Cop indicted for theft of snack

NJ.com ^ | 6/29/07 | The Reporter

[Revtwo]

Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest and Montgomery Township Police Director Michael Beltranena announce that a Somerset County Grand Jury has returned an Indictment against Christopher Jaeger, 32, of Hillsborough.

Jaeger, a Montgomery Township Police Officer since 1997 was charged with one count of second degree official misconduct and shoplifting, a disorderly persons offense.

Forrest stated that Jaeger is accused of taking a nutrition bar on April 8 from a display in the WaWa convenience store located on Route 206 in Montgomery without paying for that item.

Jaeger was on duty and in uniform at the time.

The potential penalties associated with the offenses charged include up to 10 years imprisonment and up to $150,000 in fines on the charge of official misconduct and up to six months incarceration and $1,000 in fines on the shoplifting offense.

[elkfersupper]

There has to be more to this story. Geez.

No donuts within sight or reach. End of story.

[elkfersupper]

you know people who have had their lives ‘ruined’ over taking a $1 nutrition bar? Or you know cops that ‘ruin’ lives?

No and yes. In that order.

[Drew68]

Crikey. Shoplifting a *nutrition bar*??? unlikely. Probably forgot to pay.

Really? C'mon, who forgets to pay?

Some people are just shoplifters --regardless of their income status or the fact that they might be otherwise law-abiding and upstanding individuals.

Shoplifting is a compulsion for some people.

I served with a guy in the navy, frocked 1st class petty officer, 11 years in, looking to make a career out of it. He was caught stealing a $4 can of Copenhagen from the Nex. Funny thing was he had plenty of cash in his wallet to pay for it! It wasn't his first shoplifting offense. He had had another one at his previous command.

Our Skipper really didn't have a choice but to bust him down to 3rd (he was frocked) and give him the boot for high-year tenure. All for a $4 can of chew.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Really? C’mon, who forgets to pay?

I’ve done it myself, in a moment of inattention. Got all the way home before it occurred to me that I hadn’t paid: I knew this for a fact because my wallet was on the kitchen table, not in my pocket. Returned immediately and paid, feeling horribly embarrassed. A situation made all the worse because I’d been a regular customer of the corner store for 11+ years, and the proprietor knew me really well. Imagine how ugly *that* felt! I’m just glad he didn’t call the cops.

So it happens.

> Shoplifting is a compulsion for some people.

I guess that, too, is true. There’s no accounting for human nature ay.

[Still Thinking]

While I do believe that cops and anyone else fed off taxpayer dollars should be held to a significantly higher standard and punished significantly more harshly than a member of the productive public, 10 years is absurd. If he even loses his job, that would probably be more severe than what would happen if you or I helped ourselves to a nutrition bar (required to pay, banned from the store forever, etc.)

[Drew68]

A situation made all the worse because I’d been a regular customer of the corner store for 11+ years, and the proprietor knew me really well.

Well, I guess it can happen.

The fact that you've been a regular customer for years meant that the proprietor either didn't even notice that you left without paying or probably figured he'd get his money back later by overcharging you a little here and there.

The fact that you returned and paid for your merchandise probably made him realize that there are a few good people in the world.

When I lived in a rough area of Denver, there was a great little Vietnamese-owned corner store. Sure, the milk and eggs were a little high-priced but I was willing to pay for the convenience of their location being less than 50 meters from my apartment. Sadly, they had lost so much to thug shoplifters that the proprietors said "Screw this!" and closed up shop. I really missed that little store.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> The fact that you returned and paid for your merchandise probably made him realize that there are a few good people in the world.

He was really decent about it: a German-Jew who had survived the concentration camps, with a great sense of humor, huge comical expressions and a big elaborate smile and all gestures to go with it. Pretended he hadn’t noticed I hadn’t paid (of course he had!)

The world needs more folk like Karl. He’s dead now, but in a much better place I hope.

[Shimmer128]

I forgot to pay once. Bag of ice at Walmart too. The cashier didn’t charge me and I didn’t pay, but didn’t notice that I wasn’t charged until I checked my receipt at home.
I told the next cashier to add an extra ice onto my groceries the next time I was there, problem solved. I wouldn’t have wanted to get arrested for that.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Gees the average john or Jane doe gets a slap on the wrist a fine perhaps and its over but this cop ,might get 10 years for a stupid nutrition bar???. What is wrong with this picture?

---

Nothing at all. Zero tolerance for dishonest cops. They are entrusted with immense power, and should be out at the first hint of abuse. We’d all be better off if cops were more wary about getting caught and punished for wrongdoing. But that is very hard to do given the thin blue line. So the penalty needs to be stiff (which is why they hanged horse thieves.)

[LambSlave]

Not a $1 nutrition bar, but similar petty items worth less than $5.