$11 theft gets three-strikes career criminal 25 years to life (Barf Alert)

CNN ^ | Nov. 15, 2002 | AP

[tuna_battle]

SANTA BARBARA, California (AP) -- A career criminal was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison under California's three-strikes law for stealing $11 worth of wine, lip balm and breath freshener.

Superior Court Judge Frank Ochoa called Ronald Herrera, 57, one of the worst criminals to pass through his courtroom, and prosecutor Darryl Perlin said: "He's what the three-strikes law is all about."

[BJungNan]

It was not the $11 theft that got him 25 years to life. It was a life a criminal behavior. The $11 was merely the last straw, the last chance. Let 'em rot!

[Joe Hadenuf]

The 3rd strike law is pretty silly, but he should have been doing life for his first strike, rape.

Silly? Does Arizona have life without parole for 1st offense rape?

Not silly. You know how many bad guys that know the score have kept clean due to this law?

California's three-strikes-you're-out law, passed in 1994, is the toughest in the nation, mandating 25 years to life for a felony committed by someone already convicted of two serious crimes.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

What is important is all of the crime that came before--because with out it, this guy would be out on the street.

That's the obvious first question. Once that gets answered, the rest is just whining.

[Britton J Wingfield]

Heh, that is supposed to be 'stealing', although anyone trying to steal my steak will die from lethal fork injection.

When are they adding spell-check to this thing?

[Britton J Wingfield]

We do not have life for rape, as far as I know, but we should.

One thing AZ does have is a bunch of perps who left CA after 2 strikes.

[Mark]

In California, if you have a prior theft conviction (petty or buglary, robbery) the next one is a felony called "petty theft with a prior"

[Joe Hadenuf]

I'm sure. Considering our courts and justice system, it's a damn good law.

Thats why the defense attorneys are constantly attempting to have it over turned in California, as the revolving door is much more profitable. Hard to make money off someone doing 25 years in the joint.

I have personally seen bad guys turn into real nice people after facing the third strike. Any your right, out of fear, some have left the state.

[sonjay]

The Three Strikes Laws presents a difficult problem for Non-Violent Criminals. Suppose someone has two previous felonies and is about to be caught for a third non-violent felony and he knows if he is caught he will spend the rest of his life in prison. The previously Non-Violent Criminal has two options:

My preferred solution to that would be a "ONE-STRIKE" law. Any felony sends you to prison for a long time.

[BurbankKarl]

Stealing $11 worth of stuff isn't a felony...this guy must have broke probation...

now back to Winona Ryder's unjust prosecution coverage.

[MeekOneGOP]

$11 theft gets three-strikes career criminal 25 years to life

Herrera's record lists 17 serious felonies, including a 1971 home-invasion robbery and rape of a woman and her 15-year-old daughter, the shooting of a police dispatcher, and six armed robberies in Virginia.

He was sentenced Thursday for burglary and petty theft at a supermarket.

What's wrong with this picture? Note the title, and then note the STRING of felonies. No media bias here, huh? < /sarcasm >

[The Wizard]

it wasn't this strike but the other two

[Godel]

They got Al Capone on tax evasion. This sick bastard raped a woman and her 15 year old daughter, and had a string of felonies a mile long in his wake. Why was he walking around alive? Life in prison is too good for this filth.