L.A. Law (TV Series)
Whistle Stop (1994)
Tracey Walter: John Rosten
Quotes
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Hortense Krieger : Mr. Dorsett, at the time of your arrest, you had two felony convictions, one for burglary and one for armed robbery, correct?
Albert Dorsett : Yeah, that's correct.
Hortense Krieger : Are you aware of the fact that had you been charged with a third felony, you'd be facing a mandatory sentence of 25 to life?
Albert Dorsett : Yes.
Hortense Krieger : Would it be fair to say then that you were extremely anxious to reduce your charge to a misdemeanor and willing to turn on people that you'd known most of your life?
Albert Dorsett : Oh, like they wouldn't do it to me?
John Rosten : I wouldn't do it to you, Albert.
Judge Arthur Bryson : That's enough, Mr. Rosten.
Hortense Krieger : What sentence did you receive as a result of your deal?
Albert Dorsett : I got 3 years probation.
Hortense Krieger : I have nothing further.
Judge Arthur Bryson : Witness may step down.
[Albert Dorsett is finished and steps down]
Judge Arthur Bryson : This court is adjourned for lunch until 2:00 PM.
[Mr. Mullaney looks at the time to leave. Pull over by John Rosten]
John Rosten : Mr. Mullaney, would you please give me 5 minutes in the room so I can explain to you how this all happened?
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Ms. Krieger, would you please advise your client that this constitutes an inappropriate communication?
John Rosten : [But John begs] I just want to see who I am. I'm not the type of person you should be doing this to.
Hortense Krieger : All right, come on, John.
Bailiff : Sir.
John Rosten : Mr. Mullaney, please, 5 minutes. That's all I ask.
[But the court officer instructed John Rosten to do so. An officer takes the defendant back into custody and now leaves. Mr. Mullaney and Ms. Krieger are going take a break for lunch]
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Hortense Krieger : Mr. Rosten, how did you come to have $6,000 worth of stolen copper pipe in your garage?
John Rosten : He said he bought the pipe for a plumbing job and needed some place the story.
Hortense Krieger : Is it your testimony that he made no mention of the fact that the pipe was stolen?
John Rosten : Yes.
Hortense Krieger : Following your arrest, did you sign this confession stating that you did have knowledge that the pipe was stolen?
John Rosten : Yes.
Hortense Krieger : Why did you sign it if it wasn't true?
John Rosten : Because the cops told me they had me dead to rights, but that they could go easy on me if I was cooperative.
Hortense Krieger : Have you ever been convicted of a felony before this?
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Sidebar, Your Honor.
Judge Arthur Bryson : Approach.
[A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney and Hortense Krieger approached the sidebar of Judge Bryson]
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Counsel's China's slip into these face and strike three, Your Honor. I believe that to be both irrelevant and prejudicial.
Hortense Krieger : The fact that he was facing his third strike, meant that he is only chance of winning fee was having to reduce to a misdemeanor. That's what the cops promised him. That's what they liked him about.
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : I've been advised it that no promises were made.
Judge Arthur Bryson : Counsel, whether or not your client was misled. There's no evidence that the confession was coerced. As such I find testimony as to these so-called three strikes law or the type of sentence Mr. Rosten is likely to receive a found guilty to be prejudicial rather than probative. You to make no mention either one. Stand back.
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Hortense Krieger : Mr. Rosten, how long has it been since you were convicted of a crime?
John Rosten : More than 15 years.
Hortense Krieger : You gainfully employed?
John Rosten : Yes. I've been working at a hardware store for the past 12 years.
Hortense Krieger : Do you permitted to operate the register, handle cash?
John Rosten : Yes.
Hortense Krieger : You ever been accuse of stealing anything while you're working there?
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Objection.
Judge Arthur Bryson : Sustained.
Hortense Krieger : Okay. I have nothing further.
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A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : According to police records, you and Albert Dorsett were arrested for burglary together back in 1975?
Hortense Krieger : Objection, half-bad answer inadmissible. I moved for an immediate mistrial.
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Defense counsel brought up his record on direction from the door.
Judge Arthur Bryson : So she did. The objections overruled.
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Is your testimony that knowing Mr. Dorsett's history, you had no suspicion, no in clinking at all that the copper pipe he was asking you to look after was stolen?
John Rosten : I didn't think about it.
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Were you lying when you confessed to the police?
John Rosten : Yes, they told me I was the only way they could knock it down to a misdemeanor.
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Wouldn't you agree that you have a far greater incentive to lie today than you did on the day you were arrested?
John Rosten : I don't deserve to get life imprisonment over this, sir!
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : Move to strike.
John Rosten : I got 2 children!
Judge Arthur Bryson : Mr. Rosten.
John Rosten : A girl who's 7 and a boy who's 9!
Judge Arthur Bryson : Mr. Rosten, that's enough. The jury's instructed to disregard the defendant's outburst. Mr. Mullaney?
A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney : No more questions.
[A.D.A. Mullaney is done]