Man serving life for TV theft finally released from prison (35 years!)

[Richard Steele]

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. -- After 35 years in prison for stealing a $140 television set, Junior Allen is finally a free man.

Allen walked out of prison Friday on his way to live with relatives in Georgia, ending a well-publicized case that saw the 65-year-old sit in jail while people convicted of murder, rape or child molestation were released.
*snip*
Allen was sentenced to life in prison for second-degree burglary in 1970 for sneaking into an unlocked house near Benson and stealing a 19-inch black-and-white television.
*snip*
The law governing his crime has since been changed, and the most severe penalty anyone can now receive for second-degree burglary is three years.

MORE:http://www.herald-sun.com/state/6-611826.html
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This is the kind of case which proves that 'mandatory sentences' and 'three-strikes' laws are NOT serving the interests of JUSTICE.

[moose65]

1. sheesh....

We sure have had a lot of wacko stories in NC lately... East Waynesville Baptist, flushing the Koran, and now this! LOL
Believe me folks, there ARE some good things in NC!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Cue the rabid punishist brigade

3... 2... 1...

[Bluebear]

3. Gee, what race was he I wonder?

Oh, surprise!

[kliljedahl]

4. Saw that in yesterday's paper, thought

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:





Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. I wonder if anyone was home when he did that...how scary

to have someone break into your home.

[kliljedahl]

6. That's a question

Some state records say Allen roughed up the 87-year-old woman who lived there, but he wasn't convicted of assault. At trial, her home was presumed to have been unoccupied when he broke in.

I like this quote: "For a black-and-white TV, how much do you have to pay?" Hasberry said. "We've got an in-house joke here: How much time would he have gotten if he had stolen a color TV?"


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[maveric]

7. Is Mr. Allen African American?

Jim Crowe justice?

[Bluebear]

8. See #3