Marion Jones talks about explaining jail sentence to son
Preparing yourself for six months in prison is tough, but nowhere near as tough as having to explain the situation — and your impending, extended absence — to a young child. Disgraced former Olympian Marion Jones will have to do exactly that someday soon with her son Tim, 4 ½. It’s a conversation the 32-year-old, who in October pleaded guilty to lying under oath about using steroids and committing check fraud, is clearly dreading.
"I have not told him yet. My husband and I have spoken about how we’re going to go about doing that. I mean, as you can imagine, it’s a very sensitive topic, and we’re not dealing with a 15-year-old here who perceives things a different way. We’re talking about a 4-year-old who was upset this morning that I couldn’t drop him off at school, you know? It’s going to be challenging."
Tim is Marion’s son with ex-boyfriend Tim Montgomery; She and husband Obadele Thompson also have a 6-month-old son together.
Source: Oprah.com
- Posted on Jan 16, 08 at 4:28PM
- Permalink
- 21 Comments
January 16th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I’m guessing this is one celebrity who might not get a reprieve due to overcrowding, etc, as did Nicole Richie. Well Martha Stewart and Lil’ Kim survived careerwise as well as physically and mentally, I’m sure Marion Jones will as well. Yes, it’ll be tough but, in a way, she’s setting a good example for her son if she accepts her punishment with dignity, does the time and afterwards tries to warn other young athletes away from cheating, lying, etc.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
You do the crime and you do the time, I think she is handling things well since all this has come out and I think she will come out victorious in the end, because telling the true is always the best, plus you will get a good nights sleep!! when her children get older and really understand what really happened they will thank her for being honest for herself and family, see people have to remember that the truth will always come out even years down the road, so it’s best to just be HONEST!!!!!
Thanks,
Cathy B.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
This is just a horrible situation all around. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Marion, her husband, and her kids.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I feel bad for her son and husband, but not for her. You need to think about your consequences before you act, or speak.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I feel bad for the children. Well I guess Scooter Libby is one of the lucky ones.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
This is so exaggerated, I mean, she said she did wrong and asked for an apology, there’s nothing else she can do now. I mean, she killed nobody.
But I think she’s acting very well now. She was honest, she said the truth, and is receiving her punishment very well.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I do feel for her, as we have all made mistakes. She does sound remorseful and I hope she turns things around for good.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
The reporting has focused on the 4 year old, but I keep wondering about the 6 month old. I read somewhere that she’s still nursing. I don’t mean to disagree with the sentence, maybe it’s appropriate, but I feel bad for her and the baby that it comes at this important time in life. When does she have to report to jail?
January 16th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I have sympathy for her two kids. But for her ? Not one drop. She has no right to act like “Poor me, I have to go jail, explain to my kids, feel bad for me.” They’ll probably let her out before the 6 months is out and then she’ll be on Oprah boo-hooing “I had to plead guilty, everyone was framing me” and promoting a new book.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I feel so bad for those boys. How do you explain that to a 4 year old and then watch the six month old look for his mommy?? That is so sad. This must be so hard for her.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I understand the sentence as she was guilty. But since what she lied about under oath is now known, and she’s been punished for what she lied under oath for, don’t they usually put people in this situation on probation?
I feel sorry for her children.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I truly hope she will learn and turn the corner from this. I didn’t realize she also had a 6 month old.
That is really tough
January 17th, 2008 at 8:14 am
I’ve been following the Marion Jones story since it broked out that she did indeed take steroids. I mean granted she lied to the Feds but I can’t help but feel for her. We all make mistakes. She made a mistake and now is taking responsibility for it. I do wish her the best in life. As long as she keeps in her faith in God, there’s nothing that can hold her back from having a great life and being successful again. I wish her the best!!!
January 17th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I completely disagree with almost everyones comments on here. i think to say “she did the crime…” is completely insensitive. I work in the court systems and I see people go away for 6 months for much more serious crimes where there were victims involved. And this is not someone who society would benefit from by having in jail. I think it shows how little the court system values human life and family life. We would all as a society be much better if this woman was on probation or doing community service and being able to be a good mother for her family outside of jail. And that would certainly fit her “crime” better
January 17th, 2008 at 9:58 am
This is the result of an overzealous government with vendettas against successful athletes. Marion Jones taking steroids has not effect on me or my family and she didn’t kill anyone. She lied to the feds but is it their business in the first place? NO! Now she is about to spend six months away from her kids at my and your expense (all taxpayers). And why is she going to jail when folks like Mark McGuire and Roger Clemmens are walking around free? Our government’s priorities are in the wrong place!!!
January 17th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Not to absolve her of her wrongdoing. But all I will say is this: there is something very corrupt about a judicial system where non-violent offenders (such as Martha Stewart and Marion Jones) are treated more harshly than drunk drivers (like 95% of Hollywood) who endanger TONS of lives with their negligence.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I believe Marion has to report by March 11. It will be very difficult to separate a nursing mother from her baby, but there is time to start the weaning process.
My sympathies really don’t extend to Marion who has lied to the public for years and only now must hide behind her motherhood as her reason for mercy. She wasn’t thinking about her children when she was poisoning her body, cheating at her sport, and supporting a check fraud scheme. I could not care less about steroids, but she was complicit in check fraud as well. Her children will pay the highest price for her crimes.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I do not feel sorry for her one bit. I feel sorry for her children. She knew what she was doing and should have thought about her future before doing it. RIDICULOUS!
January 17th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
J-Lin and Erica are right on the money, in my opinion. I agree with both of them. It’s so stupid, to spend tax payers money on jailing an athlete who harmed only herself. Likewise re Martha Stewart. These people are not hardened criminals, nor ever will be.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Marion Jones did 2 things wrong. She took drugs and lied about it. Oh wait, there was also the check fraud scheme. But, you know what…she didn’t harm anyone, so put her on probation. WHAT?!?! Just because this was a nonviolent offense, does not mean there weren’t people affected by these wrongdoings. What about the other athletes she competed against/with? What about the nation she fraudulently represented? Just because someone wasn’t physically injured, doesn’t lessen the impact of the crime.
The reason we have laws is to attempt to ensure a civil society. She is an adult and must suffer the consequences.
I have a degree in Criminal Justice, I work with the Court Systems. They are not perfect, but we have to work, and live, within the law.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
Court systems do not value family life or any body’s life, they think a way to fix everything is to throw people behind bars.
Shame on the courts. They get an F when it comes to fairness.
“If you cant do the time don’t do the crime” is the most insensitive thing for people to say.
People gotta get to reality, jails should be abolished and look into real ways to rehabilitate people.