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Burglary in Ohio Just Got Easier

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by chemgator, May 4, 2023.

  1. chemgator

    chemgator GC Hall of Fame

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    ...and I'm not talking about stealing the national championship(s) from the Buckeyes.

    A man was convicted of burglary after walking into a stranger's garage and stealing a $500 leaf-blower. The state Supreme Court ruled that, because the thief did it "brazenly", then he could not be convicted of burglary, which they decided requires some measure of stealth or deception. He could only be convicted of criminal trespassing, which is a lesser crime with a much smaller sentence.

    Expect a lot more brazen criminals in the future, if you live in Ohio. Either that, or its time for a new set of judges in the state Supreme Court.

    Court: Man took leaf blower so brazenly, it wasn't burglary (yahoo.com)

     
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  2. Orange_and_Bluke

    Orange_and_Bluke Premium Member

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    [​IMG]
     
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  3. AndyGator

    AndyGator GC Hall of Fame

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    Expect a lot more criminal trespassing in Ohio banks after this ruling.
     
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  4. gaterzfan

    gaterzfan GC Hall of Fame

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    I guess this explains the insanity of the decision:

    "A second seat is open because Justice Terrence O'Donnell cannot seek re-election because of his age. Judge Craig Baldwin, a Republican on the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Canton, faces Judge Michael Donnelly, a Democrat serving as a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge. The six-year term begins Jan. 1, 2019."

    Lawyers are bad enough ... but a liberal lawyer is the worst. :devil:

    Four candidates run for two Ohio Supreme Court seats (cincinnati.com)

    LOL .....
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. l_boy

    l_boy 5500

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    Seems like tortured logic. At the same time 8 to 12 years for stealing a leaf blower seems like overkill.
     
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  6. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Someone is getting Soros money and it's obvious for all to see.
     
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  7. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    That's a good way to put it.

    Maybe the act of stealing $500 worth of property from a house can stand alone in this ruling. Without the "tortured logic" would be nice too.
     
  8. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    Guess strict textualism flies out the window when it reaches a conclusion you don't like. If his theft didnt meet the statuteorial definition, why should it apply? Do people think a petty theft of $500 should result in more than a year in jail? The lesser crime he was sentenced under isnt enough?
     
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  9. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    You don't sound like you want laws. You sound like want spongy guidelines for lawyers-in-robes to abuse at will. Just like that judge did in this case.
     
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  10. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    I thought the conservative position was applying the laws as written, not inventing elaborate justifications for government overreach with no textual basis. The legislature could always update its statutes and make what this guy did a more severe crime, but that seems excessive to me. Why does someone need a decade in prison for stealing $500 of property?
     
  11. mrhansduck

    mrhansduck GC Hall of Fame

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  12. oragator1

    oragator1 Hurricane Hunter Premium Member

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  13. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    That case was clear burglary, not trespassing.
     
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  14. mrhansduck

    mrhansduck GC Hall of Fame

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    I don't know whether it needs to be fixed or not. The defendant is still facing a sentence for his criminal trespass - just not burglary. I don't know the difference in those possible sentences, but it wouldn't surprise me that burglary would be more difficult to prove and result in a significantly harsher sentence.
     
  15. WC53

    WC53 GC Hall of Fame

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    Old City
    The more I was around judges, the more apparent it became that way too many started as a political appointee and then got reelected to the seat.
    And then there is the olds… ;)
     
  16. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    Dont most burglary statutes define it as breaking a sealed door of some kind? It is definitely a theft, but taking something out of an open garage isnt a "burglary" in most cases, at least traditionally.
     
  17. jjgator55

    jjgator55 VIP Member

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    $500 for a leaf blower? I bought one for $30 ten years ago and it still works great.
     
  18. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Okay, so theft is NOT even a consideration in all of this? So, maybe he should be charged with theft? So, since it's trespassing-theft it's different than burglary-theft? Is that the charge difference you're concerned about?

    Sorry, whether my garage door is open or closed if you walk in there and steal something that is burglary just the same as if the door was closed..

    However, if you walk into my open garages and you do NOT steal something then that at worst is simple trespassing.
     
  19. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    It is a consideration, that's why he was still charged with a lesser crime. Sorry the law distinguishes between stealing something when you leave your door open vs. when you have it closed. That's why "breaking and entering" is a concept. This guy only entered, he didnt break. I suggest you take it up with common law on that matter.
     
  20. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Many laws are very different in different states... but stealing $500 worth of property is still stealing... theft.