ForumGarden

Man faces 6 months in jail for ‘boisterous’ yawn

Judge says Ill. man deliberately tried to disrupt sentencing of his cousin

Updated 7:29 a.m. ET, Wed., Aug 12, 2009

JOLIET, Ill. - Drowsy spectators in one suburban Chicago courtroom might want to stifle their yawns from now on.

Clifton Williams, 33, of Richton Park, is facing six months in jail for making what court documents call a yawn-like sound in Will County Judge Daniel Rozak's court last month.

The yawn happened as Williams' cousin, Jason Mayfield, was being sentenced for a drug charge on July 23.



Rozak found Williams in contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in jail. However, Rozak could free Williams after a status hearing Thursday, if Williams apologizes and the judge accepts. By then, Williams will have served 21 days.

Witnesses disagree about whether Williams' yawn was out of line.

‘A very loud statement’

Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, said the prosecutor in the courtroom at the time told him that what came out of Williams' mouth could hardly be called a "yawn."

"This was a very loud, boisterous, deliberate attempt on the part of this individual to disrupt the proceedings and show disrespect to the court," Pelkie said. "It was not a guy who involuntarily yawned. This guy was making a statement — a very loud statement — in court."

Mayfield disagreed, saying it was "not an outrageous yawn." Williams has written his family to say that he can't believe he's in jail "for nothing."

A message left for Rozak Tuesday was not immediately returned.

Six months is the maximum sentence judges can give for criminal contempt without a jury trial.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

What do you think about this article?

How do you yawn?

More info on the yawning experience :

HowStuffWorks "What makes us yawn?"

When you are around someone else who yawns, do you have the urge to yawn too?

Attached files

yes it's contagious and probably why people apologise when they do it.

Do you feel insulted if someone yawns when you are talking to them?

I yawned 4 times while reading that. Not that I was bored but almost everytime I saw the word 'yawn' ... I did. Just did it again :-5 .. now my eyes are all watery :wah:

did it again while clicking submit :-2



and again waiting on 8 seconds to pass so I could post

A boisterous yawn - I expect classroom teachers will recognise that one!!!

almostfamous;1229370 wrote: did it again while clicking submit :-2



and again waiting on 8 seconds to pass so I could post


stop that, now you have me yawning!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

along-for-the-ride;1229307 wrote: What do you think about this article?


The man made a deliberate noise - it was not a real yawn. The sentence seems severe, unless he'd previously been warned and told what would happen.

Oh sure, I read this thread and start yawning right away. Now I feel tired and have to go to work instead. :-5

:wah:

The power of suggestion.

Attached files

along-for-the-ride;1229313 wrote: When you are around someone else who yawns, do you have the urge to yawn too?


Daughter & I just got summoned for jury duty...we both declined. So boring to sit there all day & not get picked. I think the pay is somewhere around $15 to sit & twiddle your thumbs and yes.............yawn

Bill Sikes;1229440 wrote: The man made a deliberate noise - it was not a real yawn. The sentence seems severe, unless he'd previously been warned and told what would happen.


I agree, Mr. Sikes. I believe the man was just being belligerent. A yawn can be used to attract attention.

along-for-the-ride;1229633 wrote: I agree, Mr. Sikes. I believe the man was just being belligerent. A yawn can be used to attract attention.


I wonder what the penalty had been if the man had farted really loud?:yh_rotfl

qsducks;1229663 wrote: I wonder what the penalty had been if the man had farted really loud?:yh_rotfl


:yh_rotfl

I'm a little (((yawn))) unnerved how much I yawn when I open this link though I know seeing someone yawn usually (((yawn, again))) triggers something but seriously... earlier I was gonna open the thread and thought 'no, i don't need to yawn' but yawned ((((and again)))) about 2 seconds later anyway.

Dangit! :-3

(((yawn))) yes, another one for the road I guess :-5

almostfamous;1229682 wrote: :yh_rotfl

I'm a little (((yawn))) unnerved how much I yawn when I open this link though I know seeing someone yawn usually (((yawn, again))) triggers something but seriously... earlier I was gonna open the thread and thought 'no, i don't need to yawn' but yawned ((((and again)))) about 2 seconds later anyway.

Dangit! :-3

(((yawn))) yes, another one for the road I guess :-5


Well, at least it didn't make you fart:wah:

.... yet.



:wah:

uhhhh cancel that yet -5

almostfamous;1229692 wrote: uhhhh cancel that yet -5


:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl blame it on Ben & Jerry

almostfamous;1229692 wrote: uhhhh cancel that yet -5


:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

I think I'm gonna blame the two of you!!

almostfamous;1229702 wrote: I think I'm gonna blame the two of you!!


you were the one eating ice cream!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

nope nope nope, that was qs! lol



I did eat a muffin tho

I think the judge should get the chair for making the procedings so boring........Has anyone else sitting in that courtroom who yawned handed themselves in yet?

fuzzywuzzy;1229707 wrote: I think the judge should get the chair for making the procedings so boring........Has anyone else sitting in that courtroom who yawned handed themselves in yet?


I don't personally know the fella but I can almost guarantee you he did it to be obnoxious. The punishment is a little harsh but hey, some judges live for making examples outta folks.

Gee back here you'd just get a stern look from the judge and removed from the court room or warned for contempt. You'll always have belligerant people in court , they don't often attract the up and standing citizen. I think the judge needs to grow some balls.

true true

almostfamous;1229706 wrote: nope nope nope, that was qs! lol



I did eat a muffin tho


Yes, I enjoyed every bite, although hubs ate the rest of it:-5

qsducks;1229724 wrote: Yes, I enjoyed every bite, although hubs ate the rest of it:-5


:wah:

I fed the man & off to bed he went...adios:wah:...his beauty sleep called, plus a hell of a hangover:wah:

qsducks;1229696 wrote: :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl blame it on Ben & Jerry
how would Ben & Jerry make a person fart? Hummmmm....

qsducks;1229663 wrote: I wonder what the penalty had been if the man had farted really loud?:t hinking::yh_ro tfl


Why should there be any penalty? It would possibly be excusable, if inadvertent, although very embarrassing. Had he *pretended* to let off, e.g. by making a loud and evocative noise (blowing a raspberry), or by (for instance) using a Whoopee Cushion, then sanctions should also have been forthcoming.

Sunshine;1229766 wrote: how would Ben & Jerry make a person fart? Hummmmm....


Vanilla BEAN flavor ice-cream.