Former Harris county deputy Richard Nutt pleaded guilty in federal court on extortion charges.
According to the article, Nutt faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
I'm all for throwing the book and locking him away for 20 years. As a law enforcement officer, the public trusts him to uphold and enforce the law. Nutt betrayed the public trust. With his crime as a public servant, punishment should be severe.
Do I hold public servants to a higher standard? Absolutely. Corruption is lethal to society. Police and elected official's power derives from society. When they abuse that power, it destroys the basic foundation of our society.
Look at country's with corrupt government. They sap resources for personal gain. Resources that rightfully belong to the people. The people and society must benefit from those resources. By allowing companies and entrepreneurs to conduct business and allow markets to rule, society benefits. In corrupt governments, nepotism and cronyism horde the profits.
In Nutt's case, he not only broke the law but cooperated with the criminal element he is supposed to stop.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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