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Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDonald's

Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Dirt Racer said:
5 years may seem like a lot but this guy is a repeat offender for theft. His actions cause the rest of us to pay higher prices for everything they steal. Chances are everytime he had been charged in the past was as simple as a slap on the wrist. Looks like this time they are getting serious and making an example out of him. Seems to me he deserves what he is getting.
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And what is it going to cost the taxpayers to house and feed him for 5 years? This is where the ridiculous part comes in. Some of the same people who would deny food and housing assistance to children have no problem giving it to douchebags who wouldn't mind sponging 3 hots and a cot off the rest of us.
 
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Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

That's petty theft, not a felony.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Hikertrash said:
You can walk into McDonalds, pay for a soda and have 100 free refills. It's outrageous to have taxpayers pay $250K to incarcerate the dude to prove a point. It seems "conservatives" are into old testament, hellfire and brimstone punishment at any cost rather than rehabilitation. Taking every petty thief off the street and putting them in prison is pointless. Have them preform community service in a meaningful way can only help and save taxpayer money at the same time.
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The key word is Pay for a soda and have 100 refills. They are not free if you paid for the initial one. I don't want to see a guy make a bad choice several times , but this guy seemed willing to take the chance and it didn't work out. If he was that thirsty he could have had free water from the cup they gave him or the sink in the restroom. I guess it is only conservatives that still believe in responsibility, integrity, and honesty. I guess conservatives are the only group that is sick of paying more to cover the stolen goods. I would think these values would be held by all political views.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

danarhea said:
And what is it going to cost the taxpayers to house and feed him for 5 years? This is where the ridiculous part comes in. Some of the same people who would deny food and housing assistance to children have no problem giving it to douchebags who wouldn't mind sponging 3 hots and a cot off the rest of us.
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And as I said what is the cost to us all to cover all the goods that are stolen each year? I don't know of a single person who would deny a child food or shelter. I don't know of a single person who want's to put innocent people in jail, only those who break the law.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Dirt Racer said:
And as I said what is the cost to us all to cover all the goods that are stolen each year? I don't know of a single person who would deny a child food or shelter. I don't know of a single person who want's to put innocent people in jail, only those who break the law.
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You act like laws are always just. When segregation was a law was it full of justice? What about laws before women's suffrage?

To me, giving someone a felony over soda is about as asinine as segregation or laws that only cater to men.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

I highly doubt he will be convicted of a felony, no matter if he is charged with one or not.

I'd wager he'll take a plea deal to a lesser degree charge, with some of the other charges being dropped .... which is the purpose of overcharging him with the felony in the first place.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

dirtpoorchris said:
You act like laws are always just. When segregation was a law was it full of justice? What about laws before women's suffrage?

To me, giving someone a felony over soda is about as asinine as segregation or laws that only cater to men.
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I don't act like or even suggest laws are always just. In fact I would agree that 5 years would be a stiff penalty for what crime was committed. That said the law is the law, and if folks think it is unjust then they need to act on it and get it changed. Laws like segregation and women's suffrage were certainly not just and have changed with the times. Obviously these changes were good and righted the wrong. But those laws were different in they were not punishing for a crime committed. Theft is a crime that is committed by a person with their own free will. It was his choice to steal, he should pay the penalty for his crime.

At the end of the day I agree with the others who have said it is doubtful he gets sentenced to 5 years. A plea deal will likely be made and chances are this idiot will be back to his old ways shortly after.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Dirt Racer said:
I don't act like or even suggest laws are always just. In fact I would agree that 5 years would be a stiff penalty for what crime was committed. That said the law is the law, and if folks think it is unjust then they need to act on it and get it changed. Laws like segregation and women's suffrage were certainly not just and have changed with the times. Obviously these changes were good and righted the wrong. But those laws were different in they were not punishing for a crime committed. Theft is a crime that is committed by a person with their own free will. It was his choice to steal, he should pay the penalty for his crime.

At the end of the day I agree with the others who have said it is doubtful he gets sentenced to 5 years. A plea deal will likely be made and chances are this idiot will be back to his old ways shortly after.
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Do you always show such contempt for the "lost" or does it just appear that way?
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

dirtpoorchris said:
Do you always show such contempt for the "lost" or does it just appear that way?
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You can see it how you wish. The guy is a habitual criminal. You only get so many second chances, and this guy has had a few already. I don't know about you but I don't care for someone continually sticking their finger in my eye with out striking back.

How would you feel about having your car stolen by the same guy, only to have him turned loose by the police and he just keeps coming back and doing it over and over?
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Dirt Racer said:
You can see it how you wish. The guy is a habitual criminal. You only get so many second chances, and this guy has had a few already. I don't know about you but I don't care for someone continually sticking their finger in my eye with out striking back.

How would you feel about having your car stolen by the same guy, only to have him turned loose by the police and he just keeps coming back and doing it over and over?
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If he had stolen a car.... it would have been a felony. But he did not. He filled up a water cup with soda.
Give him some community service and move along.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Chiefgator said:
If he had stolen a car.... it would have been a felony. But he did not. He filled up a water cup with soda.
Give him some community service and move along.
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It is a felony because he is a repeat offender. If it had been his first offense I could see and would agree that community service was in order.

Ok for those that say it is too harsh. At what point do you say enough is enough? Does it take 50 offenses before you step up the punishment? And how does this deter a man who now has a history of criminal behaviour?
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Dirt Racer said:
It is a felony because he is a repeat offender. If it had been his first offense I could see and would agree that community service was in order.

Ok for those that say it is too harsh. At what point do you say enough is enough? Does it take 50 offenses before you step up the punishment? And how does this deter a man who now has a history of criminal behaviour?
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If he steals 50 sodas.... he should get fifty community service sentences... Making a $1 theft a felony is a travesty no matter how many times he was a repeat offender.
It is insane to me to spend a couple hundred thousand dollars of my money (I am a resident of Florida) to put this guy in Raiford over a stinking McDonalds cup. Give him a big bag and turn him loose on the Turnpike picking up OTHER people's McDonalds cups... preferably in August when it is unbearably hot.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Dirt Racer said:
Ok for those that say it is too harsh. At what point do you say enough is enough?
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For stealing a $1 cup of soda? Umm if by "say enough is enough" you mean "throw his ass in prison" then...never.

Does it take 50 offenses before you step up the punishment?
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Then he would have stolen a grand total of $50 worth of soda. Still not a prison-worthy offense.

And how does this deter a man who now has a history of criminal behaviour?
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Who gives a damn? It's a $1 cup of soda and it costs $47,000 to incarcerate someone for a year.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Guess I am in the minority on this one. I accept that but stand by my belief.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

The original reason for 3 strikes laws were due to people were getting light sentences for conviction on felonies now we have cases where a draconian sentence is given for a minor misdemeanor. This case was practically made to challenge the Constitutionality of three strikes laws.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Personally I think the punishment is stupid. This will only crowd our prisons even more. Instead, give him a few hundred hours of community service so he can repay society; better than having him rot in a prison cell.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Wake said:
Personally I think the punishment is stupid. This will only crowd our prisons even more. Instead, give him a few hundred hours of community service so he can repay society; better than having him rot in a prison cell.
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A few hundred hours is more than a DUI. You're saying taking 1$ worth of soda is more dangerous to society than driving death caravans in a drunken stupor?
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

dirtpoorchris said:
A few hundred hours is more than a DUI. You're saying taking 1$ worth of soda is more dangerous to society than driving death caravans in a drunken stupor?
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Agreed. (with the premise... not the hyperbole)

Some community service is certainly warranted, but a few hundred hours is silliness.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

soccerboy22 said:
That is funny as hell. The petty theft crime that pushed him over the top, a McDonalds cup.
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This guy is going to have tons of street cred when he gets to the big house.
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Wake said:
I see. It's because of one of those Draconian 3rd-strike laws.

Still... ...5 years in jail for only a dollar's worth of soda? :shock:
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No. 5 years in jail for not learning his lesson the first time(s).
 
Re: Florida Man Charged With Felony for Allegedly Stealing $1 Cup of Soda From McDona

Dood has 58 charges prior to the last round of 3. Maybe 5 years in prison will actually help him...at this point...not much can hurt. Personally I would hand him a pocket knife, a basic survival kit, and airlift him to the deepest Yukon and turn him loose. If he survives, he may just find some inner strength and ability to change his world. If he doesnt...Im not seeing a big loss.
 
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