08-11-2009, 03:28 PM
Ill. man to serve at least 21 days for yawning
Published - Aug 11 2009 04:06PM EDT
Drowsy spectators in one Will County courtroom might want to stifle their yawns. A 33-year-old suburban Chicago man is facing six months in jail for yawning in Judge Daniel Rozak's court last month. Clifton Williams will serve at least 21 days for stretching and yawning as his cousin was being sentenced for a drug charge.
A prosecutor in the courtroom at the time described the offending yawn as "loud and boisterous." But Williams' cousin says it wasn't "outrageous."
Rozak found Williams in contempt of court and had him jailed on July 23. Six months is the maximum sentence judges can give for criminal contempt without a jury trial.
Williams has written his family that he can't believe he's in jail.
http://www.rr.com/home/home/article/rr/9...or_yawning
Published - Aug 11 2009 04:06PM EDT
Drowsy spectators in one Will County courtroom might want to stifle their yawns. A 33-year-old suburban Chicago man is facing six months in jail for yawning in Judge Daniel Rozak's court last month. Clifton Williams will serve at least 21 days for stretching and yawning as his cousin was being sentenced for a drug charge.
A prosecutor in the courtroom at the time described the offending yawn as "loud and boisterous." But Williams' cousin says it wasn't "outrageous."
Rozak found Williams in contempt of court and had him jailed on July 23. Six months is the maximum sentence judges can give for criminal contempt without a jury trial.
Williams has written his family that he can't believe he's in jail.
http://www.rr.com/home/home/article/rr/9...or_yawning