Brian Earl Taylor, 21, last week had a unique way to show that he is soulful after being convicted for unlawful imprisonment and carrying a concealed weapon. He did so in song before an audience of Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Darlene O’Brien and assembled lawyers and onlookers. He chose “Hello” by Adele as shown in the video below.
“Hello there, your honor,” Taylor sang. “I want to say I’m sorry for the things I’ve done and I’ll try and be stronger in this life I chose, but I want you to know — that door, I closed.
“And your honor I’m sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.”
He then offered similar renditions to the victim in his case, as well as his mother.
Judge Darlene O’Brien said Taylor was “obviously a talented young man” and she hopes he will take advantage of prison programs so he can reach his goals upon release.
If Taylor is going to straighten out his life, he would need to make some significant changes to his life and not just his repertoire. He was arrested after struggling with another man and holding a gun to his stomach on Nov. 9, 2015. Police alleged that three men including Taylor forced a 23-year-old Ypsilanti man into a vehicle at gunpoint and drove to a different location to rob him. The group then allegedly drove back to the apartment to complete the robbery.
Taylor has a history of criminal conduct. He was originally placed on probation for two counts of larceny from a person in 2013, but then violated his parole and was sent to prison in 2015.
Taylor told the court that he hopes to get a degree in business management at Eastern Michigan University and clean up his life to be a role model for his younger brother. He wanted a 36 months sentence to allow him to finish his degree before he turned 26 but, as the court explained, the minimum guideline range for his crimes was 50 to 100 months. So he received two years in prison put 18 months to 15 years for unlawful imprisonment. Five other charges were dismissed. He will first serve time for this parole violation before the weapons charge and then serve the time for the unlawful imprisonment.
Kudos: Bert Gieseman
It makes me so sad to see young men and women in court, having seriously gotten in their own way.
I hope he really does turn his life around. But to do it, he’s got to jettison each and every friend he’s got that is into crime, partying, and otherwise wasting time. What is it Anthony Robbins says? If you want to really be a success, then surround yourself with people above your current level, because it will encourage you to press on and try harder. If all your friends spend all day on the couch, they’ll drag you down. They won’t mean to, but they’ll end up discouraging you.
He’s really thrown up an obstacle if he wants to get a business degree. A criminal record is a hindrance on most job applications. Hope he makes it.
Plus, turnabout is only fair play! If a black guy can sing a white gal’s song, then why can’t a white gal sing a black dude’s song???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rve03u7oEvI
Darn, but I love me some Post Modern Jukebox!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Let the guitar play in friend to my request.
“I’m McConnell The Eighth I am! I hail from Kentucky in a garbage can.
I got married to the widow next door.
She said N word seven times before…
And every N word sent his message out.
Mitch is a bigot from the start.
For there ain’t no dork like McConnell.
McConnell The Eight I Am.
Second verse, same as the first. ”
The convict should sing this song while locked up.
Just another day at the circus called USA.
Well, at least he isn’t an aspiring rapper. And he seems to have the skill set to run either a Payday Loan company, or a Big Bank when he gets out.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter