Michigan Man Avoids Punishment With Poem

by Staff
10.28.08

A Michigan man charmed a circuit court judge on Friday with a poetic defense, avoiding punishment for a probation violation, the Flint Journal reported. Maurice Johnson of Grand Blanc Township presented his side of the charge against him in a thirty-four-line poem beginning, "My name is Maurice Johnson. I'm going to explain how I took a loss, instead of making a gain."

The poem continues, "I got arrested driving and I know why, it's because my music was up way too high," and ends with the line, "This is my version of my current violation, I like to write poems, so I hope you like my creation."

Judge Geoffrey L. Neithercut did respond to Johnson's creation, choosing not to penalize the poet and, in addition, releasing Johnson from probation.