Sad day at the Scenicruiser Orphanage

[bevans6]

I gotta say that what he's going to learn is that he'd best not get caught next time, and he'll learn that from the other criminals that he hangs out with while in whatever lockup he goes to.  Not that I think he shouldn't be punished, just that putting him in prison with a bunch of career criminals is far more likely to cement the bad behaviour and attitude, not change it, and smacks  more of old testament retribution and revenge than new testament enlightenment.   And no, I don't have any better ideas.  I do think that kids have learned what they are going to be in life by the time they are about 6 years old, and I think the ones that seem to change their spots are few and far between.  Truly a shame and a sad thing to have to go through.

Best of luck with this, honestly.  Brian

[NewbeeMC9]

What happened in my case was the guy got a reduced charge of receiving stolen goods because there wasn't an actual witness to him taking it.  He did serve time under the Youth Offender's Act which allowed him to work outside of prison, but if he messed up full sentence was served.    He did mess up twice and serve the rest of his sentence.  He was serving for multiple crimes wound into one sentence. 

You can request restitution so he cannot be let out of the system until it is paid back.

Also about his offer, you can remind him that if his word was good you would not be having this conversation, and that you do still love him.

[ktmossman]

smacks more of old testament retribution and revenge than new testament enlightenment

Huh?!?

Where in the New Testament do you find the notion that criminals should NOT receive the sentence of the appropriate govt authority?  Indeed, the Apostle Peter said that one appropriate (in fact, God-ordained) function of govt. is the punishment of those who do evil (I Peter 2:14).  The grace offered in the New Testament (and the OT as well, for that matter) deals with the ETERNAL consequences of sin, NOT the temporal.  It also speaks to my personal right to personal vengeance.  But it in NO WAY excuses an individual from the legal/criminal consequences of their actions.

Criminal prosecution is EXACTLY what this situation requires.  If the judge also includes restitution as part of the sentence, even better.  A jail term may be just what this individual needs to decide that better choices in the future are in his best interests.  I know a number of upstanding citizens who were headed down the wrong road until a stint in the slammer slapped them in the face.

OTOH, if this individual does not respond positively to the sentence (whatever it may be) of the criminal proceedings, it indicates a far deeper flaw of character.  At that point, it is even MORE important that there be a criminal record so that future acts are viewed by the court in the appropriate context of a repeat offender.

[Just Dallas]

Removed

[kyle4501]

Where it the deterrant to theft if the only consequence of getting caught is to return what you were caught with?

If prison simply educates those incarcerated to be better criminals - the solution is to fix that problem, NOT stop incarcerating criminals.  

What the justice system really needs is the return of "chain gangs" so those incarcerated can work off their debt to society. It would also give those incarcerated experience with personal responsibility.

I'm not going to back down on pressing charges. I am also preparing a folder to educate the judicial system about this busnut hobby & how these parts weren't old junk but rather they were parts of our history, a history worth saving.  

I am also going to ask for restitution - but thru the court system. He has already proved he isn't trustworthy. Maybe the court system will keep his income sources legal. I don't want restitution if it means he will be stealing it from someone else.  

Branding is a great idea for repeat offenders. & I suppose 7 instances ought to count as a repeat offender.
As far as removal of body parts, I think I'd like to start with reproductive parts - no need for this dirt bag to be able to reproduce. Then I'd think if more was required, a lobotomy might be merited. . . .


PS, he is already hanging out with career criminals on the outside, so there goes the hope of sheltering him from that influence. . . 

[jackhartjr]

Kyle...best bumper sticker I ever saw said...

Stupid People...Shouldn't Breed!

Jack

[NJT5047]

I prefer a tough-love approach for punishment of useless folk.   Hang'em...
I can say from experience that 'restitution' is another word for 'sucker'...you'll never see it unless someone interested in the kid wants to keep him out of jail and pays you directly.  
The more likely scenario is that he and his buddy will just disappear.  
Someone has probably mentioned that recyclers may have some exposure if improperly accepting scrap.   I'll garuntee that he'll give more thought to what he accepts if he's hit with buying $10 grand worth of bus radiators.    
Here in Charlotte, a favorite income producing pastime by the unwashed is stealing copper power cabling from street lights and aluminum condensers from heatpumps from new construction.    They steal street light copper while the power is on.  They're good.  There are miles of interstate in Charlotte with no street lighting because it's too expensive to repair the damage.  

JR

 

[Charles in SC]

Talked to my attorney yesterday - looks like we may have a good case against the recycler, but court is like a game of high stakes poker . . . . We'll have to see what plays out.

Next, I met with the detective - he said that with the evidence I have against the thief, he won't need a confession to get a conviction.

After that, I went to the orphanage - I saw no further evidence of further theft or vandalism.

And, to top it all off, the resident deputy called last night. Seems the thief wanted to talk to me. He wanted me to drop the charges & offered to pay full restitution. I asked how he planned to come up with over $40,000 & he said I could have his whole paychecks until the debt was paid. He doesn't have a job & has dropped out of the last chance alternative high school. The thief confessed to taking my stuff & admitted to knowing it was wrong at the time . . . .

After I finished talking to him, I told the deputy that I wasn't backing down any & my wishes were still for the thief to go through the criminal process. The deputy seemed pleased to hear I was still resolved to see this thru.


I'll keep  y'all posted. . . .

Kyle, I have found that most detectives are just as poed at thieves as the rest of us. The police are working 40 a week to make ends meet too. Some times they can be your best ally. How about getting the foster parents wages garnished? or maybe they have some homeowners insurance or equity in their home. When they agreed to take on a foster child they agreed to take on financial responsibility as well and some one that is destitute cannot show they are responsible people.
Hang in there and good luck!

[NewbeeMC9]

Don't forget to throw in the picture from here,
http://www.hoytsmusic.com/

Stupid People...Shouldn't Breed!

Jack

Reminds me of that movie,  "Idiocracy"

[jackhartjr]

Not to highjack the thread...but...a couple years ago a poster like the album came up on ebay, it was a BIN for $75.00...I was going to get it and give it to Kyle.  I made them a pretty good offer, they declined...it is still there...still at $75.00.
Oh well!
JAck

[Runcutter]

JR, this is one of a group of pictures sent me by a trolley-related friend.  It's an argument for keeping the power station on (normally 600-750 volts, DC).

Arthur

[NJT5047]

JR, this is one of a group of pictures sent me by a trolley-related friend.  It's an argument for keeping the power station on (normally 600-750 volts, DC).

Arthur

Justice can be harsh.    Dude needed some insulation on those bolt cutters eh?

JR

[kyle4501]

Got a note from the detective saying the warrants are being obtained today. 
They already have the kid's statement. Now they have to determine who his accomplices were so they too can participate in taking responsibility for their actions. 

I'm not sure how to keep the thieves away from the orphans - not without considerable additional expense. Fences ain't cheap & are easily defeated.

If you can't stop them, all that is left is having proof after the fact. There is no power there, so a wireless security camera that sends the images to a remote location is the only way to keep surveillance. Too bad the ones that can provide good enough resolution to identify the hoodlums are beyond my reach. 


A dirtbag with no job, nothing to lose & all day to sneak around has a definite advantage over someone who works for a living when it comes to stealing the working man's stuff. 

[BG6]

I'm not sure how to keep the thieves away from the orphans - not without considerable additional expense. Fences ain't cheap & are easily defeated.

Mine fields are a pretty good deterrent . . .   

Seriously, you can set up sensor-activated spotlights (mount them on coaches) with an autodialer which will call your cell phone.  For more security, you can set up a couple of webcams and a wireless aircard which will pump video to your computer at home.  If there is no power at the site, use a laptop and solar panels (you would be surprised how little power you actually need, if you keep the screen turned off.  Store power from the panels in a couple of bus batteries, and install them fully charged.  You can get laptops cheap on craigslist. 

Post a couple of signs around the perimeter saying "Webcam security system in use -- if you can read this, you are already being watched."  You can also hook the computer up to a loudspeaker, and talk from your home computer to the would-be-thieves, so they know there's no point in going any closer..

[BG6]

A dirtbag with no job, nothing to lose & all day to sneak around has a definite advantage over someone who works for a living when it comes to stealing the working man's stuff. 

The rain, it falls upon the just
and
on the unjust fella;

But mostly on the just,
because
the unjust has the just's umbrella.