Jobless man asks judge for jail time
What is the world coming to? A man with no job and really no other way to make a living or any money at all robs a bank because he wants to go to jail. On Thursday, October 12, 2006, a man in Columbia, Ohio robbed a random bank.Timothy J. Bowers was in search of around a three year sentence in jail. He walked into the bank with all the wrong intentions and asked the person working behind the front desk to hand him all the money in the cash register. The man handed him a few twenties and then quickly pressed a silent alarm.
Right when the security guard came to the crime scene, Mr. Bowers handed him the money. Quoted from Mr. Bowers, "I want you to become a hero today, take the money." The security guard obviously called the police and was confused and relieved at the same time. When the cops came they had brought the man to the court room.
As the judge started sentencing the 63 year old mad, the man told the whole story. He said "At my age, the jobs available to me are all minimum wage. There is age discrimination out there." He asked for about a three year sentencing, just enough time to get some social security for himself. The judge Angela White replied by saying "It's unfortunate that you feel this is the only way you can deal with the situation."
He pleaded guilty with robbery and was tested for pyschological exams to see if he was mentally stable. They found him competent. Some prosecutors argued about charging him with taxpayer's expense but were scared that he would do something even more reckless to be put behind bars.
I think this story is both comical but also incredibly sad and unfortunate. I don't think I know realize how well many of us have it pretty easy. I couldn't even imagine even thinking about that for a solution. I think this man is mentally unstable somehow and can't have everything clicking right. The situation is sad and should be an eye opener to the lifestyle many people in our nation are living everyday.
If you want additional information or would like to follow up with this story, check it out: Jobless man
posted by Anonymous @ 10/12/2006 07:49:00 PM
1 Comments:
Well, technically, taxpayers would pay for his housing outside jail; social security won't be paying solely out of his account when he walks. I do agree, it is a sad state of affairs if people will resort to jail to scrape by, but to everyone their own. But no change is needed; the man pulled a crime (granted, not full-heartedly) and now is facing the punishment. If anything, the changes need to be made in welfare and job seeking programs, so people don't have to sink as low as crime to find a living.
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