Burgler goes free because he's sorry

[Saint Cad]

So the guy that robbed my house was released yesterday serving no time for serial burglary. I am still missing some items that he had pawned. The sherriff says that we can file for recompense but I have no clue how that works or even if we get any $ out of it to replace the stuff.

I just love how once the criminal gets caught - NOW they're sorry and want to do the right thing. What if they didn't catch you jackwad? Would you have bought back the stuff you pawned and then return our stuff back? And what about the assclown judge putting him back on the streets? I didn't realize that serial buglary wasn't that serious in this county. Please tell me that in Colorado we can vote out judges.

[Really Not All That Bright]

How much was the stuff he stole worth? Was there a trial?

[carnivorousplant]

That truly sucks, losing your stuff and the thief walks.
Have you a link to a news story about it, Cad?

[Damuri Ajashi]

That sounds squirrelly. Are there extenuating circumstances? Like is the burglar a single mother of 3 disabled kids who would starve to death or something? Or is the burglar a 12 year old disabled kid?

[The Great Sun Jester]

I have nothing but sympathy for you. My kid accidentally left a 2-inch screwdriver in his backpack and the school found it--DA has a kitten and wants to stick him in juvie for felony "bringing a deadly weapon onto school property". Meanwhile I'm going over criminal records of one of my plaintiffs and his rap sheet for the last 12 months reads:

Auto theft - dismissed by DA
Aggravated assault - dismissed by DA
Auto theft - dismissed by DA
Assault/robbery - dismissed by DA

I know in theory it's best to give judges some authority to dismiss a case, but in practice I'm not seeing a good system. Then again, maybe such a huge percentage of the population is lawless trash that it's not feesible to lock 'em all up. Maybe serial burglary, robbery and assault pale in comparison to the crimes that actually do time.

[Morgenstern]

I have a crazy 80 year-old neighbor who rides around in his scooter chair. He chased me and my dog a few houses down the street one day, waving a machete over his head, yelling that he was going to get me and my dog. The cops said he didn't commit a crime because I was laughing about it. Hell, I'm glad he didn't have a faster chair. Sometimes the system is very nearsighted.

[Saint Cad]

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

That truly sucks, losing your stuff and the thief walks.
Have you a link to a news story about it, Cad?

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmo...18241759?IADID

One of the robberies was about $20,000. I looked up his court documents and his only punishment was "restitution". We'll see if he can pay for the $1000 or so of stuff he pawned. Why do I have a feeling that it'll be, "He's broke so he can't pay."

[Really Not All That Bright]

You must be missing something there. Unless he's a minor, or was only convicted on one charge, he'll be on probation at the very least.

[Saint Cad]

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

You must be missing something there. Unless he's a minor, or was only convicted on one charge, he'll be on probation at the very least.

Ummm . . . no probation listed on the court records although the sheriff's office did tell us to call them if we caught him staking out our house. Needless to say, the local LEOs are none-to-pleased that he was let go after the close to 20 buglaries he committed.

[Chessic Sense]

There's never been a better justification of castle doctrine than this OP.

When I was still working in federal law enforcement, I couldn't believe the amount of dismissals these people were given. How can one guy get arrested 20 times for assault/robbery and not be sitting in jail or deported?! It's astounding what you can get away with in this country.

I say if he comes near your house again, shoot the bastard.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by Chessic Sense

There's never been a better justification of castle doctrine than this OP.

If that's the best justification, then the argument for the castle doctrine is pretty shitty. The sensible thing to take away from this is that Colorado's sentencing system doesn't make sense, not that you should shoot people.

[carnivorousplant]

Originally Posted by Chessic Sense

I say if he comes near your house again, shoot the bastard.

I'm pretty sure that if I shot even a convicted felon near my house, my case wouldn't be dismissed.

[kaylasdad99]

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

If that's the best justification, then the argument for the castle doctrine is pretty shitty. The sensible thing to take away from this is that Colorado's sentencing system doesn't make sense, not that you should shoot people.

But what if you liiiiike shooting people?

ETA: anyway, I think the castle doctrine means you can only pour boiling oil on them, or throw them to the crocodiles in the moat.

Unless you left the drawbridge down. Then they walk.

[billfish678]

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

I'm pretty sure that if I shot even a convicted felon near my house, my case wouldn't be dismissed.

Offer to take him to McDonalds to make amends. Then, when nobody is looking, shove him over the counter. Problem solved.

[The Great Sun Jester]

you're really enjoying the McDonalds thing ain't you Billy.

[smiling bandit]

Originally Posted by Saint Cad

I looked up his court documents and his only punishment was "restitution". We'll see if he can pay for the $1000 or so of stuff he pawned. Why do I have a feeling that it'll be, "He's broke so he can't pay."

Make certain you file whatever legal documents are neccessary to reclaim it. Even if he can't pay, the debt should still show up. If he ever get money later in life somehow, he'll have to pay you back.

[billfish678]

Simple people like me are easily amused. We even manage to amuse ourselves with our pitiful humor

I can relate to OP. We went to small claims court about 25 years ago. And it wasn't just a business disagreement. This guy was running a scam. We line up a couple of his other victims and they agree to show up to court as witnesses. All they had to gain was seeing some justice. Guy doesnt even show, Judge finds in our favor. Then later we get a notice a few days later. Judge is doing a "do over". WTF? Note that the guy had some lame assed excuse like he forgot or something. So, our witnesses take ANOTHER day off to testify. Not only does the judge find in our favor, he actually says he believes the guy was running a scam and the activity was criminal, not just a legal/business dispute.

Great, we win! Except the worthless judge explicity notes he is NOT going to order any sort of payment plan. Nutin. It would be about 1000 dollars in todays money. Even if that fracker had been forced to pay a measely 40 dollars a year (homeless bums can scrap up that kind of money) at least now we would have some satisfaction and some money.

But, nothing, nada, zip. Just more wasted time and bitter feelings. If I find I have a terminal disease I am toilet papering the living shit out that judges home.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by billfish678

Great, we win! Except the worthless judge explicity notes he is NOT going to order any sort of payment plan.

Years ago I knew someone who was involved in a class action suit. She and a bunch of other people in the neighborhood were suing a landlord. The jury found for the plaintiffs. The amount in damages awarded? $0. That's zero, with a Z. But the plaintiffs each ended up owing thousands in legal fees. It took my friend years to pay that off.

[pravnik]

Guy must have rolled over on Whitey Bulger.

[BlinkingDuck]

Originally Posted by Saint Cad

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmo...18241759?IADID

One of the robberies was about $20,000. I looked up his court documents and his only punishment was "restitution". We'll see if he can pay for the $1000 or so of stuff he pawned. Why do I have a feeling that it'll be, "He's broke so he can't pay."

...and he will let you know about that from his cell phone.

[Kevbo]

Originally Posted by BlinkingDuck

...and he will let you know about that from his cell phone.

Make that from what was formerly your cell phone.

[BlinkingDuck]

Originally Posted by Kevbo

Make that from what was formerly your cell phone.

lol.

No, I meant a cell phone. Happened to me once where a family member I loaned money to told me he couldn't pay me back cuz he was broke...and told me that on his cell phone. Wasn't expecting to be paid back when I loaned it but still...at least make the effort to appear broke.

[Really Not All That Bright]

It's 2011. You can get a cell phone for free and service for $20 a month. Hardly an extravagance.

If he told you from his iPhone 4S with custom crocodile-skin cover, you can be mad.

[Cheshire Human]

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

It's 2011. You can get a cell phone for free and service for $20 a month. Hardly an extravagance.

If he told you from his iPhone 4S with custom crocodile-skin cover, you can be mad.

Tracfone: $15 for the phone and 40 minutes a month for $7 for the prepaid card I got. I don't use it much, but it's handy sometimes, and cheap if you don't use it too much.

[SeaCanary]

Originally Posted by Chessic Sense

There's never been a better justification of castle doctrine than this OP.

<snip>

I say if he comes near your house again, shoot the bastard.

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

If that's the best justification, then the argument for the castle doctrine is pretty shitty. The sensible thing to take away from this is that Colorado's sentencing system doesn't make sense, not that you should shoot people.

I'm not saying I agree with shooting the bastard, but I understand it.

[pohjonen]

Be thankful you don't live in Spokane. From now on 95 percent of property crimes won't even be investigated. Budget problems, doncha know.

[Farmer Jane]

I live in Denver. I have some students that could be hired if you were interested in revenge.

And yes, CO does have voter-approved retentions.

[Euphonious Polemic]

Originally Posted by pohjonen

Be thankful you don't live in Spokane. From now on 95 percent of property crimes won't even be investigated. Budget problems, doncha know.

Taxes are low though, so it's all good.

[Frank]

Originally Posted by Saint Cad

Please tell me that in Colorado we can vote out judges.

I'll not comment on the case since I've no idea whether he was sentenced to time served, is on probation, or what; I'll simply assure you that, yes, in Colorado district and county judges, judges of the court of appeals, and justices of the Supreme Court are subject to retention votes, every four to ten years depending on the level.

[pulykamell]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

I have nothing but sympathy for you. My kid accidentally left a 2-inch screwdriver in his backpack and the school found it--DA has a kitten and wants to stick him in juvie for felony "bringing a deadly weapon onto school property".

Wait. WTF? I want to know more about this. What more is there to this story? This just sounds absolutely nuts without further context.

[SweetLucy]

I thought the criminals usually go free because they all had bad childhoods

[Cheshire Human]

Originally Posted by SweetLucy

I thought the criminals usually go free because they all had bad childhoods

Well, we're supposed to, but them asshole judges just sometimes forget the rule.