Life in prison for smuggling popcorn into theatre

[drunkdriver-in-chief]

This incident happened last august but i don't recall it getting any media coverage until now.

Weekly World News Nov 29, 2004

A California man is spending the rest of his life in prison -- because
he got caught trying to sneak popcorn into a movie theater! Chester
Wilkins, 57, is being sent 'up the river' as part of California's
strict 'Three Strikes' law.

Under that law, anyone who has previously been convicted of two
felonies and commits a third crime -- no matter how minor -- receives
life imprisonment.

Wilkins spent time behind bars for attempted manslaughter and
burglary, but says that he had reformed. "I haven't so much as
jay-walked in five years,"he says. In fact, he was earning a living as
a carpenter. Wilkins was walking into the theater to see 'The Passion
of the Christ,' when the ticket taker stopped him.

"When he saw that I had my own popcorn, he went crazy,"Wilkins says.
The ticket taker called the police, who arrested Wilkins.

(snip)

http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/chamber/61556

[LoZoccolo]

1. Weekly World News isn't the best of sources.

I don't think you'll find the story anywhere else, either.

[NoPasaran]

3. They were the only paper with the guts to ask the question

"Is Hitler alive in the future?"
Where the hell was 60 Minutes on that story?

[papau]

10. WWN is not a "source

http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/chamber/61556

Published on: 08/20/2004



And Att'g Trench shows up in no index I have used!

[Worst Username Ever]

2. Bringing food into a theater isn't a crime

it is a rule that the theater makes up. If they catch you and you refuse to leave, you could probably be charged with trespassing, but thats about it. And I beleive the three-strikes law does, in fact, have to be three felonies. Also, I beleive the final sentence is rarely life in prison.

[elehhhhna]

4. ...and the felons name was BAT BOY, I s'pose?

[Batgirl]

12. Can't we leave Batboy out of this

out of simple compassion for a misunderstood creature? His multi-state rampage of several years ago did not even result in any fatalities, if I remember correctly. Plus, he lead our troops to Saddam's hole. Certainly that alone should make us respect his wish for anonymity as a private citizen.

[elehhhhna]

13. My fave was his British escapade in a mini-cooper...

[7th_Sephiroth]

5. the ruleing is usually 25 to life

a man is serving that for swipeing a pizza from pizza hut, and to the man who started this law yes, it was a tradegy your daughter dies, but making facist laws wont help a single thing, and if i ever meet you, i WILL make the meeting verry unpleasent

[ispeculate]

6. OMG Ive done this!

I find it difficult to believe. What exactly was he charged with?

Seems to me he needs a new attorney. As the article states...

Wilkins says he wasn't trying to cheat the movie theater, but brought his own popcorn for one reason.

"Their popcorn is very high in trans-fat,"he says.

If the movie theater doesnt offer a low fat or competing product how could it be considered any kind of infringement?

Jeez what is the crime business slow these days? I cant believe the DA even pursued this...

[KansDem]

17. I haven't been to the movies for some time...

If the movie theater doesn't offer a low fat or competing product how could it be considered any kind of infringement?

But when I did go I was constantly amazed that I couldn't get anything to drink that didn't have high-fructose corn syrup or some kind of artificial sweetener in it. Out of desperation, I'd ask for water and would get a small paper cup (comparable to a shot glass) and directions to the drinking fountain...

Perhaps it's different now, but I never understood why I couldn't get an iced tea or can of seltzer.

This lack of concern for those of us who do not want to consume high fructose corn syrup or some artificial sweetener with a name like Aspartame contributed to my decision to forego movie theaters altogether.

[enki23]

7. wilkins will have the last laugh

because he is actually an alien from the planet xenu (no, not THAT xenu. different mythology entirely). he has been sent to earth to test the worthiness of mandkind to be taken bodily up into the flying saucer heaven where humanity will finally learn why they were first placed on this planet as part of an experiment in quantum hydroponics. as this incident has proven, however, our wave gardening technique clearly needs a bit of work, and wilkins will surely report back to the ancient overlords that we just aren't ready to assume our eternal reward in the celestial yam palace.

there will, of course, be another flood.

[jmowreader]

8. You guys didn't get the funniest part

He was going to see "The Passion of the Christ."

As the bumper sticker says, "what would Jesus do?" Dunno, but I know what Jesus probably wouldn't do--give someone life in prison for sneaking in his own popcorn.

[chicagojoe]

9. My bumper sticker says...

What Would Tony Soprano Do?

[ShaneGR]

11. I don't know which is funnier... the story, or the people who believe it!

hehe, weeklyworldnews.com

[FlatJack]

14. legal troubles

I'm a Canadian who is not allowed to visit the U.S. because of a 1989 shoplifting charge. I haven't broken a law since.

After a surreal stop at the US border in Buffalo where my family and I were interrogated, I now require an I-192 advanced permit to enter the US because in the eyes of US Customs I'm a foreign criminal. This is the zero tolerance Patriot Act at work keeping you guys safe from my family and I to your country to visit family and shop.

Anyway, this guy getting put away for sneaking in popcorn makes my troubles seem small. But I know first hand how thoughtless broad brush legislation can be.

[Flammable Materials]

15. OH NO YOU DIH'UNT!

Weekly World News. Tsk tsk tsk.

:silly:

[UpsideDownFlag]

16. well, he IS an african american, right?

is it safe to assume he is? im sure the police had some good reason.

:puke: :mad:

[fryguy]

18. they spotted Elvis too!

eom

[noamnety]

19. In defense of the Weekly World News

Sandy Berger shoves documents down his pants!
The economy is booming!
Mission accomplished!
WMD found!
The election was smooth and flawless!
Bush wins a mandate and Americans are thrilled!


I see lots of snickering over the source, but it appears to me that the WWN is just as credible as the Main Stream Media.