They don’t end up in prison because they’re smart. He’ll be offered a sweet plea deal because prosecutors will be too lazy to charge him with the actual crimes he’s committed, and the Judge will more than likely give him a minimum sentence. I have no faith in the criminal justice system of this country having worked in the prison system for 25 years.
I pessimistically agree with everything you say.
Furthermore.... I’d bet the two clerks will be fired for failing to cooperate with the robber and for leaving their post and abandoning the store.
I share your sentiment, although I don't have your first-hand experience with the criminal justice system.
For what it's worth; this particular criminal (John Christopher Bell) is currently in jail. He was given 5 years (plea deal) for the robbery in the video and he was also on deferred adjudication for twelve years from another aggravated robbery that occurred on July 31, 2015.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
He has a scheduled release date of Jan 20, 2028 and is eligible for parole on Jan 21, 2022. It looks like he was sentenced in 2017 to just over 10 years for both crimes with the sentences served concurrently.
Given that he is a repeat offender, it would be great if he served the full ride until 2028, but odds are that he will be out before then, enabling him to terrorize the citizens of Houston once again.