15 year old gets 2-6 years and life as a felon for stealing 7 cents

[Aspiring Humanist]

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/syracuse_15-year-old_gets_two.html

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 15-year-old Syracuse boy will spend the next two to six years in juvenile detention and the rest of his life as a felon as a result of his sentencing today for a robbery that netted him and an accomplice seven cents.
Onondaga County Judge William Walsh rejected a defense lawyer’s request to treat Anthony Stewart, of West Onondaga Street, as a youthful offender. That means his felony conviction will remain on his permanent record.

The kid assaulted an old man which is pretty fucked up yes, but depriving him the right to vote, not being able to get a visa, probable denial of all federal loans, extremely hard time getting into college/job and everything else that comes along with being a felon for what he did when he was FIFTEEN years old is beyond fucked up, on TOP of the two to six years in the pen he has lined up.

[Os Cangaceiros]

The funny thing about felony convictions is that they seem to push people towards a life of crime, rather than away from it.

If so many opportunities are denied to you, then making money via illicite means looks more and more appealing.

[thefinalmarch]

Fuck I thought we left the Victorian era behind a long time ago.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

The funny thing about felony convictions is that they seem to push people towards a life of crime, rather than away from it.

For sure. Besides the normal prejudice you would face from employers, you're actually outright banned from all sorts of employment, from working with or around children to things like working on railroads.

[GPDP]

Oh would you look at that, the kid was colored.

Nope, the justice system isn't racist at all.

[Nox]

I don't suppose anyone at the trial mentioned that he stole SEVEN FUCKING CENTS.

[Zealot]

his felony conviction will remain on his permanent record. Walsh said he might have ruled differently if Stewart had pleaded guilty, as did his accomplice


Stewart and Ninham ran up behind the victim Dec. 22 and knocked him to the ground. Ninham kicked the victim and Stewart punched him in the face, breaking his glasses, before the victim handed over the seven cents in his pocket, prosecutors said. The two teens had handguns, which Stewart later said were BB guns

Just to point out, the sentence was hardly about it being a mere 7 cents. This was almost an armed robbery and assault, the fact that the old man only had 7 cents on him means nothing, it could have been a million and it would be the same sentence. Depending on his background and circumstances, I feel this punk got what was coming to him.

[Kamos]

Just to point out, the sentence was hardly about it being a mere 7 cents. This was almost an armed robbery and assault, the fact that the old man only had 7 cents on him means nothing, it could have been a million and it would be the same sentence. Depending on his background and circumstances, I feel this punk got what was coming to him.

You're absolutely right in one sense - it's not the money that matters, and the crime wasn't trivial either. On the other hand, the punishment is still way out of proportions, and represents well why the legal system needs a big overhaul. It's not even like the kid robbed a rich businessman; the old guy might have been a poor ex-working class pensioner, or worse.

[Die Rote Fahne]

What I'm more concerned with is how the US system focuses on punishment, and not rehabilitation. The kid is going to prison, and he will come out worse in terms of being a "criminal".

[Luís Henrique]

You're absolutely right in one sense - it's not the money that matters, and the crime wasn't trivial either. On the other hand, the punishment is still way out of proportions, and represents well why the legal system needs a big overhaul.

Indeed, it is even beyond disproportion - there are two aspects of this conviction and the legal dispositions associated with it that just plain and simply barbaric: the treatment of a 15 year old as an adult, and the perpetual nature of the penalty.

Luís Henrique

[ColonelCossack]

3 strikes is total shit.

a legal system based on baseball? :confused:

[manic expression]

Syracuse has been ratcheting up this kind of lunacy in recent months. Police brutality has been on the rise and the pigs and their judge buddies think they can do whatever they want.

[Princess Luna]

While I disagree with the sentence, I think the title should be changed. He didn't get 2-6 years for stealing a few cents, he got 2-6 years for beating the shit out of a old guy. Now granted giving him 6 years for that is a injustice, but it's not even in the same galaxy as giving someone 6 years for stealing 7 cents like the title implies.

[Ocean Seal]

While the fact that he's going to jail for 2-6 years is excessive and of course the mark felon just pushes him towards a life of crime, I can't help but think that this was a really fucked up crime. Fucking up an old man and then stealing from him especially since the man was probably poor is fucked up.