Florida "first offender" gets 161 years in prison

[jp06]

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1221058--florida-first-offender-gets-161-years-in-prison

All I can do is LOL. 6 counts of armed robbery and he thinks he can use the "first time offender" excuse. Well, he was going to commit armed robberies until he got caught. But even more funny is how his "buddies" ratted him out to get lighter sentences ranging from 9 to 22 years (which is pretty harsh already)

[LostInTruth]

Not making excuses, but Florida is a discriminatory state.

[zz000ter]

If you can't do the time - don't do the crime

LostInTruth - you don't think a white boy would have gotten the same time?
As stated - the formula for jail time is out of the judges hands

It must be the hair

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2008/008/8/1/SideShow_Bob__by_leif_j.png

[Agafaba]

I would say 161 years is a bit excessive but that would be a huge understatement. Florida has a history of throwing the book at people, they really love jail time in the sunshine state.

[wilsonlam97]

His crimes aren't "too" bad. I'd say give him 15 years in jail to teach him a lesson. He does have disabilities.

[jp06]

His crimes aren't "too" bad. I'd say give him 15 years in jail to teach him a lesson. He does have disabilities.

well it depends on the country/state and what they consider as serious crimes. Take Canada for example... if you're caught with a grow-op, you get a slap on the wrist. But in the US, if you're caught with a grow-op, well.... it's bye bye for you. I would consider armed robbery as serious because it involves a firearm.

[LostInTruth]

If you can't do the time - don't do the crime

LostInTruth - you don't think a white boy would have gotten the same time?
As stated - the formula for jail time is out of the judges hands

It must be the hair

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2008/008/8/1/SideShow_Bob__by_leif_j.png

Nope. This is the same state that let a man shoot and kill an innocent young black male, and then let his murderer go unpunished for weeks. We can replace any minority in this situation, and regardless the outcome will be similar. The U.S. people have a history of fearing minorities.

[Junigenmukyoku]

:facepalm: Only in Florida.

[Syne]

Florida has the worst reputation for backwards justice.

[nauru]

It's already well-known that some races get heavier sentences than others for committing equivalent crimes under equivalent circumstances. But I wonder if it is also well-known which states have the largest gap between the heaviest-sentenced race and the lightest-sentenced race.

And I wonder if Florida is basically the worst by this metric.

[BornRuff]

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1221058--florida-first-offender-gets-161-years-in-prison

All I can do is LOL. 6 counts of armed robbery and he thinks he can use the "first time offender" excuse. Well, he was going to commit armed robberies until he got caught. But even more funny is how his "buddies" ratted him out to get lighter sentences ranging from 9 to 22 years (which is pretty harsh already)

This just seems like a waste to me. You can't really tell me that this 20 year old kid has no chance of rehabilitation. Why spend possibly 60+ years paying for this guy to rot in jail? He broke the law, but his crimes were far from unforgivable. As you already pointed out, even 9 years is harsh for this. He should do time, but he shouldn't be doing life.

[Cafe_333]

All I can do is LOL. 6 counts of armed robbery and he thinks he can use the "first time offender" excuse. I agree, what a joke this kid is. By his logic serial killers and serial rapists should be given lighter sentences if they have never been charged with the crime before lol! :lol:

[Muney]

Florida has the worst reputation for backwards justice.

How is this backwards justice?? The dude got caught and charged with Armed Robbery 6 times. Do you really think he should just get a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again? I wish Canada had this "stacking" of crimes, it make way more sense than what we have now.

The liberals on this site blow my mind.

[gizmo8]

The Wall Street bankers stole billions and got promotions .....

[retteas]

The Wall Street bankers stole billions and got promotions .....

but they didn't stick a gun in your face and threatened to kill you.

armed robbery 6 times, 6 times he couldn't resist commiting a crime, that scum deserves the death penalty if it still existed, but the best we can do is to lock him up so he will be forced not to commit more crimes.

[Simaahoy]

He should have committed his crimes in Canada...:cheesygri

[iEyeCaptain]

Give a man (OR woman - pls no ban for sexism) a gun and he/she will rob a bank.

Give a man (OR woman!!!) a bank and he/she will rob the world.

[divx]

but they didn't stick a gun in your face and threatened to kill you.

armed robbery 6 times, 6 times he couldn't resist commiting a crime, that scum deserves the death penalty if it still existed, but the best we can do is to lock him up so he will be forced not to commit more crimes.

i thought they got the death plenty down there? and what's up with people saying the plenty is too harsh? I'm all for giving 2nd chances, but the dude committed 6 robberies, he obvious didn't get the memo the first time.

[lildevilx]

The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided that life sentences without parole for defendants under the age of 18 constituted “cruel and unusual punishment,” even in cases of murder. Unfortunately for Davis, he was 18 at the time of his crimes.

anyone else find this funny? :P so he gets 1,941 instead :P

[googoo]

It's already well-known that some races get heavier sentences than others for committing equivalent crimes under equivalent circumstances. But I wonder if it is also well-known which states have the largest gap between the heaviest-sentenced race and the lightest-sentenced race.

And some races commit a much higher % of the crime based on the % of their race within the general population.

[RolandCouch]

First time offence? haha what a joke this guy is.

That's like only holding a serial killer accountable for the last person he kills - glad this guy got so much time.

[LostInTruth]

but they didn't stick a gun in your face and threatened to kill you.

armed robbery 6 times, 6 times he couldn't resist commiting a crime, that scum deserves the death penalty if it still existed, but the best we can do is to lock him up so he will be forced not to commit more crimes.

You know this is part of the reason why people oppose death penalty?

A lot of people need to start paying more attention in class


And some races commit a much higher % of the crime based on the % of their race within the general population.

You know the reason right? Put aside whatever bias you might have from your personal perspective though. I always see scared people on this board posting images of big, strong black males in fear for whatever reason.


Btw, the Wall Street bankers causing millions to lose their homes, savings and some cases life through suicide, while irrelevant to this thread, still shows the complete utter lack of injustice across the board.

Florida is a racist state, yes racism still exists in America to each and every minority.

Btw, another gem from this article:

In one recent, highly controversial Florida sentencing, Marissa Alexander, an African-American woman in Jacksonville with no previous criminal record, was sentenced to 20 years for firing a pistol twice into the air while trying to ward off an attack by her abusive husband.

Denied the protection of Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law, the 31-year-old mother of three was convicted of aggravated assault and given the mandatory sentence for anyone who fires a gun in commission of the felony.

Things that make you go WTF. Yet, people applauded a man shooting his daughter's laptop.

[sylpherware]

LOL

Looks like Shaq :)

[motto1997]

Wow. :facepalm:

Florida really is America's trash.



In one recent, highly controversial Florida sentencing, Marissa Alexander, an African-American woman in Jacksonville with no previous criminal record, was sentenced to 20 years for firing a pistol twice into the air while trying to ward off an attack by her abusive husband.

Denied the protection of Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law, the 31-year-old mother of three was convicted of aggravated assault and given the mandatory sentence for anyone who fires a gun in commission of the felony.

[sandikosh]

What is the point in long term sentences? If the courts keeps handing out these sentences, the state will have to build more prisons. And those cost money! Most likely these convicts will be spending far less time in jail and be allowed early leave to make room for others.

[nauru]

What is the point in long term sentences? If the courts keeps handing out these sentences, the state will have to build more prisons. And those cost money! Most likely these convicts will be spending far less time in jail and be allowed early leave to make room for others.

If you are a legislator, DA or judge who has an ownership stake in prison management or construction firms getting these contracts, then prisons don't cost money; prisons make money. Corporatism FTW.

[stealth]

It seems like a really heavy punishment, but I have to say, IMO, that's the most effective type of "gun ban".
Use a gun to commit a crime, and your life is over, no jokes. Hopefully the word gets out to others contemplating doing the same thing.
No one may have gotten hurt during his crime spree, but it wouldn't have taken much for things to take a turn for the worst and thered be bodies on the floor.


His lack of remorse ( only focuses on how he was wronged by the system and not his own wrong actions), makes it hard for me to sympathize for him.

Even someone with a learning disability could get a job at Walmart, McDonald's or doing landscaping, detailing cars, etc....and bipolar is manageable with medication. So, disability, my ***** .

If Florida is a racist as they say, why wasn't this black armed robber not shot dead by police? He should be thankful every morning that he's still alive.

First offender is such a misnomer....a first conviction doesn't necessarily mean it was the first time the person ever committed that offense....it's just the first time they were caught/convicted. So I don't see the point in rewarding someone for that.

No, the world is a better place with guys like this removed from society.

[retteas]

i agree. the people who are defending this animal needs to get a reality check, i bet they wouldn't feel so tough if they got a gun pointed in thier face while at work. the scum committed attempted murder over a couple of bucks in the cash register, that shows a complete disregarrd for life, and he went out and did it 6 times too. 161 years in prison, well deserved for this animal.

[D-Roc]

He rolled the dice thinking he would get a very light sentance if he was caught. He lost. Sucks to be him.
I do not see the issue with the time he received. He won't be committing any more crimes in society so I am happy with it.

[laptop-tech]

I would say 161 years is a bit excessive but that would be a huge understatement. Florida has a history of throwing the book at people, they really love jail time in the sunshine state.

Agree that 161 years is too long. Maybe they should give him a chance by reducing it to 80 years only.

[stealth]

Agree that 161 years is too long. Maybe they should give him a chance by reducing it to 80 years only.

Im more lenient than you neocons...jail him until he's 60yrs old (50 with good behaviour), by then presumably his hormones will have settled down enough that he wont have as much desire to commit macho crimes.
As I said before, committing a crime with a loaded gun should be considered almost as heinous as shooting someone, as they were mostly just lucky that noone got killed. Its the only way to deter criminals from using guns in crimes.

Seems funny to me as well, that he complains about not getting first offense leniency, but not of being innocent, yet the writer seems to want to cast doubt on the evidence against him?

[LostInTruth]

If Florida is a racist as they say, why wasn't this black armed robber not shot dead by police? He should be thankful every morning that he's still alive.

.

I don't know what this means.....? Be thankful for NOT being shot because of the colour of his skin? Get the heck out man!

Btw, they already shot and killed an unarmed black youth. Not police but one of their upstanding citizens. :)

[Agafaba]

i agree. the people who are defending this animal needs to get a reality check, i bet they wouldn't feel so tough if they got a gun pointed in thier face while at work. the scum committed attempted murder over a couple of bucks in the cash register, that shows a complete disregarrd for life, and he went out and did it 6 times too. 161 years in prison, well deserved for this animal.

Defending somebody and claiming their punishment was too harsh are 2 very different things. I dont see how its attempted murder though, can someone really be such a poor shot that they fire at storekeepers on 6 different occasions at point blank range and miss every shot, or is it more likely that he didnt try to kill anyone and used the weapon so he would feel/appear tougher.

[pablonutribar]

Im more lenient than you neocons...jail him until he's 60yrs old (50 with good behaviour), by then presumably his hormones will have settled down enough that he wont have as much desire to commit macho crimes.
As I said before, committing a crime with a loaded gun should be considered almost as heinous as shooting someone, as they were mostly just lucky that noone got killed. Its the only way to deter criminals from using guns in crimes.

Seems funny to me as well, that he complains about not getting first offense leniency, but not of being innocent, yet the writer seems to want to cast doubt on the evidence against him?

Sarcasm? On one hand, his hormones will have settled down. On the other hand, mind you, he will be completely institutionalized by that time, and will not be able to cope with life in regular society. Perhaps they should just shoot him and get it over with?

[Ghiness]

Wow. :facepalm:

Florida really is America's trash.

Funny thing is, had she actually shot and killed him then she could have used "stand your ground" and possibly gotten away with murder... what a joke

[longitude]

It's in the US, no surprise.