Opinion ID: 429180
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Other Information Before the Court

Text: 24 In addition to the information presented in the government's memoranda, the court had before it a presentence report, the contents of which were summarized for the defendant by his counsel, and a letter from the defendant to the judge. The presentence report notes that both Lemon's former employer and a friend, when questioned by the probation officer, stated that they were aware that Lemon had some association with the Black Hebrews. 12 25 The report, together with the defendant's letter, also describes Lemon's family background, education and employment history, and includes Lemon's own explanation of why he left his job, why he resorted to committing this offense, and how he obtained the stolen checks. To summarize briefly, Lemon described his upbringing as strongly achievement oriented, driving him toward a scholarship to an exclusive preparatory school and successful completion of a college education. After many years with the Howard University radio station (WHUR), Lemon said that he had become disappointed with the decline, under changing management, of the innovative and pioneering style that he had originally found so stimulating. As these policy differences developed, he began to lose interest and his performance declined. After he left the station for free lance work in December, 1980, 13 his financial condition deteriorated. Rather than ask his family for help, and thus admit to them that his career and financial condition had faltered, he finally resorted to illegal conduct when a lucrative opportunity presented itself. Lemon stated that two checks totaling $9,500 were offered to him by someone to whom he paid $1000 for each check when it cleared his account. He did not identify that person, but he did say that the person was probably not a Black Hebrew. He stated that he had spent the money he deposited on clothes, Christmas presents, and a trip to New York. He expressed remorse and a desire to make restitution on several occasions--to the probation officer, 14 in his letter to the judge 15 and at the sentencing hearing. 16