Man steals computer to pay for criminal record rehab (HOLD MUH BEER ALERT)

Ananova ^ | December 4, 2002 | Ananova

[MadIvan]

A man charged with theft didn't have the money to pay for a rehabilitation programme that would clear his criminal record, so he stole a courthouse computer.

Police say Ernesto Valdez arrived at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to enrol in the programme.

Valdez did not have the £430 enrolment fee, so he stole a court stenographer's laptop computer to pawn, according to police.

The pawn shop refused to take the computer because the power cord was missing, so Valdez returned to the courthouse to retrieve it.

He was arrested after a stenographer spotted him in the office with a wire dangling from his pocket.

Valdez appeared before Judge Trish Corbett twice on the same day. First she accepted him into the rehabilitation programme, and later she revoked his bail and ordered him to the county prison.

Valdez had been accepted into the programme after being charged in connection with the theft of stereos from several cars in Scranton in June.

[MadIvan]

Professor Moriarty, he is not. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[fone]

||| He was arrested after a stenographer spotted him in the office with a wire dangling from his pocket. |||

Maybe he was just happy to see her ?!?!? ;-)

[Mo1]

The pawn shop refused to take the computer because the power cord was missing, so Valdez returned to the courthouse to retrieve it.

Must be a democrat .. LOL

[Fiddlstix]

[scooter2]

It seems as though "dumb" and "criminal" are becoming redundant terms.

[Happygal]

How can a rehabilitation programme 'clear' your criminal record?

[MadIvan]

How can a rehabilitation programme 'clear' your criminal record?

Must be some liberal thing, darling. Sounds like the "Oprah Act". I wonder if there is a provision for a hug from the arresting officer. ;)

Love, Ivan

[mhking]

Five-fingered discount ping!

---

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Snickersnee]

Most states here in the Northeast US have such programs ("programmes," if you must!) Connecticut's is called "Accelerated Rehabilitation." It enables a first-time offender to do two years of what is essentially unsupervised probation to escape a permanent criminal record. At the end of the 2-yr period, the record is expunged. It is generally not offered to violent offenders, or egregious cases. It gets the church treasurer who embezzles $1,000 off the hook, or the shoplifter, or the joyriding (in someone else's car) teenager. Frankly, this Valdez bird sounds kinda hardcore and I really don't think he'd be a good AR candidate in Connecticut.

[fone]

||| At the end of the 2-yr period, the record is expunged. |||

For anyone who may be in need of such service, beware the expungment is not necessarily *automatic*. Had a job applicant with a five year old incident that was *supposed* to be expunged. A lawyer, a couple months of paperwork shuffling, and $500 (always money, of course) had it taken of...unfortunately we couldn't hold the position open for her that long.

Always money.

[FreedomPoster]

>>Most states here in the Northeast US have such programs ("programmes," if you must!)

To make the obvious comment:

Ah, Yes! The Americans and the English - two peoples separated by a common language.

Hey! Is that a boot in your boot? Can I give you a lift in my private lift?

[altair]

The same way driving school can clear your driving record?