MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- A Middletown resident probably wasn't expecting a response from the judge herself when he asked a question about heroin sentencing on Facebook.
But that’s exactly what happened when Steve Hale posted to the Middletown Talk Facebook page Thursday.
Hale’s post read: “Anyone familiar with how the new judge in Middletown handles heroin ODs charged with intoxication?”
Middletown Municipal Court Judge Melynda Cook Howard responded to Hale’s post by saying, “Yes I do, as I’m the judge.”
Hale said he asked the question because he suspects a person using heroin burglarized his home.
"I knew I had to do something, and I pressed charges,” Hale said. “I figured if I didn't get her off the street she'd die.”
Hale said he was pleased the judge responded.
"I heard the new judge is tougher and I'm glad she is. And to my surprise I got a response from the judge herself,” he said.
Howard said she responded simply because she tries to be accessible, and she wants people to understand the law.
"The gentleman had an interesting question that I know a lot of people do not know the answer to, and they think it's an incorrect answer,” Howard said. “They think that I can put people in jail and they're upset that I can't, and I thought it was a perfect avenue to just set forth that the most I can do is give you a fine and court costs.”
Hale said her response helped put the law into perspective.
"I agree with her that we probably ought to relook at some of the laws on the books,” Hale said. “It seems that we're treating intoxication from heroin like they did back in the day for too much alcohol."
