NationStates Jolt Archive

A homeless man robbed a Louisiana bank and took a $100 bill. After feeling remorseful, he surrendered to police the next day. The judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Roy Brown, 54, robbed the Capital One bank in Shreveport, Louisiana in December 2007. He approached the teller with one of his hands under his jacket and told her that it was a robbery.

The teller handed Brown three stacks of bill but he only took a single $100 bill and returned the remaining money back to her. He said that he was homeless and hungry and left the bank.

The next day he surrendered to the police voluntarily and told them that his mother didn’t raise him that way.

Brown told the police he needed the money to stay at the detox center and had no other place to stay and was hungry.

In Caddo District Court, he pleaded guilty. The judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison for first degree robbery.

link to article (http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/265402#tab=article&sc=0&local=)

15 years...for stealing a $100,-- and turning himself in the next day. :eek:

Justice in Louisiana has gone awol. :(

Do you think this sentence is deserved, or over the top?

Wow... that just makes me sad.
The only somewhat positive thing about this is that he will have a roof over his head and food in his belly for the next 15 years. I doubt he would have wanted it that way, though. :(

one wouldn't think so, but there's not enough info in the article to make judgment.
For all we know, bank robbery might have a minimum sentence in Louisiana of 15 years so the judge had no option but to give him that.

link to article (http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/265402#tab=article&sc=0&local=)

15 years...for stealing a $100,-- and turning himself in the next day. :eek:

Justice in Louisiana has gone awol. :(

Do you think this sentence is deserved, or over the top?

Insufficient information, but it is widely believed by those who've had the misfortune of observing Louisiana from close-proximity since...oh, Reconstruction (post War between the States, aka late 1860's onward) that Justice doesn't live there, and rarely visits.

If only he'd stolen enough to bribe the judge...

one wouldn't think so, but there's not enough info in the article to make judgment.
For all we know, bank robbery might have a minimum sentence in Louisiana of 15 years so the judge had no option but to give him that.

I thought there were no minimal sentences in the US, wasn't there a massive big discussion on about that a while ago? :confused:

Well that's a crock. This, plus the pathetic sentences handed down for serious crimes in Europe and Australia, make you wonder; can you go ANYWHERE these days and expect actual, decent sentencing?

Well that's a crock. This, plus the pathetic sentences handed down for serious crimes in Europe and Australia, make you wonder; can you go ANYWHERE these days and expect actual, decent sentencing?

I've got a feeling they hand out those you would agree with in places like Saudi Arabia and the like.

link to article (http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/265402#tab=article&sc=0&local=)

15 years...for stealing a $100,-- and turning himself in the next day. :eek:

Justice in Louisiana has gone awol. :(

Do you think this sentence is deserved, or over the top?

waaaaaaaay fucking over the top. seriously, WTF :(

Well that's a crock. This, plus the pathetic sentences handed down for serious crimes in Europe and Australia, make you wonder; can you go ANYWHERE these days and expect actual, decent sentencing?

Of course not, because no place can have exactly that type of sentencing you personally call decent, except of course if you would declare your house independent and be the judge, jury, and executioner in it.

I've got a feeling they hand out those you would agree with in places like Saudi Arabia and the like.

They probably do better than Europe's usual "Murder, seven years" jobs.

They probably do better than Europe's usual "Murder, seven years" jobs.

So glad you're consistent in decrying human rights violations. I'm beginning to wonder if you have any solid principles or if you just rant incoherently against absolutely everything for the sake of it.

This sentence is way over the fucking top! Hell.. he returned the damn money and turned his own self in; with all the other serious multi-time offenders out there they should have just went "don't do it again" the prison system is already overcrowded...
At least he gets a roof and meals; but he should appeal on the grounds that as a US citizen he is guaranteed to not be faced with cruel and unusual punishment.. and I think this counts.

I thought there were no minimal sentences in the US, wasn't there a massive big discussion on about that a while ago? :confused:

It varies from state to state. My mom's fiance got his second DUI conviction in 10 years and has to do a minimum of one month in jail, plus AA, and house arrest. He could end up doing up to a year locked up plus the rest but he actually had enough sense to plea guilty. Stupid SOB drives drunk all the damn time anyway though.

I suppose the judge wanted to send out a message - you commit an armed robbery on a bank (and the teller didn't know he wasn't armed) you go to jail for a long time. The judge may have thought that if he let this guy off he might do it again if he was desperate enough.
On the other hand, extenuating circumstances should have been taken into account and a more realistic sentence imposed. From what little information I have a shorter custodial sentence would have done. Some help to get him off the streets and into work/welfare would have removed the need to commit further crime permenantly

I suppose the judge wanted to send out a message - you commit an armed robbery on a bank (and the teller didn't know he wasn't armed) you go to jail for a long time. The judge may have thought that if he let this guy off he might do it again if he was desperate enough.
On the other hand, extenuating circumstances should have been taken into account and a more realistic sentence imposed. From what little information I have a shorter custodial sentence would have done. Some help to get him off the streets and into work/welfare would have removed the need to commit further crime permenantly

Yeah, the judge should have sentenced him to detox and job training, cheaper and more effective.

I knew someone in the UK who carried out a bank robbery using a fake firearm. He got 4 years and deserved it because the weapon may not have been real but it did put the bank staff in very real fear for their lives. In this case he should still have a custodial sentence for the same reason, though 15 years is ridiculous and strikes me as possibly counter-productive.

I thought there were no minimal sentences in the US, wasn't there a massive big discussion on about that a while ago? :confused:

that's...um...completely untrue.

Armed robbery. There are probably sentencing guidelines that had to be followed.

Oh the joy of mandatory minimum sentences.

Oh the joy of mandatory minimum sentences.

Stupid sheeple should stop falling for this terrible vote grabbing tactic that does more harm than good and costs good money jailing people who don't deserve to be there that long.

Stupid sheeple should stop falling for this terrible vote grabbing tactic that does more harm than good and costs good money jailing people who don't deserve to be there that long.

Remember people, you know much better than a judge about the appropriate sentencing for crimes. You may be slack jawed hillbilly and maybe he's spent the last twenty years dealing with crime in minute, but don't let that stop you from completely tying his hands and providing ludicrous sentence after ludicrous sentence for the amusement for you and your hillbilly buddies!

15 years...for stealing a $100,-- and turning himself in the next day. :eek:

Justice in Louisiana has gone awol. :(

Do you think this sentence is deserved, or over the top?

Way the hell over the top. Now the next guy who does something similar will think twice before turning himself in.

This seems to be a symptom of the worn out mantra "get tough on crime" as if that's the magic solution to crime we just haven't gotten tough enough. :rolleyes:

Way the hell over the top. Now the next guy who does something similar will think twice before turning himself in.

This seems to be a symptom of the worn out mantra "get tough on crime" as if that's the magic solution to crime we just haven't gotten tough enough. :rolleyes:

Damn straight.
We should strive to simulate the Taldor of Hadante.
Life-time jail for every crime.
That should tech those no good criminals. ,)

(Not arguing with you, agreeing)

Remember people, you know much better than a judge about the appropriate sentencing for crimes. You may be slack jawed hillbilly and maybe he's spent the last twenty years dealing with crime in minute, but don't let that stop you from completely tying his hands and providing ludicrous sentence after ludicrous sentence for the amusement for you and your hillbilly buddies!

Hey, whats the interweb for if not for giving biassed opinions based on little or no evidence:)

*gets back to plucking his banjo and looking for canoeists*

(Not arguing with you, agreeing)

Yeah I'm with ya ;)

seems win win to me, now the guy has a place to stay and food to eat in prison.

Yeah I'm with ya ;)

Always best to say it straight out, you know.
Wouldn't want it to get misunderstood. ,)

Justice was at one time present in Louisiana?

Justice was at one time present in Louisiana?

The she caught the next boat out of the country and who knows where she went, I still miss you Justice my darling!

that will learn him for being poor!

I knew someone in the UK who carried out a bank robbery using a fake firearm. He got 4 years

:eek2: *is tempted*

The she caught the next boat out of the country and who knows where she went, I still miss you Justice my darling!

oddly enough shes been seen dicking about on the roof of the old Bailey

I'm no fan of mandatory minimums.

That said, does anybody know if this was a case where mandatory minimums caused what seems to be a disproportional sentence considering the crime?

I thought there were no minimal sentences in the US, wasn't there a massive big discussion on about that a while ago? :confused:Yes, there has been massive, big, huge, endless discussion in the US about getting rid of mandatory minimum sentences: nothing whatsoever has been done about changing anything, of course.

Do you think this sentence is deserved, or over the top?

The subhuman got off easier than it should have.

What it deserves is torture and execution.

The subhuman got off easier than it should have.

What it deserves is torture and execution.

Pfft! Such a silly thing to say. You would do well to familiarize yourself with the writings of the eminent 20th-century Russian-American philosopher and crimefighter Ayn Rand. That would make you view it differently. :wink:

Looking on the bright side, now he has somewhere to live for 15 years?

The she caught the next boat out of the country and who knows where she went, I still miss you Justice my darling!

I doubt even she knows where she is. Her eyesight was none too good.

Good grief, if that is true then there's no way i'm going to the US any time soon. what a bastard Judge.

Good grief, if that is true then there's no way i'm going to the US any time soon. what a bastard Judge.

Don't rob a bank, and I think you'd be OK.

Don't rob a bank, and I think you'd be OK.

but the US banks have far more IOU notes than the British ones.:( how am i supposed to rob the US of all it's gold now?

but the US banks have far more IOU notes than the British ones.:( how am i supposed to rob the US of all it's gold now?

I hear Obama's shipping all of the gold out of Fort Knox and sending it to one of those Sell Your Gold commercials on TV to pay for the stimulus package - maybe you can intercept it en route and have a good ol' fashioned train robbery.

Well...at least he'll have a place to stay and warm meals for fifteen years.

I knew someone in the UK who carried out a bank robbery using a fake firearm. He got 4 years and deserved it because the weapon may not have been real but it did put the bank staff in very real fear for their lives. In this case he should still have a custodial sentence for the same reason, though 15 years is ridiculous and strikes me as possibly counter-productive.

I guess it depends on how scarred the bankteller and other stafmembers actually are. Man comes in,you believe he threatens your life and later people laugh at you for being scared of a homeless man without a weapon, and tell you it is not a big deal.

One can imagine them being unhappy.

Looking on the bright side, now he has somewhere to live for 15 years?
and as much sex as his ass can handle!

The subhuman got off easier than it should have.

What it deserves is torture and execution.

Right...

Go run a frozen banana stand, Bluth boy :p

Anyone thought that maybe this was his upteenth criminal activity? That his criminal record is longer than your arm? Maybe he was on parole for something else?

Not saying it was, but as was mentioned earlier there's very little information here. Maybe it's mandatory sentencing. Maybe it's because of his criminal history. Who knows?

I hear Obama's shipping all of the gold out of Fort Knox and sending it to one of those Sell Your Gold commercials on TV to pay for the stimulus package - maybe you can intercept it en route and have a good ol' fashioned train robbery.
ah thanks for the tip off, silly me thinking of going to the texas/mexico border to smuggle immigrants for cash.
Fort Knox here i come!
Anyone thought that maybe this was his upteenth criminal activity? That his criminal record is longer than your arm? Maybe he was on parole for something else?

Not saying it was, but as was mentioned earlier there's very little information here. Maybe it's mandatory sentencing. Maybe it's because of his criminal history. Who knows?

I'm sorry i think you've missed out the meaning of 15 years of life, a man can play chess against the same 5 other inmates for only so long, until yes he resorts to playing checkers.
the poor bastards.

If he was white, he would have probably got off with a much lighter sentence.

Or if he was rich.

Right...

Go run a frozen banana stand, Bluth boy :p

Annyong!

But my real name is...Hello!

Looking on the bright side, now he has somewhere to live for 15 years?

I remember a story of an old pensioner who needed coverage for his medical procedure, so he held up a bank, got sent to jail and got the med coverage for his condition.

he was nice about it too. "I'm robbing this bank, please call the police" then he sat calmly outside waiting for the police.

If he was white, he would have probably got off with a much lighter sentence.

Or if he was rich.

If he was rich then he probably wouldn't have felt the need to hold up a bank for $100. :p

He would have just committed fraud like any other self-respecting rich man.

If he was rich then he probably wouldn't have felt the need to hold up a bank for $100. :p

He would have just committed fraud like any other self-respecting rich man.

"take that bank job last week"
"Wot about it..."
"you had me enter a bank with a mask and a gun and take out money from my own account."

link to article (http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/265402#tab=article&sc=0&local=)

15 years...for stealing a $100,-- and turning himself in the next day. :eek:

Justice in Louisiana has gone awol. :(

Do you think this sentence is deserved, or over the top?
The sentence is way over the top. And typical of Louisiana, which has always been full of dicks. New Orleans and Mardi Gras don't actually represent the whole state.

Thats Louisiana for ya, I wouldnt recommend doing anything near their justice system....

Actually, I wouldnt recommend bothering to go to Louisiana at all, lol...