2009

We got just as bad if not worse crap here in Port Angeles, WA. A District Court judge by the name of Rick Porter has instituted a system called pay or appear. Within this system if you can't make a payment on your fine (which he, himself sets) than you have to appear in front of him and hope. He gives out jail time with a generous hand. There are many people in Clallam County that have spent multiple stretches in jail for the same misdemeano­r. I have met people who have spent 15 days in jail for being unable to make a $100.00 payment. This is a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money and is the closest thing I have heard of to the old debtors' prisons.
We have double digit un-employm­ent in this town and a lot of people trying to make it on welfare and other programs. I know someone trying to bring up a baby on $440.00 a month and the judge is willing to put her in jail away from her child 3 years after her offense. I wonder if this is even strictly legal. Many persons with misdemeano­rs end up spending more time in jail than do violent felons.

[hotwire]

01:54 PM on 05/10/2009

You're right, this happens everywhere­. All these people jumping all over Texas are just being dopes.

[noralou]

05:05 PM on 05/10/2009

Actually, I have been told by various people that Clallam County is considered one of the more corrupt counties in the nation!
I can believe it, we have a bunch of crackers as cops.

[elizlucinda]

09:22 AM on 05/10/2009

There is no way on God's green earth that I would ever go to Texas. they seem nust down there!!!

[Grant Morrison]

07:02 AM on 05/10/2009

.....

"That's right, you're not from Texas;
that's right, you're not from Texas;
that's right. you're not from Texas;
but Texas wants you anyway."

.

[noralou]

09:49 AM on 05/10/2009

Lyle Lovett is one of the few good things Texas has given us.

[JANPACOPETE]

12:28 PM on 05/10/2009

Ann Richards, and Barbara Jordan, and Molly Ivins, Katherine Ann Porter, Dan Rather, Walter Cronkite, Lady Bird Johnson, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Buddy Holly, JanisJopli­n, Scott Joplin, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Steve Martin, Rip Torn, Dixie Chicks, "Dandy" Don Meredith, Tommy Lee Jones, Dennis & Randy Quaid, Ben Hogan, Renee Zellweger, Meatloaf, Earl Campbell, Bob Wills, Tommy Tune, J. Frank Dobie, Waylon Jennings, ZZ Top, Howard Hughes, Carol Burnett, Roy Orbison, Tina Turner, George Foreman, Alan Bean, John Henry Faulk, Gus Grissom, Jamie Foxx, Woody Harrelson, Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Micheal DeBakey, Dr. Red Duke, Leon Jaworski, Sam Rayburn, Stephen F. Austin....­........

[Archontruth]

02:13 AM on 05/10/2009

Wasn't Texas just in the news for small-town cops extorting travelers (mostly minorities­) for millions of dollars over a few years by pulling them over, arresting them and threatenin­g to turn their kids over to child services if they don't hand over everything of value?

I'd say give Texas back to Mexico, but the Mexicans aren't that dumb, they probably wouldn't take it back.

[kareemachan]

01:16 PM on 05/10/2009

Well, they want to secede, so let 'em.

[Cobia]

06:20 PM on 05/10/2009

Don't forget what the corrupt LEO's and JO's did in Tulia, TX.

[Palemoon]

01:44 AM on 05/10/2009

Only in Texas, only in Amerika. How in the world could this be allowed to happen? I'm sure it probably boils down to the "Us vs Them" mentality of the people behind that thick blue line. Contrast the fact that he spent 83 days in jail, yet Drew Peterson only recently was arrested for anything to do with his 4 wives dubious deaths. It's no wonder he's all smiles and cracking jokes, he's arrogant and he knows he's getting away with it.

By the way, what happened to the 72 hours to be brought before a judge? Don't tell me they forgot about that too? Heck, I wonder if habeus corpus even exists anymore.

[mendelcrosses]

08:57 AM on 05/10/2009

Todd Palin,Rove and co,could ignore any order no matter where it comes from and yet they all free men.

[Cobia]

06:22 PM on 05/10/2009

$$$$$$...k­aching...
And also any 'celebrity­' status.

[SinisterK9]

01:30 AM on 05/10/2009

I don't feel sorry for him. He'll pull at least 6 figures from the law suit he's sure to win.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

01:23 AM on 05/10/2009

83 more days than the time served by the unprosecut­ed war criminals.

[plaidsportcoat]

12:05 AM on 05/10/2009

Please - Secede Now, you anti-poor people state full of poor people.