-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: lessons from a bungled theft
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 10:21:34 -0500
From: Rich Green <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
I doubt if many people find it "funny" how the librarians were treated or,
for that matter, how inept these criminals were and apparently have
continued to be. There is, however, an amusing irony to the story when a
frivolously constructed appeal backfires and will result in at least 21
additional months of incarceration.
As I read the Appeal document and followed along in case history, I was
concerned that these guys were ultimately going to be shown leniency simply
because they were so obviously obtuse. I, for one, was pleased to find that
the judge didn't reduce anyone's sentence. We should all find solace, as the
librarians in this case probably do, when criminals aren't given a pass and
the judicial system finally seems to work. Just because prosecutors were
shooting fish in a barrel, doesn't mean these knuckleheads got any more or
less than what they had coming.
If we could just have the same kinds of results with the criminals running
meth labs and the crack dealers...but that's another subject all it's own.
Personally, I find it difficult to share any sympathy for families or anyone
else who would continue to finance and pay legal fees for the defense and
appeal of any obviously guilty criminal. At the very least, they clearly
understand at this juncture what any money they contribute is being used
for. Sorry if this seems somehow insensitive with regard to family members,
but the miscreant behavior of these individuals surely didn't just reveal
itself in college or suddenly happen overnight?
Again (my opinion) justice has been served.
Rich Green
Historic Archaeological Research
4338 Hadley Court
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Office: (765) 464-8735
Mobile: (765) 427-4082
www.har-indy.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Angie Cope" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:34 AM
Subject: Re: lessons from a bungled theft
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: RE: lessons from a bungled theft
> Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 18:03:25 -0500
> From: Grabach, Kenneth A. Mr. <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
> Thank you for sharing this information with the community. It is
> reassuring to see that the legal system recognizes the seriousness of such
> attempts. However, the court as well as the library staff who were
> affected, would disagree with everyone who characterizes this episode as
> funny.
>
> These young men, students at a private university, have accomplished the
> following:
>
> Consipired, planned, and attempted the theft of very valuable materials
> belonging to a library.
> Conspired and planned to sell the stolen property to a major auction
> house.
> Put staff in harm's way.
> Threatened a staff person with intent to injure her, targeting her because
> she was working alone at the time in her department.
> Appealed the sentence on frivolous grounds.
> Wasted their families' outlay for their tuition and living expenses at
> university.
> Incurred legal and court costs for their defense and appeal, probably that
> their families were required to cover.
> Harmed their career plans for at least the near term.
>
> Their attempt is funny in a rather stupid sort of way, but I do not find
> this a situation worth laughing at. I am very glad that the U.S. District
> Court judge also did not find this laughable, but instead saw the serious
> nature of their crime. However poorly it was planned and carried out, it
> was still serious in its intent. When a crime is carried out so clumsily,
> it is all too easy to laugh at the ineptitude. Fortunately, it was able
> to be thwarted. But the anxiety caused to the woman and to other staff of
> the library, and the aggravation to the students' families, will not
> easily be laughed away.
>
> Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
> Maps Librarian Phone: 513-529-1726
> Miami University Libraries
> Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA
>
> ________________________________________
> From: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum [[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Angie Cope [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:59 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: lessons from a bungled theft
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: lessons from a bungled theft
> Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:47:56 -0600
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: Maps-L <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> Here is the court decision
> http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0062p-06.pdf [PDF]
>
> It sounds kind of scary for the librarian(s) who acted intelligently and
> courageously.
>
> Angie
> --
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: lessons from a bungled theft
> Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 10:15:41 -0500
> From: Rich Green <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
> This is a hoot! The defendant who unsuccessfully tried to rat out his
> cohorts appealed and not only lost his appeal but got all of the
> defendants
> sentences set aside because, according to the appellate court's decision,
> they weren't sentenced harshly enough!
>
> Now, instead of the original 87 month sentence they all received (of a
> possible 87-108 months), a new sentencing hearing will take place that
> must
> recognize the appellate court findings and that must include a term of
> between 108-135 months.
>
> Justice is served!
>
> Rich Green
> Historic Archaeological Research
> 4338 Hadley Court
> West Lafayette, IN 47906
> Office: (765) 464-8735
> Mobile: (765) 427-4082
> www.har-indy.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Angie Cope" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:48 AM
> Subject: lessons from a bungled theft
>
>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: lessons from a bungled theft
>> Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:32:13 -0500
>> From: Michael Fry <[log in to unmask]>
>> Organization: University of Maryland Libraries
>> To: Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>
>> US Court of Appeals just handed down a ruling in US v Allen, et al.,
>> which
>> describes four "college
>> buddies" and their rather half-witted attempts to steal rare materials
>> from their college library by
>> brute force and sell them through Christie's auction house.
>>
>> The defendants pleaded guilty and were convicted, but they appealed their
>> sentences on the grounds
>> that 1) a pen-type stun gun isn't a dangerous weapon, and 2) they
>> shouldn't be punished for stealing
>> items that they didn't successfully remove from the building. One of the
>> four defendants also argued
>> that his sentence should be further reduced because, among other things,
>> "his ideas and suggestions
>> were routinely rejected during the planning stages."
>>
>> Aside from the librarian they frightened, zapped with the stun pen (to no
>> real effect), and tied up,
>> the whole escapade is pretty funny. You can read it at
>> http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0062p-06.pdf.
>>
>> mf
>> --
>> Michael Fry
>> Map Librarian
>> Government Documents & Maps
>> 4118 McKeldin Library
>> University of Maryland
>> College Park, MD 20742
>> 301.314.1357 | [log in to unmask]
|
