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.  

[Mark in the Old South]

I knew that, my post was an invitation for the Jr Senator to campaign in NC. ;-}

[Hot Tabasco]

"At least he's got some years left,"

No job, perhaps no income and if lucky maybe a family member or two left. Yea, he's realy lucky.........he reminds me of the old black guy in Shawshank Redemption....

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

BTW, who's Lou? :)

Lou is the lazy, incompetent duputy in Fargo, or any lazy incompetent, especially a subordinate.

Police Chief Mary Gunderson arrives at the scene of the slaying of a State Trooper, after Lou, who was the first officer to arrive. http://www.filmsite.org/fargo2.html takes it from there:

According to her incompetent deputy, the last vehicle that the trooper cited was "a tan Ciera at 2:18 am. Under the plate number, he put DLR - I figure they stopped him or shot him before he could finish fillin' out the tag number...So I got the state lookin' for a Ciera with a tag startin' DLR. They don't got no match yet." Considerate of her partner's low aptitude and poor policework, she demonstrates her superior observational skills - along with a joke:

Marge: I'm not sure that I agree with you a hundred percent on your policework there, Lou.
Lou: Yah?
Marge: Yah. I think that vehicle there probably had dealer plates. DLR?
Lou: Oh...Geez.
Marge: Say Lou. Did ya hear the one about the guy who couldn't afford personalized plates, so he went and changed his name to J3L 2404?
Lou: Yah, that's a good one.

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

Well boo-hoo. I wonder how many times this loser has been in and out of jail before they finally decided to put him away for good.

[Mark17]

Expensive.

Maybe so, but more than likely, he would have done much more damage to society if he were let go.

[demlosers]

Yes, probably.

[smoothsailing]

I remember now. I rented the DVD and watched it twice. LOL!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I think "I'm not sure that I agree with you a hundred percent on your policework there, Lou." should be added to the Freeper Canon, along with "Pining for the fjords" and "Stuned by my beeber, series, hugh!"