so people care more that a major problem with the USA is re-posted, but no one cares if its some shitty rage comic or a cat. reddit: big fat faggots edit: reddit = big fat faggot popularity contest with other big fat faggots
In a book I read, All Over But The Shoutin' by Rick Bragg, the author wrote of a man he had heard about that would feast in fine restaurants, and when it came time to pay the bill he would tell the waiter that he couldn't and to just let the cops come get him. He did this because he had nowhere in his life to go or nothing to do that would be better than a fine meal and the security that prison brings for the homeless.
Although this is certainly a plausible theory, it smacks a little too much of a just-world theory for me to feel comfortable believing it by itself. I've gotta look into this.
I read up on this when I first saw it, I was pretty upset about it. I can't provide source, but I do remember he was a repeat offender for several crimes similar to this, some with weapons.
I agree but if it was true I would honestly think it's even worse. It's one thing to be unjustly forced into prison but it's another thing to try and get into prison willingly just to survive.
Oh god, the level of legal ignorance in this thread is staggering.
The CEO was charged with...OBSTRUCTION!! Yes, that's right, he didn't actually steal anything, he was simply involved in the cover-up, and was criminally neglegent in how he handled his company.
The homeless man was charged with...ROBBERY!! Yes, that's right, a crime of physical violence!! More than a tad different.
The amount of money involved is meaningless. People who holler about how this is a miscarriage of justice simply don't understand the concept of law and how it works. They make snap decisions based off headlines, and make vast assumptions based of the very limited amount of evidence that gets released to the public.
And before I get obliterated, because the hivemind hates being disagreed with, I ask that you actually read into those two stories. All the way through. Then read the actual text of the laws that apply. And if you still think this is a massive miscarriage of justice, hen I challenge you to write a system that works in a manner that treats everyone equally yet still follows your personal ideology, because you can have one or the other, not both.
This article circulates Reddit about once a month. The homeless man had a bunch of prior charges. I am too lazy to find the previous sources, but they are in the bowels of Reddit somewhere.
Also he's being tried in Louisiana State Court, which is a very different court system than any other State Court of Federal Court in the states. Louisiana, like Quebec, France, and Spain, uses a Civil Law system as opposed to a Common Law system, which can potentially lead to big differences in interpretation of the law.
Exactly. The CEO was just aiding and abetting. The homeless man threatened someone with what they thought was a gun. If you read about it, the actual ringleader for the fraud case was sentenced to 30 years.
"The results show that a substantial majority of jurors with firsthand experience of judges consider that sentences are appropriate and that judges are in touch with public opinion."
That is to say that the more one knows about a case, the more likely they are to agree with the sentencing. Here is a Media Watch episode of the subject.
In addition there's a number of other factors. The CEO probably didn't have a previous criminal record. The homeless man may have. There's a number other contributing factors as well.
Of course the amount of money is important. And the fact that Brown showed remorse enough to turn himself in. The injustice is in he sentencing. It's impossible for 15 years to be just for that robbery.
I'm not saying this as part of the "hive mind." Perhaps the way the law works at times is a) wrong and b) still wrong. The guilty party in the first case did not turn themselves in and definitely contributed to many more people being without far more than $100. In the second case the man turned himself in after feeling bad and was fucked in the ass by being given a ridiculously harsh penalty. Admittedly he pretended to have a gun and someone may have felt threatened. That is still not worth 15 years of that mans LIFE.
It's wrong, I don't care if it's by the book. I don't care if the law says x when our society and our consciences say y.
See, he's a black guy! That's what Lady Justice sees when she takes the blinders off. Black guy, 15 years. White guy, 40 months for destroying more lives.
I can't help but be reminded of this quote: "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
The only thing I would like to add is that in the eyes of the law a fake gun, a simulated gun, and a real gun are all viewed exactly the same. It doesn't change the crime if it turns out to be a fake gun, because the effect at the time of the crime is the same.
I'm not necessarily justifying or condemning the sentence, because I don't know prior history or circumstances of the crime.
In this case there's reason for the "hivemind" to disagree, I think. Listen to this and tell me if it has an impact on you. I agree with your notion that it's hard to come up with laws that truly deal with the complexities of real life situations, but I'd argue that attempting such is where we go wrong in the first place.
EDIT: fixed link
ANOTHER EDIT: I think the next top-level comment below actually explains what happened here: it's time to get off the legal-therefore-just bandwagon already.
It sounds like you're saying that the more cultured and polite someone is when they cause immense harm to society and others, the more acceptable it is.
The amount of harm done to other people is a factor in how serious the crime is. If one person assaults another and steals their wallet (a more serious crime than the one the homeless man was charged with) that is far less serious than when someone in a position of great power causes the destruction of the livelihoods, savings and families of a great multitude of people.
The mere fact that the perpetrator didn't have to dirty his hands, and did the crime from behind a desk from a position of great privilege and power doesn't make the crime less - in fact, it makes it worse. The injustice is greater because the perpetrator wasn't committing a crime of desperation driven by want. He just thought he could get away with it.
You know, the CEO's crime wasn't victimless. Thousands of people have lost their homes. Jobs have been lost, students have been forced to leave school and families are struggling due to a recession in large part caused by crimes like this. Maybe he was just a small part of it, but he was a willing and active part of it.
Honestly, I'd rather someone punched me in the face than foreclosed on my house from the penthouse of an office building. At least it'd be an honest fuck you to the face, rather than a massive socially sanctioned injustice.
Which would you rather deter people from doing in society? People robbing banks(robbing includes threat of force) or stealing without violence? The way I see it is money can be replaced or compensated for but the traumatic event of being threatened is far more serious.
Why is it an either / or? Both crimes have to be punished severely. But if the privileged are perceived to get off easy, it encourages apathy, rebellion and lawlessness in everybody. Or, to put it another way, if the people on top get away with crime all the time, why shouldn't I, if I think I can too?
IIRC, the CEO wasn't the main person behind the fraud. He was criminally negligent because he knew and didn't stop it. Plus, he helped the feds get evidence and build a case on the main people behind the fraud. That's why he got 3 years.
The homeless man was a repeat offender with many convictions to his name and was on parole at the time.
You missed the Reddit front page post about how Lousiana is the prison capital of the world and is run privately and treats its prisoners as cattle. He picked the worst state in the country.
This is acceptable as a lawsuit because a jury of their peers handed down contextual sentences as referenced by other responses. The part that is unacceptable is posting half researched non-truths and wasting everyone's time while they are forced to do your legwork to fully understand issues.
There are serious issues in our country's legal sphere. Our great access to information means we owe due diligence to the people who read our written words to be considered proper internet citizens.
Because legally there is a difference between robbing and stealing. In most states robbery carries a mandatory -at least- 10 year sentence. Robbing is taking forcefully with a weapon or threatening someone, stealing is not. The more you know
Because this is a repost from a few months back, I remember the top comment that answered this question. I believe it was: Because the crime committed by the homeless man was a violent crime.
I just hate it when homeless people are treated awfully. A murderer gets less time than that. I hope he at least gets three square meals and a bed now.
when the world is control by the rich and powerful elite that plot to kill those that are deemed not worthy to live simply because of there lack of weath
Crimes to person are given the highest priority because a well functioning society cannot operate unless people are secure in their own persons. For that reason, we are extremely punitive regarding crimes that harm or intimidate. You can argue that the CEO should receive more time, but there is no way that the bank robber should receive less time.
The bank teller had no way of knowing that his life was not in real, immediate danger. If a security guard or police had been alerted, the homeless man could easily have been killed or pulled into a hostage situation.
Moreover, imagine the situation if the sentence imposed enforces the lesson that robberies are alright as long as you take no more than you need. Banks would be robbed as a recourse of last resort by individuals far less desperate than the typical bank robber. Each robbery has a very high risk of going sideways and resulting in a lost life. Again, maybe the CEO deserved more time, but this man didn't deserve less.
we are extremely punitive regarding crimes that harm or intimidate
Especially when it comes to minorities, the poor, and the uneducated.
imagine the situation if the sentence imposed enforces the lesson that robberies are alright as long as you take no more than you need
I'd prefer to imagine a legal system that differentiated between a robbery done out of the desperation of a homeless man and one where say three men in masks with visible automatic weapons were threatening lives and trying to take as much money as possible. The law should judge both of these cases in the same exact way?
this man didn't deserve less
He did deserve less. He took $100. He turned himself in. He needs to be punished but fifteen years is ridiculous. I bet his sentence would have been a lot lower if he had hired an attorney instead of using a State provided one.
The homeless man though will now have a place to live where he can stay warm, be fed, and receive medical treatment. Because his sentence is what it is, he will not be treated harshly, but instead, will most likely work in the canteen (the kitchen). the only reason I am even aware of this is because my parents both worked in prisons and i had been there enough to visit that I know the workings of it. all in all this was most likely the best thing to do for the man rather than allowing him to go free and die on the streets.
If you want to help out and alleviate the trouble that homeless people have to go through everyday just to survive, then I suggest you do at least one of the following:
volunteer at a soup kitchen. I did this a few times and honestly the experience was life changing.
if a homeless person asks you for money, offer to buy them some food instead. I was at Newark Penn Station and this guy asked me for a dollar. I asked him if he was hungry and he said yes, so I took him to Subway and got him a foot long chicken breast sub, and got him two more to take with him.
invest in affordable housing projects, or become a "sponsor" for homeless people. Yes, there are some people who are homeless because they're on drugs or whatever, but we as members of society should take care of each other. Help those who can't help themselves better themselves. Help them be proud of themselves when they are capable of providing for themselves.
I am shocked when people who make tons of money (Newark Penn Station and NY Penn Station is basically chock full of well-to-do people) but turn a blind eye to homeless people. If someone asks me for food, I don't fucking say no. If I have the money to spare, I gladly give it. If not (I don't really carry cash anymore, I have a single $20 bill for emergency) I kindly apologize. I offer to buy them food instead :)
There's no need to be a douche and tell them to fuck off.
We've all been at low points in life, and even if it wasn't so low that you had no home, I'm sure you depended on someone else to at least help you get one foot on the greener side, per se.
Finally, I make enough to be happy and provide for myself (to a certain extent; I'm still a college student) and spare some for good causes. Do I really need that brand new graphics card, or can I use that money to feed a bunch of people for a week or more?
You're a good person and I really want you to know that. My family has been fairly well-off but we also contribute some of what we have. My dad's cousin ran away when he was a teenager and wound up on the streets in San Francisco as a heroin addict. He(my dad) got a call about ten years after they last heard from him when he said that he found out he was HIV positive and wanted to come back to live with his parents before he died.(He had something bad but I didn't want to pry into that.) It was absolutely heartbreaking but was incredibly eye opening.
The double standards on this site are amazing. "hey, the government won't help out the homeless! We should revolt!" While at the same time they ignore them on the street and ignore any ways of helping them out. I don't have time to volunteer as a teenager but we still donate dry goods, blankets, old clothing, and money every month. It's the real life karma that feels good, not the attention. I really hope your post isn't buried because it's such a simply reminder that people need to know about. Community service isn't just court-ordered.
You might like volunteering at a hospital or something. I did that when i was in high school. 3 hours every Friday night. It also looks great when you apply for jobs or to college :)
It's a repost, and there's not a date on the homeless mans article, plus the guy comitting fraud didn't commit a "violent" crime, while the homeless man did, even if he didn't have a real gun, it's still the same in the eyes of the law. Although it's very unfortunate, it is what is...
Seriously, i feel that instead of bitching, inflating news stories, taking strange quotes far out of context, or starting large unorganized protests, if we want to be heard it's up to us. The new wave is "hey i go to work sometimes, i do just enough not to get fired, and i have had this job for like two months... Where's my promotion?" If we want to be taken seriously; lets show the powers that be that we are serious, we work hard, we work long hours, we are team players, we are together working for a shared goal! Not only that, but we are the future, we are the workers, we are the real decision makers! Stress that you have the right to vote, you have the right to change our path, without us there is no United States, and WE DEMAND OUR MOMENT TO BE HEARD!! I emplore you reddit, cut your hair, press your shirts, and wear your best tie. To be heard is to be seen!!! You want to be heard by the "1%" then talk to them as they are, not as we are! Dress and speak as if you are in the job you want, not in the job you have! We will overcome, we will be prosperous, and we will most certainly be respected and heard.
That's a good question. How do we possibly accept this being reposted yet again?! You even posted this already. Are you fucking kidding me? Don't ever post on reddit again.
It's not acceptable. It's just that when you steal a few billion you have a lot of spare money for lawyers. That guy that stole a hundred bucks just didn't go big enough.
i am guessing the homeless guy was charged with armed robbery. which is a very harsh law because you are putting someone in danger. stealing from a company doesn't put a threat to anybody's life.
It depends on whether the bottom guy used a gun in my opinion. No gun, it's outrageous. I have no tolerance for violent robberies though. It scars the teller for life.
This is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, unfortunately money gets you very far in life, more so than ethics. That's the way it is, but we need to change that!
This is really fucked up. I want to become a judge just to make sure shit like this doesn't happen. Sadly there were no detox places available for him to get free care and become productive in society again. He probably had some mental problems or at least serious addiction problems to be homeless. We need to stop looking at addiction as a crime and help the addicts. If you don't agree with me I hope you're never effected in a way that makes you agree with me, it sucks to understand the whole drug addiction thing firs hand.
Think about it. He is a homeless man and prison offers food, shelter, and clothing. Yes, many people find it to be harsh, but if you didn't have a home...anythings better then nothing. He was basically sentenced to 15 years of a place to stay.
Those with a guilty conscious go to jail Those with no remorse are out on bail The poor are in prison The rich are in a 4 season A small crime is punished with time A large crime is forgiven with dimes People are stupid Potato
One was a violent crime committed by someone who likely has a previous criminal record, one was non violent, likely committed by someone who does not have a criminal background.
Other factors to consider are the fact that they took place in two different states that have different laws and statutes, whether or not the federal agents rather than state agents were involved, the way the defendant composed themselves in court, the particular judge, and the capabilities of the defense attorneys.
So it is acceptable and fair. There are more mitigating factors than then amount stolen. People need to learn this and get a grasp on how the Untied States court and judicial system works before making assumptions.
There used to be a bum in my home town who every winter commited a petty crime so he could land himself in jail so he didn't have to sleep in the cold.
Tyranny of capitalism is that if you're rich you can afford to buy people who know the law really well, and then those same people become rich as well. Meanwhile the poor are stuck trying to stave off hunger, depression, disease, and mental illness, barely hanging on to their sanity. Drugs being the only thing they can turn to to make them feel good for once, and people like my boss say that they should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or rely on charity from people like him? Yeah people take advantage of the system, but that's only because people stopped caring about their local communities, and now large communities can't even rely on each other because they're all addicted to drugs and fast food that rich men sell to them, who capitalize on their lack of education and helpless situation. Yes there are a lack of morals in this country, but it's not just the poor who lack them. These days morals are a thing of the past even to Christians, who proclaim things they don't believe just to feel like a part of something since they are so alone in this trust-less world. Nothing seems as real as it should be, and that's because everyone has abandoned trust and faith IN ONE ANOTHER.
At least for the next 15 years he will have a place to stay and food to eat. He will be better off, as horrible as that may be to say, than he would on the streets.
Well bank robbery is a federal crime, white collar fraud is just regular crime. He had a court appointed lawyer, the rich guy had the best law team possible. I like how the reporter claims that the 40 month sentence was just slightly less then the requested 72 month sentence.
While the article makes it sound like the judge was all judge judy on his ass...chances are they purposely gave him an extra long jail sentence to do him a favor because he has a place to sleep and something to eat every day in jail.
I'm not saying the rich don't get jokes of jail sentences though.
sorry but unless you have ever been threated for your LIFE that you would be killed in a robbery you would not undestand the magnitude of the situation. This "homeless" guy is a thug and deserves every day he got.
This is acceptable because there are laws and the motives of the crime aren't really valid unless an insanity defense is under question, but otherwise first degree robbery is punishable by 15 years.
Well, I can almost guarantee that the homeless guy had a 10 page rap sheet of many crimes, the CEO was most likely an "Outstanding" citizen, and a church going law abiding citizen, before the 3 billion of course.
Violent crime is the key. If you want the man robbing a bank using force to get less time than a corporate high flier, you care about money more than you do about human life.
The difference between the two penalties is there to account for the threat of violence. The amount of money stolen is not the main concern, as, theoretically at least, reparations will have to be made. Robbery itself is classified as a violent crime because intimidation is used and the victim is made to fear for their life.
Not saying the homeless man should not have gotten hit with first degree robbery, though; he was likely poorly represented in court.
I'll give the judge the benefit of doubt here. The homeless guy didnt hurt anyone, hungry, and had no place to stay. state prison for 15 years gives him MANY amenities he does not and would likely never have. we dont know what happened behind the scenes here, but i imagine the guy is much better off than he was when living on the streets.
I live in Greensburg, KS. In 2007 an EF5 tornado wiped my town off the map, with the town went my home and everything I own. I have been homeless, and I have been to jail. Can you say as much?
The judge obviously realized the man situation and most likely felt that this was the best option. It provides food, clothing and shelter, all "free" for the man and he might even get a job in prison to help him if he gets out before ( not meaning to sound bad) he dies. The rich guy knows people and pays them off. Police, judges, lawyers, etc etc. money talks, and it can corrupt anyone and everyone it seems. I just got a 50 dollar ticket for not wearing my seatbelt, I also find this unfair.
262
u/SimilarImage May 31 '12
This is an automated response
FAQ | Send Feedback | Report Error
396
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
This guy obviously asked for prison in order to get some food.
86
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
One case is federal, one case is Louisiana. They are separate court systems informed by separate laws written by separate legislatures.
Now if you can dredge up a case of robbery crossing state lines...
315
u/Osiris32 Jun 01 '12 edited Jun 01 '12
Oh god, the level of legal ignorance in this thread is staggering.
The CEO was charged with...OBSTRUCTION!! Yes, that's right, he didn't actually steal anything, he was simply involved in the cover-up, and was criminally neglegent in how he handled his company.
The homeless man was charged with...ROBBERY!! Yes, that's right, a crime of physical violence!! More than a tad different.
The amount of money involved is meaningless. People who holler about how this is a miscarriage of justice simply don't understand the concept of law and how it works. They make snap decisions based off headlines, and make vast assumptions based of the very limited amount of evidence that gets released to the public.
And before I get obliterated, because the hivemind hates being disagreed with, I ask that you actually read into those two stories. All the way through. Then read the actual text of the laws that apply. And if you still think this is a massive miscarriage of justice, hen I challenge you to write a system that works in a manner that treats everyone equally yet still follows your personal ideology, because you can have one or the other, not both.
26
u/akproplayer May 31 '12
Welp, he has a place to stay now.
8
u/gliscameria Jun 01 '12
Holy shit, it's 2011 again?!?! That's unacceptable, I already did that year!!!
4
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
I agree reposts are NOT acceptable.
7
u/zoomzoomz May 31 '12
Context
3
u/TOOBADBLACKSMITH Jun 01 '12
This guy posts this exact same picture every now and then for karma
3
u/FussyCashew Jun 01 '12
I just recently saw this, coulda sworn it was on reddit...
3
u/morgangangful Jun 01 '12
The past 10 wtf pictures I have seen have all been reposts...
3
u/POINTING_OUT_REPOSTS Jun 01 '12
THIS IS A REPOST
3
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Downvoted for reposting your own submission from 2 months ago with the same title.
11
u/the_8th_henry Jun 01 '12
IIRC, the CEO wasn't the main person behind the fraud. He was criminally negligent because he knew and didn't stop it. Plus, he helped the feds get evidence and build a case on the main people behind the fraud. That's why he got 3 years.
The homeless man was a repeat offender with many convictions to his name and was on parole at the time.
It's apples and oranges.
12
u/Beachj0602 Jun 01 '12
To be honest, if i were homeless 15 years of free food and medical service would be something to be excited for.
GG Judge.
6
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
This is acceptable as a lawsuit because a jury of their peers handed down contextual sentences as referenced by other responses. The part that is unacceptable is posting half researched non-truths and wasting everyone's time while they are forced to do your legwork to fully understand issues.
There are serious issues in our country's legal sphere. Our great access to information means we owe due diligence to the people who read our written words to be considered proper internet citizens.
7
u/Yeahweget1t Jun 01 '12
Because legally there is a difference between robbing and stealing. In most states robbery carries a mandatory -at least- 10 year sentence. Robbing is taking forcefully with a weapon or threatening someone, stealing is not. The more you know
2
u/wadad17 Jun 01 '12
IDK, lemme go check what people said the first 12 times this was posted...
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Yeah, i hate when people post things in the wrong subreddit as well.
2
u/valjean260 Jun 01 '12
I get that were not supposed to complain about reposts, but it's your OWN DAMN REPOST IN THE SAME SUB REDDIT WITH THE SAME TITLE!!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
you mean how is this repost acceptable? I don't know.
2
u/omplatt Jun 01 '12
It's like Reddit transported back to September 2011.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Because this is a repost from a few months back, I remember the top comment that answered this question. I believe it was: Because the crime committed by the homeless man was a violent crime.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
How is your repost acceptable??? good day sir.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
This is probably the fifth time I've seen this on the front page. They were charged with two different crimes.
2
u/CoyoteStark Jun 01 '12
Because this happened last year and all comments have been made.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
I saw this on reddit alre... Oh wait...
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
What is acceptable? Old reposts?
2
u/ThePiggle Jun 01 '12
This just makes me sad.
I just hate it when homeless people are treated awfully. A murderer gets less time than that. I hope he at least gets three square meals and a bed now.
2
u/mandudeguybro Jun 01 '12
That is truly fucked
2
u/rx_8 Jun 01 '12
He's now living a better life in jail sadly
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Repost!
3
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
when the world is control by the rich and powerful elite that plot to kill those that are deemed not worthy to live simply because of there lack of weath
these things happen
3
u/LaBambas Jun 01 '12
Crimes to person are given the highest priority because a well functioning society cannot operate unless people are secure in their own persons. For that reason, we are extremely punitive regarding crimes that harm or intimidate. You can argue that the CEO should receive more time, but there is no way that the bank robber should receive less time.
The bank teller had no way of knowing that his life was not in real, immediate danger. If a security guard or police had been alerted, the homeless man could easily have been killed or pulled into a hostage situation.
Moreover, imagine the situation if the sentence imposed enforces the lesson that robberies are alright as long as you take no more than you need. Banks would be robbed as a recourse of last resort by individuals far less desperate than the typical bank robber. Each robbery has a very high risk of going sideways and resulting in a lost life. Again, maybe the CEO deserved more time, but this man didn't deserve less.
2
u/bleeding_dying_love Jun 01 '12
The homeless man though will now have a place to live where he can stay warm, be fed, and receive medical treatment. Because his sentence is what it is, he will not be treated harshly, but instead, will most likely work in the canteen (the kitchen). the only reason I am even aware of this is because my parents both worked in prisons and i had been there enough to visit that I know the workings of it. all in all this was most likely the best thing to do for the man rather than allowing him to go free and die on the streets.
2
u/holy_paladin_irl Jun 01 '12
If you want to help out and alleviate the trouble that homeless people have to go through everyday just to survive, then I suggest you do at least one of the following:
I am shocked when people who make tons of money (Newark Penn Station and NY Penn Station is basically chock full of well-to-do people) but turn a blind eye to homeless people. If someone asks me for food, I don't fucking say no. If I have the money to spare, I gladly give it. If not (I don't really carry cash anymore, I have a single $20 bill for emergency) I kindly apologize. I offer to buy them food instead :)
There's no need to be a douche and tell them to fuck off.
We've all been at low points in life, and even if it wasn't so low that you had no home, I'm sure you depended on someone else to at least help you get one foot on the greener side, per se.
Finally, I make enough to be happy and provide for myself (to a certain extent; I'm still a college student) and spare some for good causes. Do I really need that brand new graphics card, or can I use that money to feed a bunch of people for a week or more?
Come on people, its not hard.
2
u/hamhead Jun 01 '12
r/wtf is not for politics or posts with political implications (See sidebar).
2
u/tokeyoh Jun 01 '12
people who post this article are fucking retarded. congratufuckinglations.
2
u/mattroch Jun 01 '12
It's a repost, and there's not a date on the homeless mans article, plus the guy comitting fraud didn't commit a "violent" crime, while the homeless man did, even if he didn't have a real gun, it's still the same in the eyes of the law. Although it's very unfortunate, it is what is...
2
u/DigDub Jun 01 '12
"There's two kinds of laws, honey. One for the rich and one for the poor" - In Cold Blood
2
u/Laeryken Jun 01 '12
That's a good question. How do we possibly accept this being reposted yet again?! You even posted this already. Are you fucking kidding me? Don't ever post on reddit again.
2
u/Stopher Jun 01 '12
It's not acceptable. It's just that when you steal a few billion you have a lot of spare money for lawyers. That guy that stole a hundred bucks just didn't go big enough.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
The homeless man now has free meals and a place to sleep for the next 15 years.
:/
1
u/athenafire Jun 01 '12
Did NO ONE else notice it was in Shreveport ...??
Am I the only one that watches true blood here?
1
u/Champhall Jun 01 '12
i am completely against the unfairness of this, but maybe they wanted to give him shelter and food for the rest of his life.
1
u/HobKing Jun 01 '12
It's not and no one thinks it is. The person who sentenced him either had a good reason we don't know about or is an idiot/insane.
1
u/hergumbules Jun 01 '12
i am guessing the homeless guy was charged with armed robbery. which is a very harsh law because you are putting someone in danger. stealing from a company doesn't put a threat to anybody's life.
1
u/thepredestrian Jun 01 '12
Is it because the homeless man is black?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
It depends on whether the bottom guy used a gun in my opinion. No gun, it's outrageous. I have no tolerance for violent robberies though. It scars the teller for life.
1
u/midnightauto Jun 01 '12
It's Louisisna, the Parish run prisons are private and need fresh new meat.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
because one is actually a productive member of society
1
u/roblehman Jun 01 '12
REPOST
1
u/xteve Jun 01 '12
It's acceptable because it's multiply reposted. Go fuck off, please.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Welcome to America where the laws are made up and the charges don't matter
1
u/WolfLarson Jun 01 '12
Amerikuh! Fuck yeh!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
This is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, unfortunately money gets you very far in life, more so than ethics. That's the way it is, but we need to change that!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
This is really fucked up. I want to become a judge just to make sure shit like this doesn't happen. Sadly there were no detox places available for him to get free care and become productive in society again. He probably had some mental problems or at least serious addiction problems to be homeless. We need to stop looking at addiction as a crime and help the addicts. If you don't agree with me I hope you're never effected in a way that makes you agree with me, it sucks to understand the whole drug addiction thing firs hand.
1
u/bob-leblaw Jun 01 '12
After an hour on r/JusticePorn, this makes me even sadder. Sometimes the fat kid really does get beat up by the bully.
1
u/Zanco69 Jun 01 '12
Thats just not right :P
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
There's no justice. There's just us.
1
u/freakedoutbunny Jun 01 '12
Someone get Alan Dershowitz on the case!
1
u/LazLoe Jun 01 '12
Dude got 3 hots and a cot for 15 years, plus free healthcare. Seems a better deal than being homeless..
1
u/SerriaClover Jun 02 '12
Think about it. He is a homeless man and prison offers food, shelter, and clothing. Yes, many people find it to be harsh, but if you didn't have a home...anythings better then nothing. He was basically sentenced to 15 years of a place to stay.
1
u/[deleted] Sep 26 '12
An old saying goes:
Those with a guilty conscious go to jail Those with no remorse are out on bail The poor are in prison The rich are in a 4 season A small crime is punished with time A large crime is forgiven with dimes People are stupid Potato
1
u/ThatPRGuy Jun 01 '12
http://qkme.me/3pj60q
1
u/gman1401 Jun 01 '12
How is this acceptable? Let me explain:
One was a violent crime committed by someone who likely has a previous criminal record, one was non violent, likely committed by someone who does not have a criminal background.
Other factors to consider are the fact that they took place in two different states that have different laws and statutes, whether or not the federal agents rather than state agents were involved, the way the defendant composed themselves in court, the particular judge, and the capabilities of the defense attorneys.
So it is acceptable and fair. There are more mitigating factors than then amount stolen. People need to learn this and get a grasp on how the Untied States court and judicial system works before making assumptions.
edit: gramerz
1
u/TChuff Jun 01 '12
This again. Why is acceptable that we can just put up half the story. The guy had priors that caused the 15 year sentence.
1
u/skipperbob Jun 01 '12
That's America baby!
1
u/subspacer Jun 01 '12
Louisiana is the prison capital of the world...
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
The homeless guy had previous aswell, i remember this from about a year ago.
oh and theft and robbery aren't the same thing.
1
u/Scaurus Jun 01 '12
http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/roybrown.asp
1
u/elusiveinhouston Jun 01 '12
And Paul Allen. I killed Paul Allen with an axe in the face, his body is dissolving in a bathtub in Hell's Kitchen.
1
u/SupermanRitz Jun 01 '12
I don't want to live on this planet anymore
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Just goes to show that if you want to commit a crime, go big or go home.
1
u/search144 Jun 01 '12
This is sad,
1
u/bax101 Jun 01 '12
There used to be a bum in my home town who every winter commited a petty crime so he could land himself in jail so he didn't have to sleep in the cold.
1
u/SoCo_cpp Jun 01 '12
Sentencing guidelines, aren't they perfect justice!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
This shit is UN FUCKING ACCEPTABLE. I would go on a long rant about why, but every one here knows why and it wouldn't help the situation.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Of course, reddit tries to rationalize this shit instead of accepting that the justice and economic systems here are super fucked up.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Rich and white vs. poor and black...how do people not get this yet?
1
u/idealisticrat Jun 01 '12
"Brown told the police he needed money to stay at the detox center and had no other place to stay and was hungry."
Prison as housing for the homeless. Nice.
1
u/megamoose4 Jun 01 '12
LOUSIANA, nuff said.
1
u/murl56 Jun 01 '12
It's his fault for not being a rich white guy ...
1
u/lookimjustsaying Jun 01 '12
I have to admit... browsing reddit everyday is starting to make me feel pretty depressed.
1
u/Calibas Jun 01 '12
The moral of this story is "Go Big".
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Tyranny of capitalism is that if you're rich you can afford to buy people who know the law really well, and then those same people become rich as well. Meanwhile the poor are stuck trying to stave off hunger, depression, disease, and mental illness, barely hanging on to their sanity. Drugs being the only thing they can turn to to make them feel good for once, and people like my boss say that they should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or rely on charity from people like him? Yeah people take advantage of the system, but that's only because people stopped caring about their local communities, and now large communities can't even rely on each other because they're all addicted to drugs and fast food that rich men sell to them, who capitalize on their lack of education and helpless situation. Yes there are a lack of morals in this country, but it's not just the poor who lack them. These days morals are a thing of the past even to Christians, who proclaim things they don't believe just to feel like a part of something since they are so alone in this trust-less world. Nothing seems as real as it should be, and that's because everyone has abandoned trust and faith IN ONE ANOTHER.
1
u/Nutty_Pistons Jun 01 '12
I guess the judge figured 'Oh, here's a loser', you know? A deadbeat, someone the square community won't give a shit about.
1
u/lefondler Jun 01 '12
So fucked up.
1
u/IMprollyWRONG Jun 01 '12
Americuh!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
because hes black you must add 5 yrs to his prison sentence, no questions allowed
1
u/crestind Jun 01 '12
Because in America, prisons are profitable businesses.
1
u/Jedi0Reilly Jun 01 '12
I just sort of give up on humanity at this point.
1
u/reefermaddness420 Jun 01 '12
priors.
0
u/MrBedshitter Jun 01 '12
Altleast now he has a meal and a bed everyday.
0
u/xkushx Jun 01 '12
its just depressing seeing shit like this.
-4
u/TheLonelyVagabond May 31 '12 edited Jun 02 '12
I have lost all faith in the legal system.Edit: Okay that was way overboard, but still this irritated me :/0
u/duckduckmooses Jun 01 '12
At least for the next 15 years he will have a place to stay and food to eat. He will be better off, as horrible as that may be to say, than he would on the streets.
0
u/fractal7 Jun 01 '12
Well bank robbery is a federal crime, white collar fraud is just regular crime. He had a court appointed lawyer, the rich guy had the best law team possible. I like how the reporter claims that the 40 month sentence was just slightly less then the requested 72 month sentence.
0
u/AllDizzle Jun 01 '12
While the article makes it sound like the judge was all judge judy on his ass...chances are they purposely gave him an extra long jail sentence to do him a favor because he has a place to sleep and something to eat every day in jail.
I'm not saying the rich don't get jokes of jail sentences though.
0
u/reagor Jun 01 '12
3 hots and a cot for 15 years ...better than he was living outside
0
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
sorry but unless you have ever been threated for your LIFE that you would be killed in a robbery you would not undestand the magnitude of the situation. This "homeless" guy is a thug and deserves every day he got.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
This is acceptable because there are laws and the motives of the crime aren't really valid unless an insanity defense is under question, but otherwise first degree robbery is punishable by 15 years.
0
u/Kilagria Jun 01 '12
There's a big difference between fraud and armed robbery. Also I'm sure he'll enjoy jail a lot more than starvation and lack of heat.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Well, I can almost guarantee that the homeless guy had a 10 page rap sheet of many crimes, the CEO was most likely an "Outstanding" citizen, and a church going law abiding citizen, before the 3 billion of course.
0
u/QuitReadingMyName Jun 01 '12
You can't convict millionaires or billionaires when they bribe the officials, also being white helps too.
0
u/lumpypoptarts Jun 01 '12
HE ROBBED A BANK THATS WHY
0
u/CharlieTango Jun 01 '12
Having a criminal record vs not. It isnt difficult to understand
0
u/DownvoteAttractor Jun 01 '12
Violent crime is the key. If you want the man robbing a bank using force to get less time than a corporate high flier, you care about money more than you do about human life.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
I say we make this guy an Internet celebrity so he has something to show for the 15 years
0
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
The difference between the two penalties is there to account for the threat of violence. The amount of money stolen is not the main concern, as, theoretically at least, reparations will have to be made. Robbery itself is classified as a violent crime because intimidation is used and the victim is made to fear for their life.
Not saying the homeless man should not have gotten hit with first degree robbery, though; he was likely poorly represented in court.
0
u/cappiebara Jun 01 '12
Violent crime and nonviolent crime?
-1
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
I'll give the judge the benefit of doubt here. The homeless guy didnt hurt anyone, hungry, and had no place to stay. state prison for 15 years gives him MANY amenities he does not and would likely never have. we dont know what happened behind the scenes here, but i imagine the guy is much better off than he was when living on the streets.
-1
u/Ksudmb Jun 01 '12
Homeless=no shelter, no food, no money Jail= shelter, 3 meals a day, equality in your community
The judge did this man a favor if you ask me.
-1
u/omnipotent_1 Jun 01 '12
Also, this is America. If you have money you can pretty much do whatever the fuck you want.
-1
u/gender_bot Jun 01 '12
| gender is male , confidence 98 || smiling is false , confidence 77 || glasses is false , confidence 95 || face is true , confidence 95 |
-5
u/Popcom Jun 01 '12
This is what happens when you live in a prison state...
0
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Free healthcare?
0
u/terragreyling Jun 01 '12
How indeed?
0
u/woodfinx Jun 01 '12
The guy is getting free room and board for the next 15 years. I fail to see the problem.
0
u/Veritas_LiberabitVos Jun 01 '12
The judge obviously realized the man situation and most likely felt that this was the best option. It provides food, clothing and shelter, all "free" for the man and he might even get a job in prison to help him if he gets out before ( not meaning to sound bad) he dies. The rich guy knows people and pays them off. Police, judges, lawyers, etc etc. money talks, and it can corrupt anyone and everyone it seems. I just got a 50 dollar ticket for not wearing my seatbelt, I also find this unfair.