Hudson, Florida (The Weekly Vice) -- Having solved all of Florida's violent crimes, endless teacher sex scandal problems and failing war on drug efforts - a Florida Judge tackles serious crime - jailing a man who can't afford to re-sod his lawn.
Joseph Prudente, a 66-year-old Hudson, Florida man has been arrested on contempt of court charges after he failed to re-sod his lawn to meet a homeowners association demand that he have green grass.
Prudente's lawn began to wither this summer when his adjustable rate mortgage reportedly increased $600 and his sprinkler system broke. The increased cost in his mortgage meant lawn care would have to take a back seat for awhile.
Prudente's homeowners association, Beacon Woods Civic Association, didn't quite see things that way. Earlier this year, the association took Prudente to court when he failed to meet their demands for landscaping his yard with new sod.
To make thing's worse, Prudente's Toyota Scion was repossessed by the bank, further indicating that re-landscaping an entire lawn was likely not within the family's short-term means.
In June, the court awarded the homeowners association a victory, requiring Prudente to re-sod his lawn within 30 days and pay $795 in fees (cost of the plaintiff's attorney and an expert witness).
After an additional 30 day extension and Prudente's failure to re-landscape his yard, the court ordered Prudente to be confined in the Pasco County jail - without bail - until he digs up the money to re-landscape his lawn.
Friday morning, Prudente wore one of his favorite shirts - Grandpa Gone Wild - and was driven by his family down to the Pasco County Jail where he is being held indefinitely without bond until he "Complies" with court orders to re-sod his grass.
"He's in prison for God knows how long because we can't afford to sod the lawn," said his tearful daughter Jennifer.
Joseph's wife, Pat, acknowledged that the family had chosen to live in homeowners community that imposed a policy of maintaining a green grass lawn. But she couldn't understand how jailing her husband would help the family meet those requirements.
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
That's right folks, teachers who rape kids get bond. Thieves get bond. Parents who beat their children half to death get bond. Even those suspected of murder are sometimes able to post bond. No so in the case of green grass.
If you don't have fresh green grass that's up to homeowners association standards - Judge W. Lowell Bray of the Pasco County Circuit Courts will not allow bond.
This truly is among one of the most ludicrous and outright demented court decisions we've seen for quite awhile - especially in light of the economic nightmare that has gripped the entire country over the last half year.
Joseph Prudente is a retired registered nurse, who obviously lives on a fixed budget. Mortgage rates have driven many homeowners to the breaking point if not further - and if the courts haven't caught wind of this national dilemma, they had better pull their head out of the sand.
The Pasco County Jail is already about 800 prisoners OVER capacity - which means the jail will be prompted to release a criminal offender in order to free up space for the the Prudente's of the world. Absolutely outrageous.
This Judge should be marinated in reality for awhile, as it's clear he's been living under a rock over the past 6 months as homeowners have been forced out of their homes and retirees have seen their life's savings decimated.
If the courts and homeowner's associations are going to get their nylons in a knot over green grass, they had better start building a lot more jails. Homeowners associations are going to be seeing an abundance of weeds when those houses go vacant.
It's extremely clear to this writer that half the world has yet to really wake up to the hardships many, many Americans are facing now. It had BETTER start getting a reality check soon and start learning to work together instead of fussing over how green the grass is. We have bigger fish to fry right at the moment.
If anyone from the Prudente family comes across this article, please contact us. We'd like to see if we can help facilitate a solution to this problem, as it's clear the Florida legal system seems intent on aggravating it.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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Saturday, October 11, 2008
Florida Court Orders Man To Jail - Without Bond - For Failure To Plant Fresh Sod
Posted by Danny Vice at 6:53 PM
Labels: beacon woods civic association, contempt of court, florida, grass, homeowners association, hudson, jail, jailed, jennifer lehr, joseph prudente, man, pasco county, pat prudente
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13 comments:
Wow. This is the worst abuse of power I've heard of in a while. How is he supposed to fix his lawn from jail. If he didn't have the money to re-sod it in the first place, how is he supposed to pay the fees for the plantiff's frivilous court case? If they were so worried about it, why didn't they loan him a sprinkler system? I hope someone tears their lawns up so they have the same problem. Too bad I am not in Florida and don't own an ATV.
A few days ago I heard a few Florida retirees commenting how their retirements have been depleted some 40%.... yet they tried to keep a sense of humor by joking "I guess we just need to figure out a way to die 40% sooner"...
People out there are trying their best to keep a good attitude about this whole thing. It truly is government - all the way down to circuit judges like this, who really are quite clueless to the serious collapse we're teetering on.
They SAY they know all about it... and then rush legislation with hundreds of non-economy related lobby awards...
Never in history have I seen a a country's entire government so functionally out of touch and clueless. Not just one party - the entire government, from top to bottom.
This case sort of puts the cherry on top, doesn't it?
I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would move into a subdivision with a homeowners association. There has been a lot of stuff written about these associations and the majority of the associations seem to be headed by nimrods.......Not to mention,the clusterfuck & back-ass-ward direction of our current system and the folks running it.
I agree with the whole not moving into a home owners ass. this should be rid of anyway-But the Judge who went threw with this, really-it is sad that we even get to respond to something like this-This is where people need to rally with there signs and get the news there and so forth-Oh wait people are to busy trying to free rapist and murderers. If I lived in Fl. and I could I'd stand out there with my picket signs and fight for this family-why not it's about time we stood up for the right things.
In regards to the guy in florida jailed over not being able to resod his lawn. This is an absolute abuse of position by the home owners association, the judge, and all involved this ridiculous situation. This guy was a Retired RN and if they were in need i'm sure he would help ( medically ). Instead they see a way to take advantage of someone who cannot afford to abide by some stupid HOA rules and this is what happens. I've heard of people losing their house also and this strikes me as just a real backwards abuse of power to those in a position to make life altering decisions. May everyone remember this judges name and incident when it's re-election time and if your looking for a new home, remember this Home Owners Association also.
Home Owner's Associations are a great work. They help to maintain the aesthetics and sensabilities of a certain area. If this blue-collared redneck who wears a "grandpa gone wild" shirt to a COURT APPEARANCE can't afford to live in a HOA establishment, then move off and go to a retirement home! Another case of living outside of there means!
You disgust me. Another instance of an a**hole who knows nothing! Read the article. His mortgage went up $600 and he is retired. What has happened to your 401(k) recently? Oh you must be the only one whos 401(k) was untouched, right, oh so smart one?
This is an abuse of power!! An old man has the right to wear what he wants and stay the F88K out of jail if he doesn't water his grass.
Get off your high horse and go do something positive with that high and mighty attitude of yours!
~Tia Bellz
Thankfully there are people willing to help :)
Click here to read
Hi Renee, thank you for posting that update.
We're really happy to see some people who are local were able to jump in and help.
Hopefully we were able to make more people aware of this story on a national level. =)
Congratulations to Mr. Prudente on his release.
Bergstrom the 3rd, people like you are what is wrong with American culture.
If you own your home, you should be able to do whatever you like with your home.
Home Owner's Associations are the epitome of busibodiness and should be outlawed. Really, people like you who are so pathetic and have no life feel the need to micro-manage how your neighbors care for their lawns.
I put this on you-May your finances come to ruin and your income stop...may you and your entire family end up homeless because you can't afford to cater to the whims of others and when this happens may everyone turn a blind eye to your situation, which you bring upon yourself with your haughtiness and self-importance.
Ah the have-nots once again jealous of the have-mores!
First off, to Letitia (is that even a PROPER name?) Let me guess, you are a welfare recipient, am I right? Awww poor unwed mom of 5 illigitament kids! Get off public assistance and get a job!
Secondly to the "Mad Army Wife" how many times did you cheat on your spouse while he was in Iraq? More than a dozen I'm sure, judging by your picture. Is being faithful so hard?
Berg -
I suggest that you take a deep look at yourself before you start throwing stones, MR. Living-in-a-Glass-House! First off, "thier" is the pronoun that you were looking for in your original post. "There" denotes a place.
Secondly, "Letitia" is my legal name, yes. "Proper" is defined as appropriate or suitable; I think its suits me just, thank you. As far as your assumptions, I have no children. I do, however, have a Masters in Accountancy, though. While I did leave home at 17 and put myself through college and grad school, I have never been on welfare and I make more in a year as a CPA, than you make in 5. I did just get married though, thank you!! Oh, and the kicker - the real kicker - I am hot! Blonde, tall, great body, pretty face... you only wish. lol
How dare you attack a wife of a soldier... z woman who sacrifices, along with her husband, their (see the proper usage) lives (not in the physical aspect... I would take the time to explain but you have no heart so its a waste of my time) so that you, miscreant, can post your ignorant, unfounded, BS opinion for the world to read. You don't deserve the right to be walking free. I say we toss him in jail for the FL man's time!
God forbid that we stick up for what is morally and ethically right without getting personally attacked. This country has produces some real assholes ... and it will be our demise. There is no loyalty, no brotherhood, no respect (for self or others) ... its sickening really.
Latitia,
Cogratulations on your recent wedding... and have absolutely NO doubt - this site supports our troops and their families fully, entirely, and WITHOUT a single reservation. NONE.
A good 1/3 of my family is military... I went to high school on an Air Force Academy... so believe me, the Bergstroms that visit this site are in the minority here.
Let me re-clarify what I think was the real problem with this case.
Homeowner's associations in and of themself aren't evil. A neighborhood has every right to band together and decide on some common rules of upkeep that they all agree to.
I think the evil here lurks in this particular homeowner's association who pursued a relatively minor issue all the way to court, despite a mounting housing crisis.
We are not in average times and we are not living under natural circumstances - and haven't been for the past year.
Also, we had a judge who obviously hasn't woken up to the fact that millions of people are literally one check away from completely going under - due solely to circumstances beyond their control.
The judge took action that aggravated the problem further - instead of helping to solve it.
But Latitia, before you get too frustrated... remember that this story now has a happy ending no thanks to Bergstrom, the HOA or the judge in the case.
People like you packed up their trucks and drove out to the property to bring this man's lawn up to an acceptable level.
I believe most readers here would have done the same thing if they lived close enough to help. I certainly would have.
Don't let the Bergstroms of the world get you down.
He'll play with his toy battleships in the tub and wear his propeller cap with pride, while the world laughs at him....
Living modestly and passionately is always more fullfilling than being wealthy and ignorant
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