August 5, 2013 – JTMP had been dealing with justice issues all last week, and this week we turn our attention to musicians and artists that have been caught up in the justice system. Many musicians have been caught up in the courts over the years, from Paul McCartney in 1980 getting busted with 7.7 ounces of pot in his suitcase in Japan (he served 10 days in jail), to Pete Townshend getting arrested for visiting an illegal porn website on his computer back in 1999. His flat was raided, computers seized, and even though no illegal pornographic pictures were never found on his computer, he agreed to a "police caution" and was placed on a sex offender list for 5 years. He has insisted innocence from the start and has broken his 6-year silence on the incident in his new memoir "Who I Am", and last September talked about it with Daily Mail. He told Daily Mail that the reason he did not go to court and fight for his innocence was the reason many face; he had a half an hour to decide whether to take a "police caution", or go through a lengthy court battle where the prosecution has virtually limitless funds and resources and would most likely win, and your horrible mistake is splayed out for the world to see. He also said he was simply "exhausted" at the time. He decided to take the caution (sort of like taking a plea deal here in America) and put it behind him and move on with his life. What does everyone think? Should people be able to move on with their lives? Start a conversation or join in the JTMP Facebook Page. (photo credit: Kubackeck/CC)
