Flordia: Where water means soda (and jail time)

[Egz]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society...-at-McDonald-s

A Florida man faces felony charges after refusing to pay $1 for a cup of soda in an East Naples McDonald’s restaurant.

Five US states that use the death penalty mostMd. neighborhood watch trial set against Fla. fury Arizona immigration law: states vs. Obama at US Supreme Court, again Etan Patz: His disappearance started the era of parent anxiety The local manager told sheriff's deputies that Mark Abaire filled a courtesy cup with soda and walked out the building without paying. A McDonald's employee told him the cup was only for water. However, Abaire filled it with soda from the fountain machine and went to sit outside the restaurant.

The police report stated that when the manager asked him to pay, Abaire declined, cursed at him and refused to leave the premises, the Naples News reported.

Collier County deputies later arrested Abaire who now faces felony charges, according to the same report.

The initial charge was for petty theft. But due to Abaire’s record of prior petty theft convictions, the charge was increased from a misdemeanor to a felony under Florida's 'three strikes' statute.

'Three strikes' laws, currently being used in 26 states, came as a response to public outrage over a string of kidnappings and murders by paroled repeat offenders in Washington State in 1993.

In Florida, a third-degree felony is punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

[92skirmishgti]

LOL

Probably got Coke and it was easily visible through the translucent cup, should have filled up with Sprite...

[Time for a GTI]

used to do this every day in high school

$1/day at burger king was cheaper than the cafe

1 rodeo burger and a cup for water please.

Yeah, I was poh

[Wilbur the pig]

Sucks to be him.

[xombiesarelove]

LOL

Probably got Coke and it was easily visible through the translucent cup, should have filled up with Sprite...

Damn amateurs.

[Hostile]

So a guy who is already a drain on society is now an even larger drain. Over a $0.03 cup of soda...

[backinthegame]

So a guy who is already a drain on society is now an even larger drain. Over a $0.03 cup of soda...

Think of it as investing in a message. If you don't hold up a punishment, you get anarchy over a $.03 cup of soda. It's the principal of the act. The guy is on his 3rd strike, I doubt it's from 2 other reckless soda pilfering sprees.

[Fritz27]

Think of it as investing in a message. If you don't hold up a punishment, you get anarchy over a $.03 cup of soda. It's the principal of the act. The guy is on his 3rd strike, I doubt it's from 2 other reckless soda pilfering sprees.

The more time people spend in jail, the less of a **** they give. The three strike laws are stupid and wind up costing taxpayers a ****load of money.

[ncsumecheng]

Then lets take a hand for stealing like a lot of Asia and the Middle East. Cut that ish off and dip it in a pot of bubbling tar!

[Vamped]

Think of it as investing in a message. If you don't hold up a punishment, you get anarchy over a $.03 cup of soda. It's the principal of the act. The guy is on his 3rd strike, I doubt it's from 2 other reckless soda pilfering sprees.

Sends out a message................so be good boys & girls!

[backinthegame]

The more time people spend in jail, the less of a **** they give. The three strike laws are stupid and wind up costing taxpayers a ****load of money.

Right, so we should just ignore these criminals. Let them steal whatever they want.

How many times a day do you think people put soda in water cups? I'd bet a lot. There was probably a reason they chose to call the police on this poor victim. And when they got there and looked at his rap sheet, that might have something to do with charging him with a felony instead of letting him off easy for a $.03 cup of soda.

"Yeah, we caught this guy for the 10th time robbing houses, but we shouldn't do anything about it because it costs people money."

Then lets take a hand for stealing like a lot of Asia and the Middle East. Cut that ish off and dip it in a pot of bubbling tar!

Ever look at the crime rates in those countries? Make the punishment outweigh the crime and the crime goes down. I don't give 2 ****s about their rights. You give those up when you chose to not be a civil part of society.

[Fritz27]

Petty crimes like this resulting in a dude going to prison for years is stupid and counterproductive. Having him put in a pillory and giving him a public shaming would be more effective as punishment. He goes to prison for three or four years and he'll come out a better criminal and commit more serious crimes and when he goes back, will he care? No. You know why? Because he was in prison for a few years before, made friends, got over the initial shock of hard time, and will get right back into the groove and do his thing when he's back behind bars.

Also, there's big-ass difference between petty crimes and serious crimes like burglary.

[backinthegame]

Petty crimes like this resulting in a dude going to prison for years is stupid and counterproductive. Having him put in a pillory and giving him a public shaming would be more effective as punishment. He goes to prison for three or four years and he'll come out a better criminal and commit more serious crimes and when he goes back, will he care? No. You know why? Because he was in prison for a few years before, made friends, got over the initial shock of hard time, and will get right back into the groove and do his thing when he's back behind bars.

Also, there's big-ass difference between petty crimes and serious crimes like burglary.

I'd be down for the pillory.

The point is, the story doesn't say what his first two strikes were. Maybe burgalry, arson, weapons charge... The cops wouldn't do jack squat if I stole a soda. I'd get a slap on the wrist if McDonalds decided to spend the money to prosecute over a soda. The 3 strike rule is to better punish for major offenses, not to fill up prisons with petty thieves.

[3 Money Pits]

Petty crimes like this resulting in a dude going to prison for years is stupid and counterproductive.

Just a little hint... I really doubt this guy will see a day in jail. "Maximum 5 years in jail" does not equal "Will do jailtime".

[Fritz27]

Just a little hint... I really doubt this guy will see a day in jail. "Maximum 5 years in jail" does not equal "Will do jailtime".

I was responding to a statement. Thanks for letting me know how sentencing works though. I needed that info.

[leaftye]

Right, so we should just ignore these criminals. Let them steal whatever they want.

How many times a day do you think people put soda in water cups? I'd bet a lot. There was probably a reason they chose to call the police on this poor victim. And when they got there and looked at his rap sheet, that might have something to do with charging him with a felony instead of letting him off easy for a $.03 cup of soda.

"Yeah, we caught this guy for the 10th time robbing houses, but we shouldn't do anything about it because it costs people money."


Ever look at the crime rates in those countries? Make the punishment outweigh the crime and the crime goes down. I don't give 2 ****s about their rights. You give those up when you chose to not be a civil part of society.

It doesn't send a damn message when prison isn't much worse than the life they were living before.

[backinthegame]

It doesn't send a damn message when prison isn't much worse than the life they were living before.

I'm all for making the punishment worse than prison.

[Fritz27]

I'm all for making the punishment worse than prison.

Eighth Amendment.

[joness0154]

If we spent the money on rehabilitating our criminals we wouldn't have as large of a recidivism problem as we do now. Other countries can do it successfully, why can't we?

[leaftye]

If we spent the money on rehabilitating our criminals we wouldn't have as large of a recidivism problem as we do now. Other countries can do it successfully, why can't we?

The same might be said of increasing education to reduce people from becoming criminals in the first place...at least not not-white collar criminals.

[backinthegame]

Eighth Amendment.

I didn't see anything?


...Fifth Ammendment.

[Hurt]

Why do people do this? You can't pay the dollar and 6 cents for the soda? I bet he's going to spend a lot more than that for legal proceedings.

[leaftye]

Why do people do this? You can't pay the dollar and 6 cents for the soda? I bet he's going to spend a lot more than that for legal proceedings.

I bet he won't spend a penny, but that he'll get free housing, food, health care and maybe a job out of this.

[nemo1ner]

Large Farva? No. Free liter of soda? Yes.