Man released after serving life sentence for stealing TV

The Charleston Post and Courier ^ | 05/29/05 | wire service

[smoothsailing]

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2005

Man released after serving life sentence for stealing TV

Associated Press

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.--After 35 years in prison for stealing a black-and-white television set, Junior Allen is a free man.

Allen, 65, walked out of prison Friday, ending a case that attracted widespread attention because he remained in jail while other inmates convicted of murder, rape or child molestation were released.

"I'm glad to be out," Allen told supporters outside Orange Correctional Center. "I've done too much time for what I did. I won't be truly happy until I see a sign that says I'm outside of North Carolina."

Allen was a 30-year-old migrant farm worker from Georgia with a criminal history that included burglaries and a violent assault when he sneaked into an unlocked house and stole a 19-inch black-and-white television worth $140.

Some state records say Allen roughed up the 87-year-old woman who lived there, but he was not convicted of assault.

Instead, he was sentenced in 1970 to life in prison for second-degree burglary. The penalty for the offense has since been changed to a maximum of three years in prison.

The state Parole Commission decided last year to release Allen if he behaved and completed a transitional work-release program. He worked at a restaurant washing dishes and floors and had no prison infractions in the past three years.

He did so well he was released several months early -- on his 26th try at parole. His parole could last up to five years.

Rich Rosen, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill law professor who took up Allen's case three years ago, said it was a shame that Allen had not been released decades ago. "At least he's got some years left," Rosen said.  

[smoothsailing]

And her thighness Rodham Rodham walks out of the White with all the silverware.

I ask you,where is the justice? ;)

[Right Wing Assault]

Wait a minute! This guy has to be dead since he was released AFTER serving a life sentence, according to the headline.

[SteveMcKing]

... with a criminal history that included burglaries and a violent assault when he sneaked into an unlocked house and stole a 19-inch black-and-white television worth $140.

"I've done too much time for what I did."

---

B.S. He deserved every moment for being the menace that he was and probably still is.

[struwwelpeter]

Sounds like he was unofficially hit with the 'three strikes' rule.

If it was my grandma who he roughed up, I'd be waiting for him outside the jail, 35 years or not.

[95Tarheel]

I'd like to at least hear what the parole board was thinking the first 25 times. There's just gotta be more to this story. Particularly if the parole board was from Orange County, home of Chapel Hill, the most liberal city/county in North Carolina, in my opinion (Hillsborough is the county seat).

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "I ask you,where is the justice?"

In North Carolina so it seems.

Once again Big Media wants you to believe this fella is an clean as new snow. It is clear he had a record and he got away with more than he got caught with. It doesn't sound like he learned a thing even now. I just bet the jury and the judge took a look at this guy and his history and decided to go for the max, figuring it was the only chance the law would get before he killed someone.

At least all the burning rage of youth is out of him now (we hope). One thing is for sure he won't be troubling NC again.

[smoothsailing]

Exactly.But this is the kind of gibberish the AP is famous for.

[HISSKGB]

He had a criminal history which included violent assault.
Why does the MSM pretend that these folks are imprisoned for trivial offenses?

[smoothsailing]

LOL!

Maybe they let him out because he was stinking up the joint!;)

[Rodney King]

Allen was a 30-year-old migrant farm worker from Georgia with a criminal history that included burglaries and a violent assault when he sneaked into an unlocked house and stole a 19-inch black-and-white television worth $140.

Well, he did too little time for the violent assualt, and too much for stealing the TV. All in all I would have ot say that it balanced out quite nicely.

[smoothsailing]

Exactly!

It takes real scum to beat up on an 87 year old woman.

[gorush]

It's not so much that he was over-punished, it's that so many now are under-punished.

[demlosers]

B.S. He deserved every moment for being the menace that he was and probably still is.

Hmmmmmmmmm?

$140 versus 35 yrs x $40,0000 (aprox average tax cost/yr ) = $ 1.4 million

Expensive.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

After 35 years in prison for stealing a black-and-white television set, home invasion and beating up the little old lady home owner, Junior Allen a career criminal with a history of violence is a free man.

There, I helped them out a little.

[smoothsailing]

My guess is he got what he deserved.North Carolina saw an opportunity to put a societal menace away for a long time and they jumped on it.

My reference to justice relates to the crimes of the jr. senator from NY.

[SteveMcKing]

$140 versus 35 yrs x $40,0000 (aprox average tax cost/yr ) = $ 1.4 million

I'd be happier with a cheap rope to settle things, but failing that then it's better to lock him up than allow his freedom to prey on people.

[Americanexpat]

I don't have a problem with him serving 53 years fro stealing the TV, especially after he beat up an 87 year old woman.

What I have a problem with is that an illegal alien, twice deported and involved with drugs got 12.5 years for dragging a man to death. Seems like our laws/judges need to be a little more consistent.

[Publius6961]

Man released after serving life sentence for stealing TV

Who writes this crap?

Alternatively, why would they release a dead man?

[SauronOfMordor]

$140 versus 35 yrs x $40,0000 (aprox average tax cost/yr ) = $ 1.4 million

He had "a criminal history that included burglaries and a violent assault". By all indications, he was a career criminal rather than a "migrant farm worker" as his primary means of support.

A fact of life that escapes most liberals is that the cost of allowing a career criminal on the street (from the thefts and assaults committed) is much higher than the cost of keeping him locked up

It's a pity he didn't meet a victim that could have blown him away in self defense

[F.J. Mitchell]

And the d*mned thing wasn't even high definition.