Missouri Man Faces 30-Year Prison Term
This crook might go to jail for life and OJ will probably go free again. [:(!] It's the American way, I guess. I don't try to understand, anymore. They are both career criminals, so I don't know the answer.........[B)][B)]
rider
Missouri Man Faces 30-Year Prison Term for Stealing 52-Cent Doughnut
Monday, October 08, 2007
FARMINGTON, Mo. - A Park Hills man could potentially pay a hefty price to satisfy his sweet tooth.
Scott A. Masters, 41, has been charged with felony second-degree robbery after employees at a Country Mart in this town 70 miles south of St. Louis said he slipped a 52-cent doughnut into his sweat shirt without paying last December, then pushed away a clerk who tried to stop him as he fled the store.
The push is being treated as minor assault, which transforms a misdemeanor shoplifting charge to a strong-armed robbery with a potential prison term of five to 15 years. Given Masters' criminal past, prosecutors could boost that sentence to 30 years to life.
"Strong-arm robbery? Over a doughnut? That's impossible," Masters told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from jail. He admitted that he took the pastry but denying touching the female employee. "I've never had a violent crime in my life. And there's no way I would've pushed a woman over a doughnut."
Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker said state law treats the shoplifting and assault as forcibly stealing property. The amount of force and value of the property doesn't matter.
"It's not the doughnut," Baker said. "It's the assault."
Masters, who has been arrested more than a dozen times for crimes ranging from shoplifting to drug possession to torching a car for insurance fraud, said he forgot about the doughnut theft as he spent the summer in jail on outstanding warrants.
He was indicted Sept. 14 for the robbery and is being held on $25,000 bail after having his case continued on Friday. With two prior felony convictions, Masters could face a long prison sentence if found guilty because prosecutors could pursue an enhanced sentence.
County Prosecutor Wendy Wexler Horn said it was "way too early to know how it is going to play out," but that the charge seemed appropriate given the store employees' allegations. She acknowledged some are questioning the seriousness of the charge.
"People are missing the point," Horn said. "It is not about the doughnut."
For Masters' part, he didn't even get to enjoy his ill-gotten gains. He said he threw the doughnut away as he fled.
rider
Missouri Man Faces 30-Year Prison Term for Stealing 52-Cent Doughnut
Monday, October 08, 2007
FARMINGTON, Mo. - A Park Hills man could potentially pay a hefty price to satisfy his sweet tooth.
Scott A. Masters, 41, has been charged with felony second-degree robbery after employees at a Country Mart in this town 70 miles south of St. Louis said he slipped a 52-cent doughnut into his sweat shirt without paying last December, then pushed away a clerk who tried to stop him as he fled the store.
The push is being treated as minor assault, which transforms a misdemeanor shoplifting charge to a strong-armed robbery with a potential prison term of five to 15 years. Given Masters' criminal past, prosecutors could boost that sentence to 30 years to life.
"Strong-arm robbery? Over a doughnut? That's impossible," Masters told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from jail. He admitted that he took the pastry but denying touching the female employee. "I've never had a violent crime in my life. And there's no way I would've pushed a woman over a doughnut."
Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker said state law treats the shoplifting and assault as forcibly stealing property. The amount of force and value of the property doesn't matter.
"It's not the doughnut," Baker said. "It's the assault."
Masters, who has been arrested more than a dozen times for crimes ranging from shoplifting to drug possession to torching a car for insurance fraud, said he forgot about the doughnut theft as he spent the summer in jail on outstanding warrants.
He was indicted Sept. 14 for the robbery and is being held on $25,000 bail after having his case continued on Friday. With two prior felony convictions, Masters could face a long prison sentence if found guilty because prosecutors could pursue an enhanced sentence.
County Prosecutor Wendy Wexler Horn said it was "way too early to know how it is going to play out," but that the charge seemed appropriate given the store employees' allegations. She acknowledged some are questioning the seriousness of the charge.
"People are missing the point," Horn said. "It is not about the doughnut."
For Masters' part, he didn't even get to enjoy his ill-gotten gains. He said he threw the doughnut away as he fled.
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That's maybe 50mi. from here[:0]...a crazy world indeed. 0 -
Calling Inspector Javert! Jean Valjean has been arrested!
[:0][;)]
This is exactly what Victor Hugo was writing about.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rider
Masters, who has been arrested more than a dozen times for crimes ranging from shoplifting to drug possession to torching a car for insurance fraud
Another career criminal locked up....sounds good to me!0 -
RELATED STORY AND SOMEHOW THESE TWO PERPS MUST BE RELATED....... COMICAL COPS REMARK AT ARTICLE END ....
Alleged doughnut-snatcher jailed
By BRETT HAMBRIGHT, Staff
Intelligencer Journal
Published: Oct 04, 2007 1:48 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - A 39-year-old woman was arrested outside an East Lampeter Township grocery store Wednesday and charged with having a stolen doughnut in the back of her pants, investigators said.
Police allege Lynn K. Dailey, of 244 W. Lemon St., stole a single 44-cent doughnut and walked out of Weis Market at 1603 Lincoln Highway East.
Police were tipped off to the theft by witnesses at the store, and within minutes they found the woman hiding across the street at a nearby business, they said.
Dailey was wanted for an outstanding bench warrant and spent the night in Lancaster County Prison Wednesday, East Lampeter Township police Sgt. James McElheny said.
"A 44-cent doughnut resulted in her being turned over to (the) Lancaster city prison, where she is waiting to see a county judge," McElheny said.
Dailey's warrant was issued for a parole violation.
Police said Dailey walked into the store about 2:30 p.m. and concealed the doughnut in the back of her pants.
Dailey then ran out of the store and crossed Pitney Road while witnesses called 911, police said. Police arrested her outside Gilbert's Automotive, 32 Pitney Road.
She was charged with retail theft for allegedly taking the doughnut, McElheny said.
Asked what type of doughnut police recovered from the woman, McElheny said, "smushed."0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
quote:Originally posted by rider
Masters, who has been arrested more than a dozen times for crimes ranging from shoplifting to drug possession to torching a car for insurance fraud
Another career criminal locked up....sounds good to me!
I agree. Lock him up.0 -
Gentlemen:
The really sad thing about this is, stealing a $.50 donut will probably cost taxpayers about $500.00 a day to incarcerate the thief.
Recently I have been complaining to our County's tax assessor about our higher real estate taxes. He says is it is not his fault its the politicians fault for excessive spending. I found out yesterday that our county's correctional system cost taxpayers $90,000 per day or almost $33 million per year! Crime doesn't pay but it cost taxpayers a boat load of money.0 -
he slipped a 52-cent doughnut into his sweat shirt without paying last December
.44 CENT DONUT IN OHIO... MUST BE CHEAPER TO LOCK THEM UP THERE ALSO ......0 -
...Let the system "work"... he'll do a year or less by the time it's all said and done.
...Little doubt the prison system is screwed up. A jerk petty criminal that FINALLY does enough crimes to FINALLY be sent to prison for a few years, is NOT going to come out and be productive; what's he going to do, go to work as a bank VP or revert to being a thief?
...So, I don't have a good solution except put all these jerks on an Island, give them building materials, air drops of minimal food...and let the "Big Dog" on the Island run it as they see fit...[^]
0 -
quote:Originally posted by COLT
...Let the system "work"... he'll do a year or less by the time it's all said and done.
...Little doubt the prison system is screwed up. A jerk petty criminal that FINALLY does enough crimes to FINALLY be sent to prison for a few years, is NOT going to come out and be productive; what's he going to do, go to work as a bank VP or revert to being a thief?
...So, I don't have a good solution except put all these jerks on an Island, give them building materials, air drops of minimal food...and let the "Big Dog" on the Island run it as they see fit...[^]
HEY!! Their's a movie in there some where!! [^]
Jeff0 -
quote:Originally posted by COLT
...Let the system "work"... he'll do a year or less by the time it's all said and done.
...Little doubt the prison system is screwed up. A jerk petty criminal that FINALLY does enough crimes to FINALLY be sent to prison for a few years, is NOT going to come out and be productive; what's he going to do, go to work as a bank VP or revert to being a thief?
...So, I don't have a good solution except put all these jerks on an Island, give them building materials, air drops of minimal food...and let the "Big Dog" on the Island run it as they see fit...[^]
They'd just build a boat with the building mtrls and be right back..0 -
...A movie, hmmm, anyone seen the zipper? [:D] fish, find a screenwriter and I'll go "halvies" [:p]
...Dang, build a boat...your probably right...maybe some light new patrol boats HEAVILY armed...still may be way cheaper than the system we have now; besides, look how many would kill each other off!...self cleaning "pools" are not a new idea...[^]0 -
quote:Originally posted by rider
This crook might go to jail for life and OJ will probably go free again. [:(!] It's the American way, I guess. I don't try to understand, anymore. They are both career criminals, so I don't know the answer.........[B)][B)]
rider
Missouri Man Faces 30-Year Prison Term for Stealing 52-Cent Doughnut
Monday, October 08, 2007
FARMINGTON, Mo. - A Park Hills man could potentially pay a hefty price to satisfy his sweet tooth.
Scott A. Masters, 41, has been charged with felony second-degree robbery after employees at a Country Mart in this town 70 miles south of St. Louis said he slipped a 52-cent doughnut into his sweat shirt without paying last December, then pushed away a clerk who tried to stop him as he fled the store.
The push is being treated as minor assault, which transforms a misdemeanor shoplifting charge to a strong-armed robbery with a potential prison term of five to 15 years. Given Masters' criminal past, prosecutors could boost that sentence to 30 years to life.
"Strong-arm robbery? Over a doughnut? That's impossible," Masters told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from jail. He admitted that he took the pastry but denying touching the female employee. "I've never had a violent crime in my life. And there's no way I would've pushed a woman over a doughnut."
Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker said state law treats the shoplifting and assault as forcibly stealing property. The amount of force and value of the property doesn't matter.
"It's not the doughnut," Baker said. "It's the assault."
Masters, who has been arrested more than a dozen times for crimes ranging from shoplifting to drug possession to torching a car for insurance fraud, said he forgot about the doughnut theft as he spent the summer in jail on outstanding warrants.
He was indicted Sept. 14 for the robbery and is being held on $25,000 bail after having his case continued on Friday. With two prior felony convictions, Masters could face a long prison sentence if found guilty because prosecutors could pursue an enhanced sentence.
County Prosecutor Wendy Wexler Horn said it was "way too early to know how it is going to play out," but that the charge seemed appropriate given the store employees' allegations. She acknowledged some are questioning the seriousness of the charge.
"People are missing the point," Horn said. "It is not about the doughnut."
For Masters' part, he didn't even get to enjoy his ill-gotten gains. He said he threw the doughnut away as he fled.
Some people dont know how to act outside of jail/prison.I had a friend that cant stay out.Hes doing 15 years for DWIs.0 -
quote:Originally posted by COLT
...Let the system "work"... he'll do a year or less by the time it's all said and done.
...Little doubt the prison system is screwed up. A jerk petty criminal that FINALLY does enough crimes to FINALLY be sent to prison for a few years, is NOT going to come out and be productive; what's he going to do, go to work as a bank VP or revert to being a thief?
...So, I don't have a good solution except put all these jerks on an Island, give them building materials, air drops of minimal food...and let the "Big Dog" on the Island run it as they see fit...[^]
I think they already tried that....or WILL try that..[:)][:)]
KHAAAAN!!!0 -
a career criminal is a career criminal. the liberals like to make a deal out of him going to jail for a donut but this guy has been arrested 50 times before and that means he committs 10 crimes for every 1 that he is arrested for. there is no excuse for a 41 yr old man who is a career criminal to be stealing donuts or stealing anything. lock him up for life and do society a favor. otherwise, he'll be committing more crimes the day he is let out of jail. 0 -
quote:Masters, who has been arrested more than a dozen times for crimes ranging from shoplifting to drug possession to torching a car for insurance fraud
thats just what he got caught doing, like al capone what goes around comes around0 -
if he'd steal a flippen doughnut, he'll steal anything...dumbas[V] 0 -
What Prosecutors want and what they get are generally quite different. I doubt the county will go through the expense of a trial over a doughnut and a push.
I bet a dozen doughnuts he get pled down to a low level felony and serves less than a year even given his criminal history.
Now his outstanding robbery charge, well that's a different story..[:)]0 -
It's who you know, not if your guilty or not and whether you get away with it, or do no time
EX --- O.J. -- Bill & Monica --- Clinton --- I didn't inhale...
Enough proof right there0 -
He was a dummy. People and their kids eat merchandise inside stores all the time and get away with it. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Robin
Gentlemen:
The really sad thing about this is, stealing a $.50 donut will probably cost taxpayers about $500.00 a day to incarcerate the thief.
[?][?][?]
Where in the world did you obtain the $500 per day figure for state incarceration in Missouri? I doubt that even their death row inmate cost is anywhere close to this figure.
Do a bit of research and you'll probably find that Missouri's average state inmate cost is 10% or less than what you claim. Factor in too that from the sounds of this guy's track record he'd probably be on the very lowest end of their cost scale.
As was pointed out, this guy even steals donuts. How much do you figure this apparently unrepentive idiot would cost his fellow citizens per day if he weren't locked up?0 -
quote:Originally posted by Txs
quote:Originally posted by Robin
Gentlemen:
The really sad thing about this is, stealing a $.50 donut will probably cost taxpayers about $500.00 a day to incarcerate the thief.
[?][?][?]
Where in the world did you obtain the $500 per day figure for state incarceration in Missouri? I doubt that even their death row inmate cost is anywhere close to this figure.
Do a bit of research and you'll probably find that Missouri's average state inmate cost is 10% or less than what you claim. Factor in too that from the sounds of this guy's track record he'd probably be on the very lowest end of their cost scale.
As was pointed out, this guy even steals donuts. How much do you figure this apparently unrepentive idiot would cost his fellow citizens per day if he weren't locked up?
Once in France, I saw a bum steal a piece of fruit from a display in front of a little food shop along a main street. An old lady ran out with a broom and beat the man with it and ran him off. Two French garndarms (sp?) stood by and watched the exchange and smiled. They made no move toward the affair and finished their cafe and Croisant (French for coffee and donut). [:o)]
How would have Americans played that out?0 -
Heres an idea, don't steal a doughnut!! DUH!!!![}:)][}:)] 0 -
He has been arrested a dozen times, some of them serious crimes, and he has committed ten crimes for every one he was arrested for.
Now he is out stealing donuts.
Screw him, lock him up, we don't need scum like this out on the streets.0 -
As many crimes as he has committed, it appears to me prison is where he wants to be. 0 -
he must have stolen the donut right out of the cops hand. 0 -
You know, a lot of these stories are guys (and gals) who, consciously or not, just want to go back home with the rest of society's rejects, where they get 3 hots and a cot and get supervised to the level that they need to keep themslves more or less healthy.
And damn, donuts are like 80 cents around here!0 -
So why not actually charge him with the crimes he's committed, and put him away long enough to not be a nuisance based on those? Drugs and insurance fraud normally get you a vicious sentence.
Sorry, I just don't like it when prosecutors get away with locking someone away forever on trumped-up charges because "trust me, he really deserved it". That's an imposition on the restraints of government power that any citizen should be worried about.
Court punishments are supposed to reflect the crime, not how much of a jerk some bureaucrat's decided you are, even if you really are a jerk. And for every Al Capone there's twenty guys who just said something rude to one of the cops, or did a petty crime while being the wrong color, or just happened to come up for trial while some county prosecutor was trying to get reelected on a "tough on crime" stance. Blame it on the liberals all you like, it's you who's gonna get screwed if a cop stops you for jaywalking, finds your CCW on you, and decides to link it to an attempted violent offence.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Svobodov
So why not actually charge him with the crimes he's committed, and put him away long enough to not be a nuisance based on those? Drugs and insurance fraud normally get you a vicious sentence.
Sorry, I just don't like it when prosecutors get away with locking someone away forever on trumped-up charges because "trust me, he really deserved it". That's an imposition on the restraints of government power that any citizen should be worried about.
Court punishments are supposed to reflect the crime, not how much of a jerk some bureaucrat's decided you are, even if you really are a jerk. And for every Al Capone there's twenty guys who just said something rude to one of the cops, or did a petty crime while being the wrong color, or just happened to come up for trial while some county prosecutor was trying to get reelected on a "tough on crime" stance. Blame it on the liberals all you like, it's you who's gonna get screwed if a cop stops you for jaywalking, finds your CCW on you, and decides to link it to an attempted violent offence.
Pssst Svobodov,
Delving too deep into justice or right around here will not win you points. Guilt is decided by Mob Rule and subject to modifyers such as different religion, different race, different nationality, or different values and morals. While the TV show "COPS" has the disclaimer that "All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law", we know that is not true and there are only two proper outcomes to all lawbreaking. Twenty to life, or extra chrispy. And watch your use of big words! [;)][:0][:p]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Svobodov
So why not actually charge him with the crimes he's committed, and put him away long enough to not be a nuisance based on those? Drugs and insurance fraud normally get you a vicious sentence.
Sorry, I just don't like it when prosecutors get away with locking someone away forever on trumped-up charges because "trust me, he really deserved it". That's an imposition on the restraints of government power that any citizen should be worried about.
Court punishments are supposed to reflect the crime, not how much of a jerk some bureaucrat's decided you are, even if you really are a jerk. And for every Al Capone there's twenty guys who just said something rude to one of the cops, or did a petty crime while being the wrong color, or just happened to come up for trial while some county prosecutor was trying to get reelected on a "tough on crime" stance. Blame it on the liberals all you like, it's you who's gonna get screwed if a cop stops you for jaywalking, finds your CCW on you, and decides to link it to an attempted violent offence.
To start with, I agree with you that if this guy had been dealt with properly on some of his previous crimes he wouldn't be out pulling this kind of crap. Don't hold me to these specific numbers, but there's a lot of truth in the often heard observation that 90% of our crime is committed by only 10% of our population.
That being said it's tough to read this article and not come away with the impression that the justice system is screwed up, all because it focuses so much on the value of the property. This is actually an account of how an idiot turned a 52 cent donut theft into a robbery. It's not the law that's colossally stupid,
it's him. Any experienced thief knows that if you're caught shoplifting you never/ever touch the person who caught you. Your low level misdemeanor instantly becomes a felony.
Due to being a crime against a person there aren't varying degrees of robbery based upon the value of the property taken, it's the punishment that differs. By definition, if a person uses any degree of force against another to take property from them it's a robbery, plain and simple. In order for justice to be done the law provides a broad minimum-maximum sentence range. Notice the article only says he's facing a potential 30 year sentence, not that this will be the jury's only option. For all we know he'd be eligible for probation.
The article focuses quite a bit on his prior criminal record along with this potentially long sentence, but notice that nowhere does it state the degree of charge he's now facing is in any way linked to those actions. As related, what occurred in the grocery store contains all of the elements to support a robbery charge against even a first offender.
Understand too that when this comes to trial a defendant's prior criminal activity can't be brought up in the guilt/innocence phase. The jury has to make their decision based solely upon the merits of the case before them. If he's found guilty the jury can then be presented with evidence of his prior criminal activity. They'll be allowed to weigh this along with the degree of force used and the value of the property taken in order to hand down punishment they feel fits this specific case.
I don't know much about trial procedure in Missouri, but if I was him I'd opt for a trial by jury but have my punishment set by the judge. Juries are often guided by emotion and once they see his past they're likely to hammer him over even a donut.0 -
And if he ends up going to jail long term, the tax payers might get by with less than a 500.00 bill to take care of him , since he seems to like donuts..
day old ones aren't that expensive and maybe they can be had for free from the local bakery... in Jeff City, MO.....0
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