Kettle Thief Ordered To Spend Night Homeless

[The Straight Story]

Kettle Thief Ordered To Spend Night Homeless

PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- A judge on Thursday ordered a Salvation Army worker who stole a holiday kettle containing about $250 to spend the night homeless.

Nathen Smith, 28, of Painesville, was to spend the night anywhere but a house, said Municipal Judge Michael Cicconetti. Smith was fitted with a GPS device to track his moves.

"My initial reaction was 'wow'. But I don't think the sentence is too harsh," said Smith, who was expected to spend Thursday night in a homeless shelter. "I can see the judge's point because what I did, I shouldn't have done. Now I've got to pay the consequences."

The Salvation Army uses kettle donations to help pay for food, clothing and shelter for the homeless.

http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-01-25-0010.html

[fenriswolf]

1. I love that judge

that was the best possible sentance ever.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. Should have been a month!

$250.00 should last him about that long, just like a real homeless person.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

3. Isn't that cruel and unusual?

While in this case the sentence may not be too bad, that things like this are possible scares me. I don't think judges should have that much power.

[fenriswolf]

4. well the guy could have been thrown in jail or fined for stealing

This guy stole from a charity. It's pretty low. Instead of taking away a month of this guys life or taking away this guys paycheck the judge is making him walk a mile in another mans shoes and hopefully it will give him a different perspective. Hopefully it will stop this kind of behavior instead of reinforcing it. (ie they take my money now I need even more money)

[Donald Ian Rankin]

7. But none of that answers my question.

This punishment may not be disproportionate, but that doesn't mean it's constitutional, does it?

The precedent is just as worrying, whether he deserved it or not.

[fenriswolf]

11. well in answer to your question then

your question is is it cruel and unusual to make someone "be homeless". If that is the case then we are living in a cruel and unusual society where we allow homelessness. If this guys punishment is cruel and unusual then we are cruel to our homeless.

[LanternWaste]

8. Unusual? Possibly.

Unusual? Possibly.

Certainly not Cruel, though.

[tuckessee]

5. If Mr. Smith gets injured/attacked/sick while "homeless"

I hope the judge & city get their a**es sued off.

[fenriswolf]

6. sounds like they set him up at a homeless shelter.

if he gets attacked then maybe that says something about our homeless in general and we should look into it.

[LanternWaste]

10. And if Mr. Smith got his ass kicked while spending a week in county lock-up?

And if Mr. Smith got his ass kicked while spending a week in county lock-up? I'm afraid I don't see the precise and relevant difference.... :shrug:

[JerseygirlCT]

9. I just hope he's not displacing someone else by taking space

in the shelter.

[fenriswolf]

12. that would be the only true injustice.