Paul Ryan Tenney, who admitted back in September that he stole more than $106,000 from his employer, Elcon, Inc., has still not been sentenced for his crime.
He remains in jail without bail. This afternoon, Judge Robert Noonan gave the 39-year-old Tenney until Dec. 8 to find and secure financing for an in-patient drug-addiction treatment program. If he fails, the judge said he may be forced to "warehouse" Tenney in prison.
The one-time high school athletic star claims he's already completed an in-patient program as required. Trouble is, no one can find any proof of it. His attorney, Gary Horton, said he has no documentation, other than the statements of Tenney's friends and relatives.
Noonan said Tenney was stonewalling, and expressed a great deal of frustration with this case.
"I've tried to figure out how to wake you up to take charge of your life," Noonan said. "You've shown no backbone."
He said Tenney needs to stop making excuses and relying on his relatives for help.
"I could sentence you to five years in prison, but you'd just be five years older," Noonan said.
Tenney's criminal record certainly justifies doing that, the judge said, but numerous people in the community have vouched for Tenney and say he can be redeemed. He just needs to show the judge he is willing make the effort.
I SMELL A RAT!!!!
I SMELL A RAT!!!!
Wow, this sounds like a
Wow, this sounds like a script from "Friday Night Lights" a most excellent show. I know High School Football is big in Texas but I forgot how much weight it holds all across America. I loved the Blue Devils as a kid and teen because that's where the action was on a Friday Night, and there wasn't that much action in Batavia. I'm sure it is much more exciting now.
I hope Judge Noonan is as lenient with other lawbreakers who have family that love them, and not just this one guy who needs six months in rehab.
Blind Justice?
Blind Justice?
Having observed Judge Noonan
Having observed Judge Noonan a bit now -- he is a compassionate man. He can be tough as they come when it's called for, but he is a man who, when it comes to issues of addiction, really wants to see people turn their lives around if they can.
I'm surprised as anybody that he's given Mr. Tenney so many chances to straighten this thing out and get himself into a program, but I also think it's a good thing for all of us that there is a man on the County Bench who takes each case individually and sees the defendants and the victims as individuals and not just statics passing through his court room.