Misty Croslin: Pleads No Contest, 240 Years Max?
By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (www.artharris.com) all rights reserved
Misty Croslin had “no choice” but to plead no contest today to seven drug trafficking charges in Palatka, Florida, the Putnam County seat, her attorney tells The Bald Truth.
It’s the same plea Robert Fields says he plans to enter Tuesday in nearby St. John’s County, as well, where an 8th drug charge awaits the former babysitter for a missing five year old girl Haleigh Cummings. “The evidence was overwhelming,” Fields told me in an exclusive phone interview after court we discuss Monday night on HLN’s Jane Velez Mitchell.
“There was no room to maneuver. It was check and checkmate. They had Misty in their sites. Nothing else we could do.”
As for Misty, at 18, she could face up to 240 years in prison, according to the state attorney’s office. That’s eight counts times 30 years each if mandatory minimums are applied.
In court, Fields told Circuit Judge Terry Larue that a “landslide of evidence” against Croslin, including undercover drug sting videos showing her counting pills, wheeling and dealing with ex husband, Ronald Cummings and his cousin, Hope Sykes lead to the no contest plea, which is tantamount to guilty. Sykes drew 15 years on one trafficking count. Same for Misty’s brother, Tommy. Cummings awaits confirmation of a possible 15 year plea deal.
Judge LaRue patiently explained Croslin’s options and asked if she understood the charges against her. She said she did. “Ultimately it was her decision,” said Fields. “Before court, I explained what the outcome of a possible trial would be, and it wouldn’t have made any difference in her sentence.”
Legally boxed in, Fields is grappling with whether to pitch Croslin as a youthful offender come Judgment day comes in October and her court date to be sentenced. Under Florida law, he can try for that plea only once, which could mean as little as six years—if the judge allows it.
But even if Judge LaRue, elected in 2002 and known for his patience and calm demeanor, did okay that status, she’s still vulnerable to a 30 year sentence in St. John’s County on the one remaining charge. “The youthful offender statute is tricky,” Fields tells me.
“What hurts her is she has cases in two different counties,” he goes on. “So even if she could get it in Putnam, she would be prevented in St. John’s if previously designated a youthful offender. A convicted felon is disqualified as well.”
With sentencing scheduled for October, Fields says he’ll need three hours to bring witnesses and lay out Misty’s story. He says she’s revealed everything she knows about missing Haleigh Cummings, though investigators don’t buy it.
One reporter noted she was the only female inmate in court, with no family to offer support. “Most of them are in jail,” said Jessica Clark, reporter-anchor for First Coast News out of Jacksonville. Indeed, parents were recently busted for allegedly buying crack cocaine, and a brother, Tommy, was just sentenced. Another brother and sister in law are in Massachussetts.
Fields tells me she hasn’t been able to speak with Hank or Lisa Croslin because inmates are forbidden contact.
Hands shackled, hair cut short, her face pasty white, a plumped up Croslin stood before the judge and politely answered “Yessir” or “No sir.”
She laid out her education—7th grade—and work experience: restaurant hostess and babysitter. “She looked very somber,” Clark told The Bald Truth, as everyone stared at what some might consider a local true crime celebrity. “It’s not celebrity in a good way. Everyone knows who she is because she’s infamous.”
“I really like Misty now,” Fields told me. “I see nothing more than a girl who has lead a sad and unfortunate life A lot of people outside this bubble are venting and acting vicious. They want to spit at her, throw stones. They make frivolous comments, then retreat to their private lives. She’s been demonized. It reminds me of the Salem Witch Trials.”
August 16th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
What was the offense in St. John's County? Was that when Misty, and a couple of her friends went to an apartment for drugs, and the cops nabbed her? Misty was in the car waiting..I don't recall drugs being found on her…I remember her being more upset about her purse, than she was the night she called 911 when Haleigh went missing.. Is this the other offense? TIA
I would like for Misty to get the youthful offender charge…six years, if she's eligible…I maintain she was not the ring leader..She would have jumped off a cliff for Ron Cummings, whom I believe IS the ring leader..Having only completed seventh grade, and raised in a drug environment, she didn't have a chance at life..What kind of parent lets their child quit school in seventh grade?. A long prison term is not the answer for Misty..She will get out more bitter, and resort to the same lifestyle as before. I'd like to see her placed with a drug-free family with good morals who cares about her, get an education, drug rehab for a couple of years.. Misty can have a good, clean life ahead. I want to see her allowed that chance…I don't think she had anything to do with Haleigh's disappearance..She is covering for someone…All the lies she has told is to protect that "someone"… IMO
August 16th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
omg its so awful,FOR SWEET BABY GIRL HALEIGH,R.I.P.darlin,something(as far as any justice goes) is better than nothing,Those involved will take it to their grave because they never seen past their own selfish arses when she was alive to love and protect her or see fit to do the right thing after something horrible happens to her,My opinion,cold hearted,drug induced illiterate deep south thinking,THE WHOLE BUNCH.I hope they all rot in HELL………………………pamela allred menier
August 16th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Thanks for the update Art, and the detailed explanation of the youthful offender law. So of course i have a few questions. Has Misty been to court on the charge in SJC? I assume that comes after her sentencing in Putnam? What is the minimum time she can get in SJC, 15 or 30? If i were Fields i would have to chance requesting YO with LaRue even tho he gave Tommy and Hope 15 yrs. If he doesn't and she gets slammed with 15 per count the last charge is almost a moot point if they run concurrent. Even if he sentences her as a YO and gives her the 6 yrs, it's still a felony conviction correct? That means if she gets 15 or 30 in SJC that will be her total sentence as long as they run concurrent? Pardon me Art but i haven't had to do this much math in a while..lol. Seems this case has all of a sudden warmed up, especially now that Overstreet is possibly in the mix. I emphasize possibly, where that leads remains to be seen. Good to see u on JVM as always, and i actually was in agreement with Levi today, our hearts are in the same place, just a slight difference on who is involved. Great article, very informative.
August 17th, 2010 at 12:12 am
I just posted and asked about when Misty will be sentenced in SJC, i went over the above article again and see that Misty goes to court there Tuesday so i think that answers my question. Obviously there hasn't been a date set for sentencing yet in SJC. Sorry Art, was too busy doing the math..hehe. So there's a chance she could be sentenced on the one charge first depending on what date they set for sentencing? That changes things a bit but i would still use the request for YO with Putnam County. Misty is in a tough spot, i would think if ever there was a time to talk it would be now if she knew more, unless of course she knows the truth is a sure life sentence. Remember when she said "wait til the truth comes out and everyone see's i had nothing to do with it, then they all owe me an apology"? Saying things like that makes it look like she knows exactly what happened and if she is so sure she wasn't part of it, why not just tell what happened?? Imagine how many charges might have been dropped if she made a deal in exchange for info to solve the case. Silence can be quite loud at times and this is one of those times for Misty, very telling.
August 17th, 2010 at 12:54 am
Sentencing for both in October. As her lawyer explained, and I could be mistaken, but Fields hadn't decided how to roll the youthful offender dice. if he went for six years in Putnam and Judge LaRue went along, which I seriously doubt he would after giving Tommy and Hope each 15 big ones, and RC 15 pending his deal being done…
that would mean he have used up his youthful offender one time only card, so it's no good for St John's when Misty faces the music there on one count of trafficking. Add six to 30 and you get 30 years…but wait to play it in St John's and roll the dice as a grownup in Palatka, you've got 7 counts times 30 or 210 years possible. But do the math with the 15 years Judge LaRue has socked the others with and you've got only 105 years…so it would likely be more than 15 and less than 105…
August 17th, 2010 at 12:56 am
Hi Art, Enjoyable reading, as always. What are your thoughts on Ron coming out with what he knows now, hoping he can influence Misty into talking for a plea? Maybe she'll talk to get a plea in this case and then her attorney can use the underage defense in her next hearing? I'm all for it if it gets to the truth about poor Haleigh.
Thanks again, Art.
August 17th, 2010 at 12:57 am
I think that's the truck stop bust with Misty and Donna Brock who gave her prescription pills she got from her docs up in Virginia…
August 17th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Hi Art,
Is there a reason my comment didn't post last night? When I signed off, it was in moderation.
Thanks!
August 18th, 2010 at 12:13 am
My thinking is that with Misty pleading no contest, and dodging a trial, prosecutors don't really need Ron to send her up the river for drugs. so perhaps to ensure favorable treatment of his pending plea deal — 15 years if he rats out his ex, he's digging deep to come up with something that will go in his snitch account and towards sealing his deal. He doesn't care about anyone else. Art
August 19th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
"snitch account"…love it! Ron will throw any and everyone under the bus to save his butt…
October 5th, 2011 at 2:44 am
Apologies. Several comments missed and now coming back to them, hope better late than never. Art approve