News-Record.com

Its about time someone realizes that Mr. Lowe got off scott free. He should be in a close custody prison serving his time like all the others. No one ever gets that much time reduced I don't care who he is. A judge should not have that kind of authority in any court system. Structured sentencing works for every one else why not little rich boy?

I thought it was the duty of a Sheriff to carry out laws, not make them. Whether you agree with it or not, the courts decide where a prisoner is sent, not the jailer. If the Judge had said I want a particular person sent to a psychiatric unit, does the head of that unit get to second guess him. A few months of work on a farm is pretty good punishment, and for a spoiled, well-off
city kid, this may be just what he needs to straighten him out. Right now what seems to be the picture is that Guilford county still has not gotten beyond its old south image of the
tobacco chewing Mississippi sheriff.

You know sheriff you could charge Sidney Lowe with CCW, carrying a concealed weapon,- for having a concealed weapon. That would violate this horrible plea bargain and send that criminal to DOC. Keep an eye for this loser to have marijuana in his cell and the you cna hook him up for having a controlled substance in jail. Another felony to add to his list. This whole scenario smacks of corruption and deceit. Judge Frye has wrecked the confidence in the system. Sheriff just send him to DOC- it rests solely in your discretion.

Judges don't dictate to DOC which prisons or what custody level offenders are placed in. DOC does its own evaluations and makes those determinations.

Frye's order will stick in regard to Lowe serving in the local jail, but the sheriff says he evaluates all prisoners and decides where in the system they belong.

Barnes said in terms of violations like a home-made knife found, they usually treat it as a violation of jail rules rather than lodging a criminal charge.

I agree with the sheriff to hold him in the jail. He has already gotten off. why give him a chance to serve his time easier at the farm. This guy is violent people.... wake up. What happen to the young man who commited these crimes with him? Judge Frye............. is nuts.

Time will tell whether Lowe was just blowing smoke or being serious about turning his life around. Let's hope he makes the most out of this opportunity he has been given. If not, then he will get what he deserves.

We need to back Sheriff BJ Barnes. He is right! He knows wat alott of us do not. This gut should not have special attention that possible could cause problems and take resources from the people and our sheriff, we are lucky to have such a good man working to suport the needs of the people. Lets back him as much as possible and tell the judge he need to learn somthing from a man like the who will do what he thinks is right regardless of what powerful people may think. We all need to support our sheriff and consider our selves lucky. Thank you BJ Barnes.....

Back our Sheriff who has our interest in mind and does the job as he sees fit. He looks after all of us! Show support..

I see alot of people are mad about the sentencing but you have to look at it on both sides. The Lowe child had never been in any trouble before this happen. He had the money to get the best lawyers so that he wouldn't spend alot of time in jail. Alot of people are mad because he is rich & black and his family could afford to give him assistance with drug rehab & the whatever else is needed for this young man. How many of you have had to get assistance for medicaid on a substance problem? What was the quality of the assistance & time? This child has a chance to learn from his mistakes but i hope the other child is offered the same sentencing.When people get on drugs it doesn't matter what your income or race is until you get caught. There is a chance for this man to do the time and make a great recovery. The judge did what he needed and that is it. If it was your child how would you feel? Where would you want your son to do his time mr. Barnes? He has already been punished and seen a judge he doesn't need it again. God bless the families that have to deal with the pain of their children. No one won in this situation drugs are devasting to any family!

Saying it three times, Lola, doesn't make it true. It's hard enough being poor in this country without having to watch the rich get away with murder. Save your tears for people that don't do drugs and violate the law.

A judge does not have the right to say where a person will serve his time. They can make a recomendation but it is up to the DOC to process. Actually Mr. Lowe is suppose to be entered into a correctional facility that does diagnostic testing first and when he is finished with that then they make the transfer call (not the judge). My family knows all about this process and our son did not get any special treatment, but then again we are not rich and could not line others pockets.

Herbert,
Your situation must be frustrating. You didn't come up with the money for high-powered lawyers so your son didn't get a break. The system isn't supposed to work like that, but who are we kidding?

Lowe is black judge is black "Well there you go"

Kudos to Sheriff Barnes! He's doing the right thing here and I, for one, completely support him. As Doug said, the sheriff, not the judge, determines jail assignment and Sheriff Barnes made a judgment call. It was the right call, in my opinion.

As for Judge Frye, when does he come up for re-election? I hope voters remember this fiasco and run him out of office.

Paul, not sure how race fits into this. Celebrity, yes, but not race. Contrary to what some (including the N&R's higher-ups) may think, race doesn't factor into every news story.

I agree with js on the race issue, and I doubt the co-defendant's race is going to get him the same deal when he's sentenced Friday.

Judge Frye was elected to an eight-year term without opposition in 2004, and I predict the same result in 2012 if he runs again.

Superior Court judges are very, very rarely challenged in Guilford County. An exception was in 2006 when Susan Bray ran against Stuart Albright, but Albright had just been appointed by the governor to take his father's seat. Bray, although a popular District Court judge, couldn't beat him.

For the most part, Superior Court judges can hold their seats for as long as they want.

Lola, for as much as I hate to shatter the picture you obviously have of Sidney Lowe II this was not his first run in with the law. There were two other charges prior to this one. Mr. Lowe II is in jail as he needs to be for the crimes committed and I am glad that someone finally stopped the nonsense and catering to his family.

as i recall, he still doesnt have his freedom, either in the county jail or on the prison farm. so it really doesnt matter where he is incarcerated at.. does it?

It's a fairness issue. If others convicted of the same crimes wouldn't be eligible for placement at the farm, he should be either.

His lawyer cleaned him up for the trial so he wouldn't look like a punk, but he still acts like a punk. Atta boy, B.J.

Sounds like Barnes used this high profile case to proove that he is a "backwater" sheriff who is hard on black folks, especially those with a little money. I'm sure this looks good to his country boy constituents who don't like black people anyway and want someone to blame for their own inadequacies. Same old story- this kind of politics and racial coding has been going on since the 1800s- nothing new. Should people be punished for their crimes? Yes and Lowe should be punished, but does Barnes get on TV talking about the 1,0000s of white kids who are breaking federal law taking drugs every day- the law turns a blind eye and they just get a slap on the hand from their parents and get sent to rehab-they need punishment too? What about the UNCG student(s) who was buying the drugs- interesting how he is left out of this discussion. He needs to be put on a work farm someone (if he could handle it).

I completely disagree, Same Old Story. Sheriff Barnes incarcerates plenty of white criminals. He's tough but fair. Before you call him a racist, you need to offer some proof -- proof that, in this case, doesn't exist.

This isn't a case of "being hard on black folks." The prison farm is reserved for non-violent offenders and is a minimum security facility. Sidney Lowe Jr. is a violent felon who was convicted of armed robbery. Those types of inmates aren't allowed at the prison farm, period. It's both a matter of fairness and a matter of safety for the guards and the other inmates.

The fact that Lowe was found with a homemade knife in his cell is proof that the Sheriff was right -- he belongs in jail, not the prison farm.

The whole system makes me sick! Between DUI's being paid off to criminals being treated with kid gloves. I feel that Sidney Lowe should be locked up for a long time and maybe he will understand what he has done. If he isn't punished correctly, he will continue to be in trouble and be a threat to society, It is and has always been, who you know, how wealthy you are, all they do is pay each other off. I feel that Sheriff Barnes is making the right decision in this case. Let Lowe be afraid, just like, I am sure others were afraid of him!

I completely disagree, Same Old Story. Sheriff Barnes incarcerates plenty of white criminals. Before you accuse him of racism, you should provide some proof -- proof that doesn't exist in this case.

This situation isn't about "being hard on black folks." The Prison Farm is reserved for non-violent inmates and is a minimun security facility. Lowe Jr. is a violent criminal who was convicted of armed robbery. Those types of criminals aren't sent to the the Prison Farm. The Sheriff's decision was based on fairness but also safety for the guards and other inmates.

Seeing that Lowe Jr. already was caught with a homemade knife in his cell, it looks to me like Sheriff Barnes made the right call.

NOTICE TO ALL WHITE PEOPLE

It's your own inadequacies and institutional racism that made Sidney obtain and take that assault rifle along on his dorm visitation. If you were honest and would get over yourselves, you would see this.

Just saying.. you made the comment that non-violent offenders are placed at the farm, then answer this for me. Why is an ex tv news man at the farm and he KILLED SOMEONE with his truck when he got in it and drove drunk? Mr Lowe didn't kill someone and I am in no way condoning his behavior, but people make mistakes and should be allowed to have second chances. Him having a shank in his cell is not actually a violent crime. If you have NEVER been to jail or in prison you have no idea how it is to be in one, the feelings that come with being in one. I say B.J. is just trying to show off.

Love Life, your comment prompted me to do a little checking. Tolly Carr is not at the Guilford County prison farm. I am told he's at the minimum-security state detention facility in McLeansville, but I'm trying to get DOC confirmation of that.

The fact that Lowe was found with a homemade knife in his cell is proof that the Sheriff was right -- he belongs in jail, not the prison farm* just saying

According to some soures, the kid was in the hole and the so-called weapon of mass [WMD] was the plastic spoon or fork [ called a Spoke] which the system gave him for eating his meals. You conservatives republicans in Greensboro are the same type of idiots who really believe that 19 individuals highjack 4 Airliners with box cutters on 9/11 led by a tall brilliant 6'6" Terrorist in a middle east cave with a laptop computer....... you fools have no idea how the prison industrial complex is destroying your civilzation

Disgusting and classic racism is being shown at this site........The kid and Coach Lowe will have this problem for a long, long time....And I hope the kid makes it.......

" The degree of civilization can be judge by observing it's prisoners"..* Dostoyevsky after doing a little time in a Imperial Russia prison.

To: Get Over It RE: NOTICE TO ALL WHITE PEOPLE

I'm having a hard time distinguishing faciousness from delusional thinking. Help me out here.

To: Get Over It RE: NOTICE TO ALL WHITE PEOPLE

I'm having a hard time distinguishing faciousness from delusional thinking. Help me out here.