Twisted Justice

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/29/looters.sentenced.ap/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
from JoeUser Forums
Three people who were caught looting liquor six days after Hurricane Katrina were convicted today, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. From CNN;

The judge said he wanted to send a message that looting would not be tolerated when he gave the maximum sentence to Coralnelle Little, 36, Rhonda McGowen, 42, and Paul C. Pearson, 36, all of Kenner.

A jury convicted the trio May 2 on a portion of the state's looting law that took effect two weeks before the Aug. 29 storm. The amended law set a three-year minimum sentence, and a maximum of 15 years in prison, for looting during a declared state of emergency.

In somewhat related news, two men who were convicted of bribing a federal official to falsify Katrina contracting documents, received one year in prison and a $5000 fine.

From Boston.com

Mitchell Glen Kendrix, of Memphis, Tenn., and Paul Darrell Nelson of Lisbon, Maine, pleaded guilty on March 21 in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg. Lampton said sentencing was done Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett in Hattiesburg.

Kendrix and Nelson were charged in December with conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official for allegedly making a deal to falsify debris removal documents after Hurricane Katrina.

The two could have been sentenced each to up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
3,313 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
The contractors talked about stealing, planned to steal, but the looters DID steal, and in the worst way, possibly contributing to the deaths of innocents.

The sentence fits.


How exactly did they "possibly contribute to the deaths of innocents"?

Perhaps you missed this part;

Nelson was charged with paying Kendrix multiple bribes to create false load tickets for debris that Nelson never dumped at the Hintonville site.

A news release from Lampton's office said federal agents recorded conversations during which Nelson paid Kendrix $100 for five false load tickets and the two men admitted to at least 14 more false load tickets.

They did more than just "talk about" stealing.

So it's much more acceptable to steal from the government than it is to steal from a liquor store? Maybe that's why billions of dollars are missing in Iraq and no ones seems to care.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I can concede the broad argument that violent looting in general, may have endangered others in some instances. However, these people were caught in the act by police, so there is no evidence that the looting done by these specific people had the effect of keeping out police and rescue personnel.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
By the way, I'm not saying that these looters should get a slap on the wrist. I would sympathize with them more if the'd been caught looting bottled water and bread. But 15 years seems pretty excessive to me.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
It would be a travesty if the same judge heard both cases. However, it appears one is tired of the situation, and the other is more sympathetic to it.  They are human after all, not robots.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree, the contractors should have received stiffer sentences, frankly. But I can't agree that the looters' sentence was too harsh.

Had the looters been stealing food or other essentials, I would have believed that any punishment was too harsh. But liquor is hardly an essential. The purpose of sentences like these is to serve as a deterrent to future activity, and I guarantee you a 15 year sentence is bound to make someone think twice.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
(by the way, Dr. Guy makes a good point. The contractors were not even convicted in the same STATE as the looters).