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Dick's
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Kevin Weber is spending 29 years in jail for stealing
a cookie, thanks to California Lawyer-Judge Jean Rheinheimer and Political
Prosecuter James Hicks
Kevin Weber has had problems with staying out of trouble. He was convicted
of a burglary and assault with a firearm. He went to jail and served
his time. Now, Kevin has done the unspeakable. He stole four chocolate
chip cookies from a restaurant and California Judge Jean Rheinheimer determined
must serve 26 years to life in prison under the state's ``three strikes''
law. The well off judge-lawyer firmly stated `"I just see no reason to say
Mr. Weber is anything other than the three-strikes defendant the people and
the Legislature had in mind when they enacted this law''. I wonder if
she has seen the play, or read, Les Miserables?
Three-strikes laws are popular with politicians who pass them to assure voters
they are "tough on crime," even though they mand ate tough -- and inhumane
-- punishments after a third conviction for anything.
Politician-lawyer prosecutor James Hicks said Weber, who fled
the scene after an alarm sounded, deserved a life sentence despite stealing
only cookies. Hicks was sure Kevin would have "probably (had money
stuffed in his pockets,'' if he hadn't been scared away by an alarm. Weber's
attorney -- possibly an underpaid and overworked public defender, argued
without success for leniency, pointing out the crime itself carries a maximum
three-year sentence.
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