Posted on 04/17/2014 5:50:35 PM PDT by Olog-hai
An ex-con who spent most of his adult life behind bars on Thursday got what he said he wanted for robbing a suburban Chicago bank. The 74-year-old gets to go back to the place he called home—prison.
Telling Walter Unbehaun he frightened a teller by showing her a revolver tucked in his waistband during the 2013 heist, a federal judge imposed a 3½-year prison sentence, citing a rap sheet that includes crimes from home invasion to kidnapping.
“This is not the first time you’ve inspired fear,” Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman said, scolding the high-school dropout and part-time bathtub repairman.
As he had on the day he robbed the bank, Unbehaun gripped a cane as he hobbled to a podium to make a brief statement. He didn’t withdraw his wish to go to prison, though he said, “I don’t want to die in prison.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Grandpa is off the streets.
From his perspective, he gets free room and board, a roof over his head, fully covered medical care and even a burial benefit.
When you’re a senior criminal, life is a lot easier on the inside than out on the streets.
Shawshank Redemption
Life on the outside ain't what it used to be....
Generally, the other inmates don't prey on the old guys, and you are right, many of them have it better in prison than they do on the streets. I have seen it up close.
I think since he was in prison his whole life basically. I can see why he would miss it. I mean it is a mean place but I would imagine that they make genuine friendships and even get into a routine that they come to appreciate. I doubt the guy was going to hurt anybody at this point. He just wanted to get back to the life he knows.
“part-time bathtub repairman”
For real? That’s a real occupation?
I pray that I am never so ill or mentally incapacitated that I prefer prison to living free.
Well, he didn’t hurt anybody. Maybe they should let him out early for good behavior.
For real? That’s a real occupation?
x2 Seriously? Is that even listed in the yellowpages?
I know of a guy who did this in the South many years ago. He was living in a bus. He robbed a bank using a note and had called his probation officer and admitted to doing it. He had all his stuff packed up, apologized for the hassle, and said he wanted to go back to jail and he hoped he had not scared the nice lady.
Some people quickly become institutionalized and lose the skills (probably lacking to start with) to function on their own. Perhaps the structure of jail outweighs the insecurities and unpleasantness. They don’t really fear jail beyond their outside addictions. Sad.
Just as some children truly love and want to be with their abusive parent(s). It’s hard to understand, but that’s all they’ve ever known.
And that life on the outside can seem more brutal than prison since no one is there to hand the person a tray of free food, no free roof, no free shower, etc.
You make a good point, Naps.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.