Month: February 2019

Recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling might have implications for Columbia Borough's policy of excessive fines

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that the Constitution’s prohibition on excessive fines applies to state and local governments, limiting their abilities to impose fines and seize property.

“For good reason, the protection against excessive fines has been a constant shield throughout Anglo-American history: Exorbitant tolls undermine other constitutional liberties,” Ginsburg wrote. “Excessive fines can be used, for example, to retaliate against or chill the speech of political enemies. . . . Even absent a political motive, fines may be employed in a measure out of accord with the penal goals of retribution and deterrence.”

MORE HERE

Columbia man gets no relief from 62-year sentence for firing at officers in Columbia in 2016

Marquell Rentas

A Columbia man serving up to 62 years in prison for shooting at police will get no relief from a state appellate court.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court found the punishment – 30½ to 62 years in prison – was appropriate for what Marquell Rentas did in Columbia on July 29, 2016.

Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson presented evidence at trial that Rentas fired at a 27-year veteran officer, who was one of many officers who responded to a shots-fired call on Bethel Street.

The jury convicted Rentas of attempted murder of a law-enforcement officer, conspiracy, assault of a law-enforcement officer and reckless endangerment.

Rentas, in a request for relief, claimed the sentence was cruel and unusual and a violation of his constitutional rights, considering no officers were injured in the incident.

The appellate court, in its opinion, wrote that Rentas failed to establish how the sentence “is grossly disproportionate to his crime of attempting to severely injure or kill a law enforcement officer by firing a high-powered rifle at him.”

The sentence, ordered by Lancaster County President Judge Dennis E. Reinaker, was “entirely rational” regardless of whether an officer was struck, the appellate court wrote.

Columbia police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges.

Source:

Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office

About Town 2/17/19

This week’s photos from around Columbia
(Click/tap on photos to see larger, clearer images.)
Uninvited guest
Watchful eye
Watching from a distance
A little further back
 Musser’s Market – gone but not forgotten

 At Glatfelter Field

 Fading away

 The beauty of rust

 There is reportedly only one Columbia keyholder, but is it the right one?

 Bales on the road at the old Gulf station
[Submitted photo]

 Ghost horse?

 Back to the old grind

 Lions under the weather, as in weathered

 Commemorative walkway

 Sign down!

 Another sighting of the elusive spoonbill flamingo

 Snake suffocating from a seizure

 An omen?

 Another omen?

 Snow for sale
(We might have all we need in the near future.)

 So, there is such a place.

Big rock

 So, why is there an island in Shawnee Run?

 Tundra swans whooping it up

 Another way to fix a utility pole

 Shame!

 Top of the heap

 More whoops

 Sorta roofin’

 Valentine’s Day

 At last look, still there
 The lights are gone.

 Flower power
 Diggin’ the day

 Watch those allergens.

 Good Samaritan

 Obedience training

 People lined up this afternoon (Sunday) to receive food items from Columbia Presbyterian/Hands Across the Street. Sometimes folks need a little help. Tax hike apologists would do well to remember that $12 a month does make a difference to some people.