Stolen property

A while back I posted about someone coming in the yard of the home place and stealing some old machinery and selling it for scrap. Someone asked to post back when the matter was resolved and since it's all a matter public record now I can comment on it.

Items discovered stolen, reported to police, I went to local junkyard and found them. roported that to police, they went to junkyard and got paperwork identifying who sold scrap. I was notified that case was assigned to dectective. I called dectective, only got answering machine, never got return call, went to sheriff's office and found dectective. He said he had been out sick and busy working on a big case. Big case was a few people stealing machinery and large tractors, one about 4 miles from me. They caught the guys, one of whom tried to get away while driving a stolen truck pulling a trailer an bobcat. Thought to myself, that's great, appreciate catching this bunch, but I have done all the heavy lifting in my case, lets follow through and gather the low hanging fruit, so to speak.

My case tried today, charge petty larceny, in magistrate's court. The day after a holiday weekend they had a lot of business. First, they took care of important cases, that is, they tried speeding cases, taking guilty pleas and collecting money, generally $81. It was obvious my criminal was no stranger to a courtroom. He had already been tried for selling the junkyard stolen goods and had paid back amount received. When the magistrate asked if he wanted a lawyer and a jury trial, he hemmed an hawed and allowed as how he had other more serious cases pending that he would need an attorney for and he wouldn't need one in this case. Previously I had found that the case was assigned to this magistrate, went to her and told her that I intended to pursue the matter and asked to be notified of the trial date. At that time I was careful not to discuss the specifics. At the trial today the arresting officer and the magistrate asked me what I would take for compensation. I had taken pics of the damaged property and finally just said I would take what he had received for the stuff at the junkyard(not enough, but I'm not sure if I'll ever see it anyway, though I'll push it). Bottom line, he got restitution and 30 hours community service to be changed to 30 days if he dosen't work or pay up. He said he could pay up Thursday when he got paid. We'll see. I thought when he said that "why are you stealing scrap and getting peanuts for it ($75) if you have a job?" Oh, I also got a nice letter from him apologizing and giving me the hard luck story which I won't waste time quoting.

At least 2 other guys were in with him but he refused in front of the magistrate to identify them. When the cop told me this earlier my comment was that it sounded like grounds for more serious punishment.

Not that he's out of the woods. When I called the county court system earlier to find out about the trial date I found out that he is also facing a grand larceny charge in another case. I also heard he was recently arrested for shoplifting. He might wind up with serious time yet.

KEH

Now what would have been real neat is if the officer would have let you take a big swing at him and hit him in the jaw. (now that would have been fun huh?)

The judge is waaaay to forgiving with this loser. Judge should have made him pay you in full and then give him 180 days in Jail.

The letter that he wrote is BS, when losers do this it is a way of saying...."I got caught and have to make it look like I am sorry"

Glad to hear you pursued it. Speaking of pursuits and thieves, just last week we had 2 teens (from the city of Detroit, get my drift) steal a Dodge Ram pickup from a suburban grocery store lot. Someone had called the cops already and the cops turned on their lights and the teens took off in heavy traffic going 90 MPH+ in 40 mph zone. Withing half a mile, hit a couple of cars and then hit a tree so hard it split the truck in 2 and left the bed impaled on the tree. Both ejected and killed. No other injuries.

2 days later within a couple miles of the above place, 3 guys in mid-50s (again from city of Detroit with long criminal histories) were stealing deodorant from a drugstore. Cops were called, they hit a cop car and took off, again going 90 MPH+. Cop broke off chase and watched them go the wrong way on I-94 freeway. Hit a couple of vehicles, all 3 dead, no other injuries.

Lots of liberals screaming about high-speed police chases and endangering "innocent bystanders". Moronic thing about that is the crooks know that the cops won't engage in high-speed chases so they take off, thus endangering "innocent bystanders".

Well, at least there was some justice in Michigan last week. Waiting for the crooks' families to line up a lawyer to try and sue somebody over it.

Why would you have expected anything from the police?

The priorities of the court showed where their, and the police's, interests lie, making money off of traffic tickets, NO risk, and huge rewards, plus it lets them get to the donut shops at the best times.

Law 'enforcement' is NOT your friend.

Glad to hear you "might" get some compensation from this guy. Being a bailiff,I can tell you that being in front of the Magistrate and not a Judge was the first indication that this was a petty offense,(in your case due to the value of the property stolen was less than $100.00). This joker obviously has more serious charges pending which will probably be addressed in a District Court or higher. Unfortunately for you, the Magistrate saw this, and decided to let the higher court deal out the real punishment this guy deserves. The maximum penalities for all crimes are provided by the State Statutes. The Judge has the option to give the maximum or less by discression. The penalities for your stolen property being less than $100.00 were probably low. Again, you got a less than satisfactory decision on your part,..but hopefully this guy will get his due on his other charges. Good Luck.