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After 35 years, TV thief released
The Houston Chronicle ^ | 5/29/05 | Raleigh News & Observer

Posted on 05/29/2005 7:11:05 PM PDT by demkicker

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To: SIDENET
Just think of all of the nice TVs that he could steal these days.

I bet not too many 87 year old women have such new TVs in their homes. This thug was looking for an easy place to steal from not for the house with the best TV. If he were going to commit the same crime today, he'd steal an analog CRT based TV with no remote control from a little old lady.

41 posted on 05/29/2005 10:09:01 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Andrew Heyward's got to go!)
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To: randog

"Yeah, I'll bet that's the last time he ever steals anything..."

You're on!


42 posted on 05/29/2005 10:52:39 PM PDT by beelzepug (Parking For Witches Only--All Others Will Be Toad.)
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To: Paleo Conservative
I don't doubt that he's a scumbag; however, he should only have been sentenced for and served time for things he's actually been convicted of. If the sentence for 2nd degree burglary is only 3 years, then that's what his sentence should have been reduced to once the law was changed. If he had then gone on to commit new crimes, then the law should be changed to provide for a stiffer sentence for 2nd degree burglary.
43 posted on 05/29/2005 11:02:57 PM PDT by Redcloak (Over 16,000 served.)
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To: Redcloak
I don't doubt that he's a scumbag; however, he should only have been sentenced for and served time for things he's actually been convicted of.

The law that existed at the time he was convicted allowed for a life sentence. Once the criminal has been convicted the judge or jury can take lots of other information into account when sentencing. The fact that this wasn't his first conviction was probably a pretty big consideration in getting the maximum sentence.

I'm sure that if the same crime had been committed today he would have been convicted of attempted capital murder and DNA evidence would have been used to prove he was the one who assalted the 87 year old woman. I bet the prosecutor didn't want to have to put her on the witness stand. I see no reason why his sentence should have been lowered especially considering his behavior in prison.

44 posted on 05/29/2005 11:24:46 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Andrew Heyward's got to go!)
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To: Paleo Conservative
But the fact is that he wasn't convicted of assault, let alone attempted murder. (And he certainly shouldn't be convicted on the basis of what a witness might have said.) He was convicted of 2nd degree burglary. If the sentence for that crime has since been reduced, then his sentence should have been reduced. What he did in prison is irrelevant. He wouldn't have been in prison to have all of those behavioral problems had the sentence been reduced.
45 posted on 05/29/2005 11:31:21 PM PDT by Redcloak (Over 16,000 served.)
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To: demkicker
How many prior burglaries did the guy have?
46 posted on 05/29/2005 11:41:56 PM PDT by Bullish
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To: demkicker

Dont ever steal a mans tv.


47 posted on 05/30/2005 8:08:27 AM PDT by lowbridge
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To: demkicker
The headline should read:

Lifelone Criminal Released From Jail.

48 posted on 05/30/2005 8:10:56 AM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: Paleo Conservative

My "objective" and colour-blind friend: the fact that he's BLACK and POOR obviously didn't play into this, right? We can guess the outcome had he been a nice clean-cut white boy of good stock...

Yet the bigger travesty is that it took 35 years for the parole board (?) to 'figure out' the poor man didn't belong in jail. And then for good measure they knock on another 5 in which he's expected to report to a parole officer to ensure he doesn't "reoffend"; this while Hollywood types regularly get off scottfree for similar offenses...

The guy should sue the living pants off the State of NC. Living the remainder of his life in absolute luxury is the least he deserves.


49 posted on 05/31/2005 10:00:02 AM PDT by cube432
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To: Redcloak
If the sentence for that crime has since been reduced, then his sentence should have been reduced.

So, what do we do if a State repeals the death penalty?

50 posted on 05/31/2005 10:30:04 AM PDT by tnlibertarian ("In my opinion, they have no rights, except a safe return to their homeland. - "Robert Vazquez")
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To: cube432

Welcome to FreeRepublic!

cube432
Since May 31, 2005


51 posted on 05/31/2005 10:40:41 AM PDT by mtbrandon49
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To: tnlibertarian

Just what has already happened when states repeal the death penalty or the Court voids the applicable law.

How old are you?


52 posted on 05/31/2005 1:33:51 PM PDT by Redcloak (Over 16,000 served.)
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To: Redcloak
Old enough to recognize a joke.

Let me spell it out: What would we do with the people whose death sentence had already been carried out? Kind of hard to commute their sentence, isn't it?

53 posted on 05/31/2005 1:45:55 PM PDT by tnlibertarian ("In my opinion, they have no rights, except a safe return to their homeland. - "Robert Vazquez")
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To: tnlibertarian
Oops... My bad. I'm in California. We don't actually carry out death sentences here. I hadn't considered the possiblity of the law changing after someone had been put down since they die of old age out here.
54 posted on 05/31/2005 4:04:27 PM PDT by Redcloak (We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces singin' "whiskey for my men and beer for my horses!")
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