BANGOR, Maine — The thief and the farmer he stole from in September 2010 both said they pursued justice as a matter of principle even though the purloined pumpkins and cornstalks were valued at just $26.
Ronney Vick, 63, of Hudson was convicted Wednesday of theft by unauthorized taking, a Class E misdemeanor, by a Penobscot County jury.
Vick acted as his own attorney. He said after he was was sentenced to pay a $250 fine that he was glad he exercised his right to a jury trial and defended himself.
“It was a matter of principle,” he said. “I didn’t want this on my record and I felt confident that I could defend myself. It was too costly to hire an attorney.”
Because the Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office was not asking that the defendant be sentenced to jail if found guilty, Vick did not qualify for a court-appointed attorney.
Tom Davis III, 40, of Kenduskeag sat with his wife and children in a second-floor courtroom of the Penobscot Judicial Center for the trial. The family left as the jury began deliberating.
“It was the principle of the thing,” Davis said in a telephone interview late Wednesday afternoon. “It was not about the money.”
Davis said that his children, who are teenagers, work in the pumpkin patch at the Kenduskeag farm and save the money for college.
“I was not going to expect my kids to slog through mud lugging slimy pumpkins that weigh almost as much as they do to the tailgate of a pickup truck, then clean them up for sale to let someone walk off with them without paying for them,” he said. “That doesn’t set a very good example for my kids.”
Davis said that preparing for and attending the trial cost him more in gas and time than the $26 the six pumpkins and two cornstalks Vick was convicted of stealing were worth.
Vick testified that he put $10 in a can at the farm stand in Kenduskeag and planned to return the next day to pay the other $16.
Brad Libby, who works on the farm, testified that Vick put pumpkins in the back seat of his car, then prepared to drive away, Assistant District Attorney Tracy Collins Lacher said while the jury was deliberating. Libby said he confronted the man about his not paying for the items. Vick then unloaded his car and left.
Davis called police and Vick was summoned. Vick exercised his constitutional right to a jury trial.
Maine is one of the few states that allow defendants charged with misdemeanors to have a jury trial, Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said Wednesday. In most states, only defendants charged with felonies have the right to a jury trial. Defendants charged with misdemeanors in most states are entitled only to jury-waived trials.
The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for an hour Wednesday before announcing its verdict about 3:20 p.m. The trial began with opening arguments Wednesday morning.
After the verdict, Superior Court Justice Kevin Cuddy imposed the fine on Vick. The defendant faced up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
He was not ordered to pay restitution because the merchandise he took was recovered, according to Lacher.
The exact cost of prosecuting Vick is difficult to determine. The cost to the District Attorney’s Office to take the case to trial was about $500, according to Almy.
The 14 jurors, including 12 alternates, were paid $10 per day each plus 15 cents per mile to cover travel expenses, which most likely totaled about $160, Mary Ann Lynch, spokeswoman for the court system said Wednesday.
The three court officers needed in the courtroom for the trial each earned $116 for the day, she said. The judge, the clerk and court reporter would have been working whether Vick had decided to go to trial or not, so their salaries and benefits should not be used to determine the cost of his trial, Lynch said.
That puts the cost of prosecuting Vick at $1,008.
“Vick is expected to argue that he took the merchandise but planned to return later and pay for it. He was arrested before he was able to do that.”
Dude, if you take something from someone without their permission, regardless of whether you intended to pay for it later, it is still stealing.
Doesn’t get much simpler than that, does it???
Are some of you serious about “It was only $26.00, let it go”, what is happening to this country??
The man is a thief, plain as can be, that got caught. The value of the theft doesn’t make any difference.
He stole from them, he will steal from you given half a chance.
Throw the book at him, I wish we still had stocks to clamp him into.
A pumpkin stand of all things.
LOSER!!!!!
Petty theft is one thing, but theft from a farmer who depends on the honor system for part of his income is about as low as you can go.
What a LAME excuse…
We have anything better to spend our money on than a TRIAL for $26 worth of pumpkins? Case dismissed. Next up, woman steals $21 worth of beets.
Two options: 1) Don’t charge people with stealing other people’s property or 2) Ignore that this guy has a constitutional right to have a trial.
i understand the constitutional right to a trial… but honestly he’s just milking the court system… i could understand if jail time was being requested. but this is a COMPLETE waste of taxpayers money… if you want to waste the court time to fight a 26 dollar theft charge, than you should have to pay the fees inquired while doing so. but than again if had the money to pay for court we probably wouldn’t be having the conversation right now. =) . . clowns
I agree…..if he wants the full trial with all the bells and whistles than he should have to pay for some of it, if found guilty
Maybe he was going to pay for them. Sometimes its just the point.
Option 1a) If you choose not to charge people for stealing other people’s property then it is now legal to shoot them in the back as they are running away.
Note: This option will also improve the gene pool.
At what “dollar value” do we begin to charge a person with then?
at what dollar amount… hmm. let’s estimate the cost of this WHOLE situation… man hours- a police officer or detective actually had to investigate this before they could contact the DAs office to refer charges. next we have the DA who had to go over the paper work/evidence. now court fees. all of this and for what? so this guy gets a SLAP on the wrist? at most a $500 fine? now how in anyway shape or form do you find ALL of this rational in comparison to the $26 taken?
The police officer is going to respond, that is what we pay them for in the first place. No added cost and it would never have been referred to a detective.
The case went to the DA, we all know that and it sounds like the DA tried to dispose of the case with a “plea bargain” but he refused.
So by your reasoning anything below $500.00 should never see the light of day in the court system. With that line of reasoning it will not be long before that bar is moved up to $750 or $1000 because “it’s not worth it”.
Is $26.00 to little? Sure it is and THAT IS WHAT HE WAS HOPING FOR. Refuse the plea, hold out hoping that the DA will toss it and I walk away….again and again and again.
Ok, I understand that our system is not perfect and it was designed just for these types of cases, the “little guy” allowed to have his day in court. Seriously though, everyone wants to whine about DHHS fraud, and financial waste and all the rest. and here we the taxpayers have to pay for a jury trial over $26 in pumpkins and corn stalks. The D.A.’s office should drop the charges, tell me where to send the $26 and ill reimburse the people he took if from. I’d rather do that then spend a ton more of the taxpayers money for a jury trial.
Seriously? “We the taxpayers?” come on wake up…….Your mentality on the subject probably isn’t far off from the guy who stole other people’s property. Maybe instead of prosecuting people for stealing, we can just see if someone is willing to pay first, so we don’t have to waste any money in court…….That definitely deals with the root of the problem.
Our system of crime and punishment is based on balance, in other words justice, not some Puritan view of a thief is a thief no matter if he steals a loaf of bread or $10 billion. There is no balance in the state paying for this trial. How are the people served by having this goto trial? They are not asking for jail time, thankfully or we would be paying for a public defender as well. This case only hurts the people. Its called a net loss, and that is not balance. Had he held the pumpkin stand up at gun point and threatened or hurt someone for $26 worth of pumpkins and corn stalks, that is a different story, Then there would be more to account for and make balance with “the people.” Your attitude would have made criminals out of 75% of the population and bankrupted the courts during prohibition. 20 years to life for drinking a beer!
So where is the justice in allowing him to steal other people stuff, without any consequences? And yes, a thief is a thief and it has nothing to do with the value of what was stolen.
I bet you cringe when you read “The Scarlet Letter,” when you think of your Puritan brothers letting Hester get away with her red A instead of drowning her. First off there is a difference between someone who steals a loaf of bread and someone who steals $10 billion. Otherwise the justice system would not distinguish between petty larceny and grand larceny. Secondly I am so glad you were born in these times rather than during the American Revolution. Under your philosophy George Washington would not have been our first president because he would have been in jail. He was a thief having ordered his men to raid British munition dumps and STEALING ammo, boots, etc. Not to mention him being very guilty of treason and terrorism
I guess you are right….In the interest of balance, the justice system should not get involved with anyone who steals anything with less than a $100 value.
GW was in a war. You don’t see any difference in that?
What if this took place at Hannaford or at the mall and it was only $26 worth of stolen goods? Think they would say “oh sorry, we didn’t know you only stole $26 worth, carry on”?
How do you know this farm stand isn’t owned by an old lady trying to earn money to heat her home for the winter or something?
It may not warrant jail time, but if he looses he should get a fine for about 4 times what he stole and it should go on his record.
Or…maybe just some liberal rehab?
Holy cow, that was my point! Washington wasn’t a thief, I used that as an example to illustrate that Dontbeignorants point of a thief is a thief no matter what is not accurate. I am also not saying that the people he stole from should not get their $26, if you read my original post you would see i even offered to pay it myself. The people are getting the short end of the stick on this one,
By your logic, all a criminal has to do is make the cost of prosecution exceed the cost of his crime and he would not be prosecuted.
Justice is justice. The system is there to ensure that wrong is determined (or innocence, ot a certain degree) and the proper sentence is metted out.
This may appear twice as my original is “under review”… No, my logic is based in justice. This particular case was not The Farmer vs Vick, it was The People vs. Vick. Our criminal court system is in place to seek justice for The People, not an individual, that is what civil court is for. This guy was found guilty, and fined $250. The People paid $1008 to get that $250. Where is the justice in that? You scream and yell that he is a criminal, and yes it is true he is a criminal, but D.A.’s let criminals go free everyday in pursuit of justice to The People. A drug dealer goes free because he gives up his supplier. That dealer is a criminal, but The People are better served by letting him go and getting the next person higher on the chain. I am interested in justice, and when justice is served the scales balance. $250 does not balance with $1008 and the jurors time. What those who wanted this guy to fry wanted was vengeance not justice. To put it terms that those who have never read anything bigger than a comic book can understand, those who wanted this guy to fry are the Ra’s al-Ghul’s of the world and I am the G. D. Batman!
Actually, if you were alive during the revolution, you would have most likely ridden the rail as a torrie and watched your house burn down. Theft is theft, it is immoral, and to say otherwise undermines the concpet of private property rights, which is the foundation of liberty.
And your commentary on Washington is laughable…once the British innitiated an assault on the lives and fortunes of the colonists to further their tyrannical grip on the new economy, they absolved any right to justice under their own law. All of Washington’s actions were in his pursuit of securing liberty for his countrymen and were done in an effort to defend their lives from the British agressors.
According to your logic, if someone broke into my house with a gun, I tackled them, and then took their gun, I would have committed theft. That is simply failed logic.
That was kind of my point, Washington most assuredly committed crimes against the Crown, who just happened to be the ruling government. I agree with everything he did because he fought for liberty and justice for all. HOWEVER, by saying Washington was a thief illustrated my opposition to Dontbeignorant’s point that a thief is a thief no matter what. Washington was a great man, not a thief. But then again we won the war, had we lost he would have been captured, returned to England, tried, and drawn and quartered for treason to the Crown.
Yes there is a difference between someone who steals a loaf of bread and $10 billion. In this country the person who took the loaf of bread gets 30 days, and the person who takes $10 billion makes a donation to a political party, and maybe, just maybe gets a nice bonus.
hit the nail right on the head. VERY well put
stole* =)
I bet the farmer would have liked that better. Part of the problem wit the legal system is that the victim of the crime gets nothing out of it.
If we (the people) do not want to prosecute this person then at what “dollar value” do we begin to charge a person at?
I agree with you. What a waste of time and money and really Mr.Libby, waste the cops time when you already had your stuff back?
So with what you are saying is, if I go shoplifting and get caught as long as I put it back I shouldn’t be prosecuted? What fantasy world do you live in?
Again, Not my intent. Just thought it was a wash. But I was wrong.
Typical criminal thinking….
Really sorry, That was not my intent. Just a brain fart Iguess. I was wrong.
I also think that Social Workers from the DHHS should be held more accountable for promises they make their clients. An unbiased 3rd party should be there to help mediate. And not someone that works for or is affiliated with the DHHS either, nor someone that works for the local agency that the client might work for as well. I’ve seen cases in which the manipulation by the social worker fails when the client figures out they are being lied to and lead along with “financial carrots”. This only leads to more wasting of money. Of course these people are not real Psychology Degree holders, most the time they have garden variety 2 or 3 year Social Work Degrees with a much lighter work load /course work than someone in Psychology would have. I once had a social work student tell me that his work load was just as hard as mine. Then I showed him my text books and tons of terminology I studied. It soon put his attitude in check. My point is that perhaps an actual Psychologist, Lawyer, or some better educated representative could be present during crucial meetings in which the Social Worker may have the opportunistic moment to lead clients on with promises and offers. They should be held accountable for. Also a trained psychologist can help guide the Social Worker in his or her thinking and offer suggestions. Too much money is wasted with disgruntled clients lashing out or eventually abusing the system because their Social Worker / Case Worker was trying to manipulate them unfairly. Even if a client isn’t aware of what is going on he or she will pick up on it subconsciously and react accordingly. Accountability I believe can save the system a lot of money. And keep mental abuse of clients to a minimum. I’m not saying that they consider this mental abuse but technically it is when lies and manipulation are concerned. I’m not saying all social workers engage in this but from what I’ve heard and seen it is happening a lot.
LOL Really? There aren’t enough people complaining about the costs of social services as it is and you want to bring lawyers and psychologists into it? DHHS would be spending 90% of its budget on the “consulting” fee’s these two highly expensive types of people would charge. So you wouldn’t have to worry about false promises cause there wouldn’t be any money to help the clients. As for case workers, when they start a statement, “If you qualify you could receive…” it’s not a promise, it is an explanation of services. If they are making promises, you are right and those case workers should be corrected
Is it any wonder why our court systems are overwhelmed? Ok,I get the constitution thing,but our court and incarceration systems are both overwhelmed and expensive to all us tax payers.It’s actually a pretty large percentage of your property tax. There should be a minimum limit of value for these types of cases,similar to what constitues larceny from Grand larceny,and should be handled in a different way.Such as automatic mediation for example.Certainly should not tie up resources that will be in the thousands of dollars for a 26 dollar crime!
Grand Larceny is a certain dollar amount and anything else is theft. At what “dollar value” do we not charge a person with theft?
Think about it JD.
These are the same type of people who would rather give the oxy addict that committed armed robbery at Rite-Aid rehab instead of prison.
Think about it? It sounds like you are incapable of thinking?What the hell are you talking about??Are you on Oxy right now?
Who said anything about not charging them????? I said,don’t tie up the resources of thousands of dollars for a 26 dollar crime!
And I am asking if we “don’t tie up resources” what do we do in cases like this where the victim wants to press charges and the defendant wants to exercise their Maine Constitutional Rights?
Hundreds of dollars spent on a trial for the theft of $26 worth of produce. Who’s bright idea is that? Over a year ago at that!
It was probably a year ago because this guy wanted to play the system to his full benefit, and bring out the full jury for this. Most people woud have just plead guilty a few months after being charged.
Is there a category for “frivolous trials” like there is for “frivolous law suits?” I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that this guy knows the systems and is pretty good at using and abusing all of them. Then again, taxpayers are getting better at being used and abused.
$26.00? How much are they court fees involved? Judge Judy should handle this. Not only does the country laugh at LePage give them something else to laugh about this case is insane.
Now that makes sense put someone in the court system over $26? Heck for that, I would write the loss if after a year and change this guy has not “returned” to pay me. I think this guy has had plenty of time now to “return and pay” for these items. Now that you know his name, what he looks like, next time he shows up, exercise the right to refuse service or sale. I used to know a guy who sold small engine parts, had a big sign in plain sight “These are the people who screwed me over” and there was a name, how you screwed him over and for how much, and these people were never dealt with for business again.
The states spending problem is right here!!!!
So I get a “free” repair/parts from this guy and he only puts my name on the “wall of shame?” Meanwhile this guy easily does the same thing to the next small business owner he does business with? Maybe he can get his name on that wall too?
I think you are missing this, those who got on the wall were people like this article makes an example of, those who bounced checks..more then once…those who promised to pay, pay some now, then later but never did, etc.
Exactly my point those who bounced checks MORE THEN ONCE…….because the only punishment they got was somoene putting their name on a wall of a business.
Sure bounced a check more then once, but certainly did not wait 50 times either. If you bounced a $19 check he got charged (then $25) for the bounce, he was paying more to collect that money. Name on the wall, you would think twice before pulling out the checkbook again, or the counterfeit $20 bill, etc. Was his list long? No, but I am sure it filtered out the wannabe rip offs in short order. Small town, if your name come up as being on the wall, people knew who you were, and considering he only accepted local checks only too, so it was not like someone from 60 miles away could swing by rip him off either. He was not ignorant for sure.
So at what “monetary level” do we just say…”oh forget about it” and just let the person go?
Are you really asking that question? A business owner should make the determination first if it is worth going after someone for in this case $26, if the business owner just can’t write it off, go ahead and let the courts decide, but then again the system is ignorant all around, they will take any case that is easy and waste more money on it then necessary. Surprised we didn’t throw this guy in jail for a long period of time, give him 3 square meals and outside play time and free TV viewing. What are they going to do with this guy in court? You owe $26….pay it or else…or else…or else what? What are we going to do for $26 to make sure this guy pays, considering he has not paid in over a year and a half do you really think he is now?
Here is the Maine Title 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODE Part 2: SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES Chapter 15: THEFT §353. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer
You tell me why the the state is pursuing this. Could it be paragraph #6?
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-a/title17-Asec353.html
Ask a lawyer and get back to me, I am not here to do work for you or interfere with your well known judgement, I made one statement which I am entitled to do, I did not say “HEY EVERYONE I AM HERE TO CHALLENGE THE STATE LAWS!” If I wanted to, I know how to call my “congressman” or “lawmaker”…etc
Well rudeness does become you.
I asked a simple question, “So at what “monetary level” do we just say…”oh forget about it” and just let the person go?”
You chose to answer that question with “let the business owner decide” and it seems he has.
You questioned why move forward with this case and I provided one possible reason, that he has done it before (at least twice) and you come back your typical rude answer rather than engaging in an adult conversation.
You seem to have an issue with facts. Good luck moving through life “nuts”.
See you are declaring perfection already, never been once rude in your life? If you look carefully, I make a statement, you ask a question about “letting it go”, why I would be asked, I am not sure when I only made a statement, the same statement mind you that others have made it a point as to how much of a waste the system is prosecuting someone over $26, but for some reason my name, must somehow attract you to just go ahead and ask just me, the sole question, so I answer it, then you come out like a lawyer with an Ipad with the state statues on bookmark and post a link asking if I think they are prosecuting it under some paragraph. I could care less about the law that is being applied here, I am well aware of the number of laws that the state must feel they need to exercise on things that cost $26.
Good luck with the year 2008, the year the country went in the crapper, the rest of us moved on
“See you are declaring perfection already, never been once rude in your life?”
LOL that’s really funny. I have never said that I am “perfect” nor do I claims it.
~~~~~
“If you look carefully, I make a statement, you ask a question
about “letting it go”, why I would be asked, I am not sure when I only made a statement, the same statement mind you that others have made it a point as to how much of a waste the system is prosecuting someone over $26, but for some reason my name, must somehow attract you to just go
ahead and ask just me, the sole question, so I answer it, then you come out like a lawyer with an Ipad with the state statues on bookmark and post a link asking if I think they are prosecuting it under some paragraph.”
Ah…if you read the comments I have asked the question to several posters. You were not and are not being “singled” out.
~~~~~
“I could care less about the law that is being applied here, I
am well aware of the number of laws that the state must feel they need to exercise on things that cost $26.”
I know that is your position. My position is and question is “at what monetary amount do we as a society say screw it”.
~~~~~
“Good luck with the year 2008, the year the country went in the crapper, the rest of us moved on”
Not even sure why 2008 is significant to the discussion but if you think it is, so be it.
Sorry I fell right asleep after ” couldn’t stay awake to read the rest
It appears the business owners DID make the determination to go ahead, knowing full well Vick stole $25 of merchandise. I’ll bet theft from farmstands happen a lot, and they were glad they finally caught a thief red-handed. If business owners, or any witnesses for that matter, don’t cooperate, I’m sure a lot of cases get dumped. These witnesses did the right thing and were prepared to go to trial. If you have any complaints, bring it up with the criminal, Mr. VIck. Tell him how much you appreciate him wasting our taxpayer dollars when he was caught red-handed. I’ll bet the jury would have appreciated it, too, if Mr. Vick had been man-enough to step up and accept responsibility…
Had motorcycle accident totally the other persons fault total bills were 40,000 cop did not take her to court
Why would the police take her to court? I fail to see the comparison to a theft charge.
Because she faild to yeild the right of way she did NOT take the time to look to see if ant one was coming before going thru the stop sign into to the intersection. So according to you its ok for people to cause motorcycle accidents because they know there will be nothing done to them. $40,000 vs. 26 bucks ile put it this way they are will to take this person to court because the goods he took was 26 bucks but if you cause an accident an it cost the rides 40,000 an the person on the bike could on been killed or mite of been bed ridden for the rest of his life so you say ok ?
First off, I am deeply sorry that someone ran a stop sign causing you bodily injury.
I am assuming that the police officer never cited the person that hit you for failure to yield the right of way or failure to stop? If they didn’t shame on them. If they did, the driver pays the fine and that is the end of it as far as the criminal court system is concerned. If the driver wants to fight the ticket, then it goes to court and the judge will assign some fine and the person pays it. Case closed.
Now, you have the option of taking the person to civil court and suing them for bodily harm, loss of consortium, loss of wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc… But it’s not a criminal case.
Now I never said or implied that it is “OK” to hit a motorcyclist or bicyclist. Never. In most cases it will not end up with criminal charges. It is a ticket, fine, increase in insurance premiums and maybe a civil case but that is it.
Maybe she really wasn’t at fault and you were? Maybe you’re lying? Maybe you have no idea what you are talking about?
Either way, it ain’t the cop that takes someone to court, it is the DA. I’m guessing that you just want to push the blame to others.
If i was at fault than why did her insurance company pay me ?? There were two people that saw the accident an they both told the cop that i did nothing wrong what so ever. She stopped at the stop sing an just took right off did not take time to look to see if anyone was coming . I had on a bright construction vest a bran new you you could see me a mile away . The cop put down on the report that SHE failed to yield the right of way. The only reason her did not take her to court was the cop told my lawyer that SHE had to much trama at the seen an did not want to put her thru any more. Like said if the other insurance company though i was at fault would they pay out on the law suit ?? One more thing yes the cop can take her to court because i taken with the DA of Kennebec county an if it was true what i said the cop should of taken her to court. The cop only works one day a week for the police dept so i call him a rent a cop .
26$? How much is the trial going to cost the State? Sounds like they should have made him pay for the items and dropped the charges….
Any relation to Michael Vick?
This is so ridiculous that it is in court. Was the guy shady, yes, but rather than arresting him, they should have just asked him to hand over the $26 with a stern warning or a summons. Maybe he really was intending to return and pay later? Maybe not. But regardless, what a waste of tax payer resource and it is indicative of our willingness to go overboard. Our courts and jails are very overburdened, let’s make some smart decisions. I would rather spend that money on education, not incarceration!
Until he steals from you…………
Then see if you settle for $26.00 and a sob story. I doubt it.
Yes, I would just take my $26. I have encountered similar situations involving a lot more money. Were I to involve the police, the goal would be return of the money or what was stolen, within reason.
I am not talking about theft of larger amounts, but $26? Just make the guy pay the money back.
Pumpkins are the source of all evil.Everyone knows that.
what a typical Maine red neck.
stealing is against the law period
if the state isn’t requesting jail time, why the f*** are we spending money for this guy to go to court??? really MAX fine will probably be 250$. restitution 26 dollars. court fees 250. pissing off the entire states taxpayers, priceless….. good job penobscot county DA’s office.. way to make a BIG name for your selves… what a joke.
So at what “monetary level” do we just say…”oh for get about the crime”?
again, not saying forget about the crime. i don’t condone his actions in anyway shape or form. in all honesty he stole someones lively hood not just 26 dollars. However, i don’t believe the taxpayers should have to pay for this scumbag to go to court. i think if you want to fight the charges in court and take it all the way to jury trial. if found guilty than you foot the bill. not just the court bill. the ENTIRE bill. the hours the cops work should be reimbursed at their hourly rate. as with the DA and everyone else the state had to pay to give him “chance” in court… that would be the new meaning to restitution and i GUARANTEE people wouldn’t take BS to trial
And then “justice” is no longer “blind” but becomes available only to those that can “afford” it. Those that cannot will take the plea and those that can will fight the charges.
I fully understand your position and where you are coming from but to take if from “justice is available to all” to “justice is available to those that can afford it” is scary.
Sometimes they already do in cases like domestic assault.
if your truly innocent, you shouldn’t have to worry about being able to afford it right? don’t get me wrong… just seems like a HUGE waste of extremely valuable funds, in even more extreme times…
I think we should go after all fraud
Should have stolen from MaineCare by overbilling…
Of course, do we have to find 12 people who were once charged with stealing 6 pumpkins and two cornstalks to make up a jury of his peers?
….
What a waste of court time and money with all the horrible crimes in this state.
I have a comment to make about ME courts and prosecutors. It is kind of funny because I was just discussing this last night with a friend.
About 12 years ago, I called to the attention of the Belfast PD, and the Waldo prosecutors office a theft of $25,000 from an elderly man. It was in regards to a real estate transaction. I had all of the paperwork. I even had the forged documents. But no go. So then I called the AG’s office…no go. I ranted, I raved. Too much leg work I was told for too “small” a crime.
I explained that the perpetrator of this crime had planned it meticulously and was also wanted for tax fraud. Bupkis.
So anyway, this piece of scum eventually runs to FL where he continues to bilk the elderly out of their savings. When the the FL officials decided to take note and proceed with an investigation of this man he committed suicide. He had other personal problems as well, but in my opinion it was all part and parcel of his criminal activity.
I would remind you that Belfast and Waldo county is the same place that took the time to prosecute a man for “stealing” a popcicle from a local convenience store a few years back.
So, what is wrong with the judicial system in ME? My guess is that the easier the case, the more likely to prosecute. No one wants to actually work for a conviction. That goes all the way down from the AG to the local court appointed attorneys. Too bad that in even the ostensibly noble profession of the law, common sense is sorely lacking.
In this case I would say that if the man has admitted to taking the items, and says he intended to pay for them, then let him pay for them and call it a good day. The system is broken.
I can’t believe they told you it was too much leg work and too small of a crime…..Wow.
Yep, I couldn’t believe it either. But true.
I’m pretty sure that you’re leaving out a few things. In fact I’m postitive you are.
Even if she gave you all the facts johnathon You would still deny that DAs were not some perfect gods.
Lest the accused be innocent, that’s why.
Great first drugs now pumpkins! The number of addicts in maine is growing! He must really like pumpkin soup and pumpkin pie.
Seriously! This warrants the DA’s attention? Fine him making pay for the items and end it! Waste of tax payers money.
He cannot be fined until he is found guilty. He is “playing” the system hoping for the reaction he has garnered. He asked for a jury trial which is his right.
Exactly right, JD. All these people boohooing about the DA wasting money wouldn’t be saying the same thing if it was their property stolen, even if it was just $25!!
I agree with you on this one.
If he planned on paying for it later…he should have waited till later to get the merchandise!
“Vick is expected to argue that he took the merchandise but planned to return later and pay for it. ” Nice thought… It must be a new way of purchasing… I’m sure those “finewords” will make there way around to those with “sticky fingers”!
He said that he was going to pay.I would like to know if they gave him the chance.if they did and then he refused make him pay for the pumpkins and court cost.
what a stupid waste
We really have a district attorney who is willing to waste resources like this?
He could have pled guilty and saved the taxpayers the money. He was caught red-handed!
It was for TOM Davis…………………………………………………………
Probably not his first theft… or last.
i agree its an overkill !
What about banks that steal from you? I could give 100s of examples. Vermont wanted to pass a law 5 yrs in jail and felony for selling corn syrup saying its maple syrup. Walmart use to sell 55DB gain rabbit ear antennas . Wow so powerful they rival SETI. Only $60 . What a joke 55DB gain is like 650,000 times . Should get TV stations from NEW YORK anyways. The thing is they did not work . That is total fraud against mostly low income people without cable or sat. TV. They were not even fined . Yes this guy did wrong , but we as a society totally look the other way at people stealing millions of times more than this guy did.
Would the farmer be County Commissioner Tom Davis, Jr son?
these stalking crimes are concerning..
what too corny?
….
The fine was $250, but the article didn’t say whether he was required to pay court costs too. If the judge had done so, the result probably would’ve been more fair to everyone involved.
Maybe someone should go to his house and take his things. And when they got caught just say they were planning on paying for it or returning it unharmed. See what Mr. Vick says to that.
I’m going to have to come down on the side of the farmers on this one. They work long and hard in the fields raising their crops and make very little profit. Farm stand thefts have been increasing lately and the thieves are rarely caught. (the farmers can’t afford surveillance cameras with the little profit they are making on their goods)
Maybe prosecuting one of these thieves will be a deterrent to others. He still should have had to pay the Davis family something for the time it must have taken them away from their work at their farm.
Well they do not work long and hard to be county commissioner and get paid very well for that.
I think most normal people would say . Ok give me the money you made a mistake do not do it again. Mr. do you know who I am could not do that. Not worried about wasting tax payer money. I will tell you he is not perfect and boke the law a few times lol . Some people can get away with it.
He took things that were not his for the taking—that is stealing. The idea that he put them in his car saying he intended to return to put the rest of the money into the box is ridiculous—he just gave himself an excuse for theft. He should have gone home to get his money, then paid for the items, then put them into his vehicle. Pumpkins and cornstalks are not the basic necessities—there is no excuse for stealing them from the farm. Just think if everyone decided to take their own discount on merchandise at farm stands or stores.
What is this country coming to. So what he was going to come back and pay for the stuff. Give the man a break. This reminds me of the pecan farmers here in Georgia. If you are found picking up pecans on the roadway “near” a pecan orchard, you can go to jail. These “pecan” farmers who get govenment subsidies for having a pecan farm, had the legislature change the law so an innocent person picking up a few pecans in the roadway, can be prosecuted. I know the Davis farm has been in business a long time, couldn’t they spare a few constalks and pumpkins. Gees.
On the other side of the coin, if you owned a retail establishment and you were tired of people shoplifting your merchandise you’d likely call for police help when you caught a shoplifter, even if the amount involved was only $10-20.
I’d be willing to bet that if Vick had approached the farmer with a hard luck story about wanting pumpkins and cornstalks that the farmer would’ve told him to take them and pay when he could.
If your going to steal something get a politician to do it for you and then it will be a ” legal” theft of services…..
All of you who fault the DA for bringing this case to trial–remember, it’s only the defendant who gets to decide if there is a jury trial or not. THis guy was CAUGHT red-handed and wanted a jury trial so he wouldn’t have the stain of what he was doing (stealing from his neighbors) on his record. Now the world knows him for what he really is–a thief and a liar.
If you have a problem with the amount of money spent by the state to prove its case, take it up with Mr. Vick.
NONE of you would be happy if someone came onto your residence, took personal property, and then claimed, “well, I intended to come back later and return the items.” ALL of you would be livid if the DA unceremoniously dumped the case because it wasn’t “important enough” to prosecute. Be glad that justice is blind and you have a DA that believes in the value of holding people accountable for their criminal behavior.
DA could have dropped this case. Many times they refuse to prosecute Real criminals not saying this guy was not. Like when Mike Roberts and Almay Would not prosecute any cases a policeman brought to him because the policeman Norman Harrington was wrongfully accused in the Lawrence case. It is all up to the DA . I think a UMO hockey player got out of an OUI because or too it all depends on who you are.
You, again, have no idea what the heck you are talking about.
yea i don’t understand it either…
The DA refused to prosecute Many cases . I was giving examples . look at what the DAs did in To Harrington the Oldtown cop . He was wrongly accused of a crime and the made it impossible for him to be a police officer at that. They decide every day what cases to prosecute . It may be you that dose not know what i am talking about but I Know what I am talking about.
I challenge you to name the player. You won’t be able to because that never happened.
I can not give you the name it was back in the mid 90s a dispatcher was so pissed she resigned . Maybe it did not get as far as the DAs office. I know for a fact one of the asistant DAs refused to Drop a case even after the witness went into his office and told him she lied . He lied in court saying he issued a supeana for her to appear in court trying to get a continuance. He told her he did not want her to show up in court trying to get a plea bargin . The judge was so pissed he almost held the DA in comtemt. ” I YOU GET YOUR FACTS STRAIT BEFORE YOU COME BACK IN MY COURTROOM”.
Just as I thought–no name. Never happened.
Off topic: Is anyone else annoyed by this websites high maintenance webpages jumping up and down as a ton of things load. I have a high speed computer with the fastest internet connection money can buy, and Im still annoyed even though it only takes 45 seconds. So I can imagine that someone else with a lesser computer and slower internet speed must be annoyed. I’m tired of starting to read an article or post only for the page to load more junk as the page jumps up and down while I’m trying to read. Sometimes even 1 minute into the page loading it still does it.
Try using local DNS to get rid of the ads.
Ya when i’m on dial up its hard to post lol.
Anyone hard-pressed for money and in need, if honest, (and here I mean old-school honesty), will approach the owner, operator, farm hand, clerk, etc. and speak with them. If no one is there to speak with they leave a note complete with phone number, house address, something to identify that they were not intentionally deceiving but were in need. If they do speak with someone and are told ‘No’ then any further act to take whatever without paying is theft. If they leave a note they take their chance on how ther owner will view the action.
What is most disturbing with this ‘Pumpkin Caper’ is the sentiment expressed by observers. Are honesty and value, or the lack of it, determined by the dollar amount of the theft and not by the act itself? Begrudge me please this faint memory; that the law was made to protect the values of a society that wanted to be honest. Has this changed?
If some bilious rumblings from a section of our society indicate that enforcing the law should be based on the relative dollar cost of the procedure versus the value of the infraction then we as a society have much more to worry about than bath-salts.
I agree Many things should be against the law that either are not or the law looks the other way. For a hell of a lot more money. Look at home loan scams , banks . car dealers selling car at 4 times the book value at high interest,Rent to own. it goes on and on. But thier are no laws of not enforced.
Waist of time and money….
First of all, shame on Mr. Vick for even behaving in a manner that would place him in this predicament. Secondly, you want a trial … pay for it, especially if you lose … This is one where common sense would dictate that Mr. Vick is absent of such a trait; therefore, if you cannot defend that you were innocent, then you must reimburse the taxpayers for your ignorance.
C’mon … I scroll to the top of this article and the next story is about a man that steals money from son’s elementary cafeteria. Bring back the days, If you’re guilty of stealing …. you lose the hand …. No need for jails or the expense of ….
The time for principles is when you’re being tempted to commit a crime. If you resist, you won’t find yourself practicing law without a license because you couldn’t afford a real attorney. As we see from this story, a few stolen dollars might be worth more the the victim than a thief realizes.
If he did put $10 in the box and did not get the pumpkins did he get the $10 back? Interesting case .
Ummm…Ya stole ’em…What was the “principle” that you were looking for??? That you can stick the taxpayers with a $1,008 bill when you can’t sick a farmer for $26???
The farmer lost nothing In fact may have made $10.
He planned to return later and pay…ya right! Sorry, but if you don’t have the money you don’t get the merchandise! For those of you saying this is a waste, if he had walked into your home and stolen something, you would have been saying that you would have shot him. If I walked into Walmart, Hannaford or Renys and said I would be back later to pay for my stuff, you all would have said that I was scum and should be put to death. This guy does not allow shoplifting at his stand, and did something about it when someone tried. It was the thief who wasted your taxpayer money, not the farmer.
Also the DA he got the pumpkins back.
Hey , nail this SOB. Lets send a message to all the perps out there.
We plan to get tough on crime.
To bad he doesn’t have any initials after his name, eh?
Lets see $35,000.00 a year to house this perp times 2 year sentence equals
$70,000.00
Chump change for Maine taxpayers , the chumps who fund the “system” eh?
see
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E7DE143EF935A2575BC0A9609C8B63&pagewanted=all
Lawman, Cleared of Shoplifting, Accuses Store of Damaging Career
By RONALD SMOTHERS
August 16, 2006
For 26 years, Thomas M. Jobes was an F.B.I. agent, reaching the
pinnacle of his career during a four-year-long sting operation that in
2005 led to corruption charges against more than two dozen developers
and public officials in Monmouth County.
Then, on a day off in May 2005, Mr. Jobes went to a Home Depot
store here to pick up some items to work on his house in Rumson.
Amid the $33.40 worth of PVC pipe, joints and fittings was a
four-and-a-half-foot piece of insulated wire that Mr. Jobes said he had
cut from a spool marked 9 cents a foot. He wedged the wire in the back
of his shopping cart and, he said, forgot about it by the time he
reached the self-checkout line. As he left the store, a security guard
approached him, pointed to the wire and dismissed Mr. Jobes’s insistence
that he had simply overlooked it.
Did you even read the article? He is NOT going to prison. Jail or prison time was NEVER an option in this case.
I was on the jury for this trial. The defendant insisted he was innocent. If the DAs office refused to try the case and let the defendant go, soon everyone charged with misdemeanors would insist on their innocence and just wait for the DA to drop their case so they could avoid paying the fine. A defendant cannot be fined until they are found guilty because in our laws everyone is innocent until proven guilty. I wouldn’t want it any other way.