Man gets 15 years for robbing a bank for $100

[PhoenixAsh]

http://mthruf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/job-fails-society.jpg

[Le Libérer]

http://mthruf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/job-fails-society.jpg

That homeless man is from my city. I am on the Board of Directors for the Homeless Coalition here. Its common for the police to falsify arrests to put homeless people in jail to keep them off the streets. Its to send a strong message if you are homeless, better not come here.

[Le Libérer]

In fact, this is the front page story that ran today on homelesssness here and how horrible the system is.

[Ocean Seal]

In fact, this is the front page story that ran today on homelesssness here and how horrible the system is.
There is something severely fucked up about a man going to prison for 15 years for stealing $100 and to see that run against a white collar criminal who stole 3 billion well... And then again the whole bourgeois class is guilty of theft. I mean they don't work, and they come up with money, in my opinion that's the definition of theft.

[Le Libérer]

I posted it on facebook. And it has gone viral among local attorneys and other law professionals. The judge that convicted this man is still convicting other petty criminals even though this happened in 2007.

Hindsight, can I split this and make a thread in discrimination?

[ComradeMan]

Fuck--- that's really disgusting. Okay, the guy did wrong- but 15 years?

[Le Libérer]

As I said, Highsight's posted pic and gone viral among Shreveport's law professionals homeless advocates, and concerned citizens. I would like to share some of the comments among those who know the judge in question and the case. Others who should be aware of this, who arent.

First of the all, several have asked for previous charges by Mr. Brown. Louisiana is a 3 strikes you're out state. Was there other convictions?


Most three strike laws require that the first two offenses be fairly serious, but the third not necessarily. I don't know that it would win an appeal because to do that you have to prove an error in applying the law

My response

He doesnt sound like someone who has done 2 serious charges, if he turned himself in. Theres also the mental health issue that alot of homeless people suffer. I would love for the Exec Director of the Homeless Coalition to add her thoughts. She sees this stuff everyday


He knew what he did was wrong and turned himself in to be punished. The problem is that the punishment does not fit the crime.


I just did the math on this it going to cost taxpayers 650k and thats if he stays heathy!! Nice Job!!!

There are over 150 comment on my post alone, not counting the many other reposts.

Hindsight, you have really started something here in Louisiana.

[WeAreReborn]

I posted it on facebook. And it has gone viral among local attorneys and other law professionals. The judge that convicted this man is still convicting other petty criminals even though this happened in 2007.

Hindsight, can I split this and make a thread in discrimination?
One of my non political friends actually found this and sent it to me a few days ago. So that is pretty surprising how fast it spread. Pretty cool.

[Tim Cornelis]

This makes me wanna blow up some government property, ammirite?

[Princess Luna]

You guys don't understand! The CEO needed that money, how else was he going to his going to feed his family $15,000 caviar every night or keep up with payments on his $5,000,000 home???

[Principia Ethica]

For anyone familiar with the area/area politics. . .do you think the disparity in sentences is based on the socio-economic status? Race? Any other sort of bias? All of the above?

[Sam_b]

Okay, the guy did wrong

Could you perhaps quantify this statement? I don't think this is really the crux of the matter at all. Is it morally wrong in a system that ingrains people to the belief that accumulation of capital is a good thing, that there's no alternative to the current system, there being 'no such thing as a free lunch'; to take matters into their own hands out of desperation, isolation and the feeling of powerlessness?

I don't think we should be arguing a line of what he did was wrong BUT, in light of the current developments around austerity and globlisation. The guy stole from Capital One? Capital One received $3.56 Billion during the bailouts and is still turning a healthy profit! The banks stole from us, working people, in a crisis that was created by themselves. Banks get bailed, but homeless people get fifteen years in jail.

[t.shonku]

May be the guy got 15 yrs bcoz he is black !

Maybe the judge and cops are secretly with KKK

I have heard stories about cops being racist and judges too. In 70s and 60s black people were falsely arrested when ever there was a robbery in some departmental store, I mean haven't you seen the movie "The Hurricane" by Denzel Washington they put him in jail for being a black, I am not American and never been there but have heard a lot in internet about racial discrimination against Blacks , Arabs , Lationos

Hey don't get be wrong I am not saying that all white people are racist, there are a lot of good white folks but the problem is that they don't become judge or cops , they are as helpless .

[PhoenixAsh]

I posted it on facebook. And it has gone viral among local attorneys and other law professionals. The judge that convicted this man is still convicting other petty criminals even though this happened in 2007.

Hindsight, can I split this and make a thread in discrimination?

Yes...you can ;) If I post it then its up for grabs what you want to make of it. :)



As I said, Highsight's posted pic and gone viral among Shreveport's law professionals homeless advocates, and concerned citizens. I would like to share some of the comments among those who know the judge in question and the case. Others who should be aware of this, who arent.

First of the all, several have asked for previous charges by Mr. Brown. Louisiana is a 3 strikes you're out state. Was there other convictions?

My response

There are over 150 comment on my post alone, not counting the many other reposts.

Hindsight, you have really started something here in Louisiana.


Good...because cases like these are all too common. Somebody needs to do some thinking about the consequences and sanity of punishments.

This guy stole because he had no way to keep himself alive....he needed that money...he didn't steal to enrich himself, he didn't steal out of malice or jealousy...he stole because of bitter necessity. This is the age old question: "is it wrong to steal bread if you are starving?" No, offcourse it isn't.

The fact that this guy was driven to such an act is not saying something about that guy, its saying everything about the system he lives in. Such a punishment is not only insane...it is inhumane and completely pointless. Society is not going to be one molecule safer because this guy is put away for his heinous crime of wanting to survive.

In the meantime billions are spend to save banks and corporations that really do not need saving and who are to blame in the first place. These banks and corporations keep paying billions in bonusses while there is no money to help people in need. When people who can not find homes are told to stay out in the streets and who can barely feed themselves and their families.

And then we...or rather the US taxpayers...are expected to pay thousands of dollars to keep this guy in jail....for some illusion that this will make the world a better place.

I hope this pictures raises hell there and gets people good and mad and very, very upset.

[PhoenixAsh]

May be the guy got 15 yrs bcoz he is black !

Maybe the judge and cops are secretly with KKK

I have heard stories about cops being racist and judges too. In 70s and 60s black people were falsely arrested when ever there was a robbery in some departmental store, I mean haven't you seen the movie "The Hurricane" by Denzel Washington they put him in jail for being a black, I am not American and never been there but have heard a lot in internet about racial discrimination against Blacks , Arabs , Lationos

Hey don't get be wrong I am not saying that all white people are racist, there are a lot of good white folks but the problem is that they don't become judge or cops , they are as helpless .

Not all white people are racists...or at least...most of them are not consciously so...which is to say theyu do not know they are racists and they do not think themselves being racist but very tolerant (and that word itself speaks volumes).

But the predominant idea is that black people...or at least non westerners make up an unequal percentage of the criminal population. As such white people are hyper vigilant when it comes to people who are not white. Now...in Holland whenever there is a crime people tend to say..."want to bet its somebody from marokko" or...when they say its a white guy...they would say: "O its not a marokkan guy/girl". These very same people do not consider themselves racist. Its ingrained into our behaviour and thoughts...and it requires conscious effort to overcome that idea.

So yes...I think you are right. This guy was poor and he was black and that played a huge role in why the sentence was so insanely high.

[Game Girl]

What the hell si wrong with this world?

Okay. The guy commited a crime and should be punished accordingly, fair enough. But thats way too harsh for such a minor crime.

[Le Libérer]

May be the guy got 15 yrs bcoz he is black !

Maybe the judge and cops are secretly with KKK

I have heard stories about cops being racist and judges too. In 70s and 60s black people were falsely arrested when ever there was a robbery in some departmental store, I mean haven't you seen the movie "The Hurricane" by Denzel Washington they put him in jail for being a black, I am not American and never been there but have heard a lot in internet about racial discrimination against Blacks , Arabs , Lationos

Hey don't get be wrong I am not saying that all white people are racist, there are a lot of good white folks but the problem is that they don't become judge or cops , they are as helpless .

The judge is black.

When I revealed this information after several comments like


If what you're saying is true then Judge Emmanuel must be too ignorant to recognize he is being racist to his own people.
I think not.

Does it matter if the judge is black? Wouldnt it still be institutional racism and the race of the judge have no bearing on the fact this man is still victim to institutional racism? my reply was


it is institutional racism when a large portion of a single demographic is placed in prison for petty crimes. I dont see where anyone has proven this man has any former charges. Surely those who are passionate about their position "He deserved it" would have researched to prove their position. And I dont know the judge that handed out his sentence, or his race, but I also dont see what the race of the judge has anything to do with the systematic oppression of a singular demographic.we are talking about 250 years of history. Not the race of a judge who just happens along and adheres to that corrupt system. In this definition we are relating to principles, not a black or white judge against a black man. You are overly simplifying the system when you argue there wasnt institutional racism or its not racism because this judge is black. The system was racist long before he came along.

The race of this judge has no bearing on this case.

[Le Libérer]

This guy stole because he had no way to keep himself alive....he needed that money...he didn't steal to enrich himself, he didn't steal out of malice or jealousy...he stole because of bitter necessity. This is the age old question: "is it wrong to steal bread if you are starving?" No, offcourse it isn't.

The fact that this guy was driven to such an act is not saying something about that guy, its saying everything about the system he lives in. Such a punishment is not only insane...it is inhumane and completely pointless. Society is not going to be one molecule safer because this guy is put away for his heinous crime of wanting to survive.



One of my friend who is a drug and alcohol counselor just posted this. How even more saddening.


I remember this. I was working for the detox center and was the one to do his intake. The Detox Center had just started charging a $50.00 admission fee. This breaks my heart

I've been researching non-profits that help in wrongly convicted cases. I am hoping to get enough information on this case to present to them. From what I understand, they can present at parole hearings. Wish me luck! Maybe once again, revleft can be partially responsible for saving another mans life!

[Zav]

Shouldn't they just have fined him the $100? 15 YEARS is quite extreme, even for racial/homeless discrimination.

[Principia Ethica]

Does anyone know if there is a defense fund or something for this guy? I'm in.

[Le Libérer]

Does anyone know if there is a defense fund or something for this guy? I'm in.

He's already been convicted, back in 2007. SO theres no need for a defense fund. But I'll keep everyone informed on what I find.

[Principia Ethica]

He's already been convicted, back in 2007. SO theres no need for a defense fund. But I'll keep everyone informed on what I find.

Oh snap! This makes it so much worse :( Thanks for keeping us informed.

[Robocommie]

There is something severely fucked up about a man going to prison for 15 years for stealing $100 and to see that run against a white collar criminal who stole 3 billion well... And then again the whole bourgeois class is guilty of theft. I mean they don't work, and they come up with money, in my opinion that's the definition of theft.

And not only did he only steal $100, he turned himself in. I mean, shit.

[Robocommie]

He's already been convicted, back in 2007. SO theres no need for a defense fund. But I'll keep everyone informed on what I find.

What about a large metal file baked into a cake? :(

[Le Libérer]

What about a large metal file baked into a cake? :(

Seeing he felt tremendous guilt over his act that he turned himself in, I dont think he would be willing to commit a crime.

We have a strong homeless coalition of many nonprofits and organizations that work to identify the homeless and get them into housing, treatment, or anything that will assist them.

Every month when our coalition meets, we go over a case study of a homeless person who we are having extreme difficulty housing or getting professional help. One of the biggest barriers is all the shelters require a breath test for alcohol to get in. Many with mental issues use alcohol to lessen the symptoms of their diseases. In other words, they self medicate, therefore are turned away.

And as I posted above, the drug and alcohol detox center had just started charging $50 to get into the Center. Since that time in 2007, they have changed that policy. If someone is homeless, they will waver the fee.

[Aspiring Humanist]

this sums up everything wrong with capitalism