Not So Sure The Justice System Got This One Right

[LTS 4 Bad Cigars]

SAN DIEGO -- A 71-year-old terminally ill man has been sentenced to 21 years in a California prison for rolling his wheelchair into a San Diego bank and holding it up with a replica BB gun.

Judge Jeffrey Fraser said Friday that Peter Lawrence could theoretically get out of prison at age 90, when he would no longer be a threat to the public.

According to City News Service, Lawrence told the judge he robbed the Chase bank of more than $2,000 this summer because he felt hopeless after being diagnosed with a myriad of medical problems.

Defense lawyer Kenneth Kaminiski says his client did not want to harm anyone. Kaminiski says Lawrence wanted to get caught so he would not have to live on the streets.

Prosecutors said Lawrence was a danger because he could use a real weapon in the future.

 

[SuprHasan]

Prosecutors said Lawrence was a danger because he could use a real weapon in the future.

WTF? How's he going to do that? Rob a gun shop with a BB?

 

[icehog3]

Why do you think he should get off, becuase he has terminal cancer or because he used a BB gun that looked like the real thing?

Imagine the woman behind the counter at the bank was your daughter, or your mother. Seemed like they might die, no way for them to know it wasn't a real gun. They might be traumatized long after this "gentleman" has met his maker.

 

[jwyatt55]

Very frustrated personally with our legal system due to an ongoing family law case so call me bitter, but a terminally ill man does not deserve to live his remaining years in prison.

 

[icehog3]

Very frustrated personally with our legal system due to an ongoing family law case so call me bitter, but a terminally ill man does not deserve to live his remaining years in prison.

JMHO...then he should not be robbing banks.

 

[jwintosh]

"don't do the crime if you can't pay the fine,,, no no!!"

yep. he'll get 3 hots and a cot,,, and all the free cancer treatment... just think, when he's 90, he'll be cured of cancer!! brilliant!! <brilliant!!>

 

[Alwayslit]

Sad it came down to that, but he wanted to get caught..his words. Now he has to pay the price.

 

[Treinenwj]

I think the only failure here is the fact that now the tax payers are going to cover his cancer treatment, just like jwintosh said. I think a more effective punishment would be house arrest and a hefty fine. Then he's still punished, and he still has to cover his own treatment. I've got no mercy for someone who commits a violent crime, regardless of the sob story. And yes, I know it was just a BB gun, but that doesn't mean the people in the bank knew. Obviously, they never would have given him the money if they had reason to believe they weren't in any real danger, except maybe getting their eye shot out!

 

[Baldanders]

He has convictions for robbing banks in 1997 and 1999. He got what he has deserved.

 

[danthebugman]

...but a terminally ill man does not deserve to live his remaining years in prison.

Defense lawyer Kenneth Kaminiski says his client did not want to harm anyone. Kaminiski says Lawrence wanted to get caught so he would not have to live on the streets.

Seems to me he got exactly what he wanted. And now the taxpayers are footing the bill. Besides he's not going to some hard core super max. He'll be someplace that's more like a retirement home.

Dan

 

[Alwayslit]

I don't think that a state prison is really in the same league as a retirement home....just saying.

 

[smokem94]

Why do you think he should get off, becuase he has terminal cancer or because he used a BB gun that looked like the real thing?

Imagine the woman behind the counter at the bank was your daughter, or your mother. Seemed like they might die, no way for them to know it wasn't a real gun. They might be traumatized long after this "gentleman" has met his maker.

Not to mention, "he robbed a bank"!!!!!!! He deserves to go to prison!

 

[jwyatt55]

He has convictions for robbing banks in 1997 and 1999. He got what he has deserved.

Story left out these little details. Thought this was a cry for help but now it looks like a pattern of behavior.

 

[iCraig]

Yeah.. but man he broke the law... Regardless of his health condition he broke a law that deserves jail time.

Hopefully it can be served out in a hospital where he's kept stable. :dunno:

 

[strife]

I think the only failure here is the fact that now the tax payers are going to cover his cancer treatment, just like jwintosh said. I think a more effective punishment would be house arrest and a hefty fine. Then he's still punished, and he still has to cover his own treatment. I've got no mercy for someone who commits a violent crime, regardless of the sob story. And yes, I know it was just a BB gun, but that doesn't mean the people in the bank knew. Obviously, they never would have given him the money if they had reason to believe they weren't in any real danger, except maybe getting their eye shot out!

+1 :applause:

 

[strife]

Story left out these little details. Thought this was a cry for help but now it looks like a pattern of behavior.

What? The media leaving out details to make the system look bad? Nooooo, they would never do that.

 

[ahbroody]

The whole premise of prision time for robbery is the concept that people can and do die as a result of weapons crimes and felonious behavior. The cop rolling code three to the call and shiz goes wrong. The girl who is hit by a stray round. The cop who shots this pos and has to deal with killing an unarmed man for life. The old man who freaks out and has a heart attack. Based on some peoples logic here terminally ill people should be able to commit some felonies if they are going to die. Really? Stop and think about what your arguing for. A two class justice system? Why just terminally ill people?

Glad to see some brothers in blue in this thread trying to explain why its important as well as others who understand why.

 

[Craig Mac]

The whole premise of prision time for robbery is the concept that people can and do die as a result of weapons crimes and felonious behavior. The cop rolling code three to the call and shiz goes wrong. The girl who is hit by a stray round. The cop who shots this pos and has to deal with killing an unarmed man for life. The old man who freaks out and has a heart attack. Based on some peoples logic here terminally ill people should be able to commit some felonies if they are going to die. Really? Stop and think about what your arguing for. A two class justice system? Why just terminally ill people?

Glad to see some brothers in blue in this thread trying to explain why its important as well as others who understand why.

Dat shiz was hard to readz yo....

I don't think ANYONE is arguing for this guy, jwyatt didn't have all the info to make an informed decision in his first post and seemed to change his mind once he found out a few more details and the OP "wasn't sure".

 

[ahbroody]

Wow I got trolled how cute.
I didn't think you could write shit as most boards don't allow it. Thanks for that. I feel so much better now.

As to the rest of my post, what I and some of the other cops who do this for a living were trying to say is that it doesn't matter if its his first time or not. Having been a cop for 15 years now I see things a certain way. When an individual decides to commit a crime that subjects the public at large to danger we don't care it its his first time or not. The individual made a decison to commit the crime. He may not have had a firearm because as a felon procurement would be more difficult.

 

[MiamiE]

icehog3 and ahbroody I am on both of your sides.