ROCKLAND, Maine — A 19-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to 19 charges stemming from a series of camp burglaries in June but he was freed from jail after the court hearing in recognition of his cooperation and because of a difficult childhood.
Knox County Superior Court Justice Donald Marden imposed a three-year jail term but suspended all but 69 days, which is how much time Troy D. Landry has spent in jail since his arrest June 18. The sentence had been a joint recommendation of the district attorney’s office and defense attorney Roger Hurley of Camden.
Because he already has served 69 days, Landry was to be released after the hearing. Justice Marden, however, asked that a probation officer be called in to meet with the teen before he is released from jail.
“A probation officer can be a source of support and help,” the judge said to Landry.
Landry was also placed on probation for three years.
Landry pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary, seven counts of theft, and five counts of criminal mischief. The offenses occurred June 15 and June 18 at camps in Hope.
“This may seem to be a light sentence,” Assistant District Attorney Chris Fernald said to the judge, adding that if not for the cooperation of Landry, the burglary cases would not have been resolved.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a camp burglary on June 18 when their focus turned to Landry. Landry confessed and agreed to ride along with a sheriff’s department detective and his attorney to point out other camps that he and three juveniles had broken into during the past week.
Fernald said that Landry mainly took food to eat because he was homeless at the time. Other items taken were Cuban cigars, alcohol and a flashlight. The criminal mischief involves either doors that were damaged or windows broken to enter the camps, Fernald said. He said there were more valuable items in the camps but those items were not stolen.
The prosecutor said that the owners of the camps were contacted about the sentence agreement and were in support of the deal. He said some of the victims attributed Landry’s actions to youthful indiscretion, although the district attorney’s office does not view the matter that way.
The prosecutor said Landry had a troubled childhood and was homeless at the time of the crimes and that these were significant mitigating circumstances in agreeing to him serving only 69 days.
Justice Marden agreed.
“You’re carrying quite a burden but you have shown a sense of moral principles that are a big step in the right direction,” the judge said.
The youth said he does not intend to be back in court again.
“This may seem to be a light sentence,” Assistant District Attorney Chris Fernald said to the judge,
“Ya think? 19 charges, 69 days in jail….yeah, it may just be a light sentence.
It’s Maine, the state where the judge gives the criminal/burglar a pat on the back at sentencing: “You’re carrying quite a burden but you have shown a sense of moral principles . . .”
Hey judge, you forgot the APOLOGY. It’s not the criminal’s fault; he had a “difficult childhood” and probably low self esteem.
Another slap on the wrist, all we do is coddle and nurture these folks…Thats why they never learn
A couple years at Tinkersville prison might have straightened him out.
I know…LOL
5 years in the big house.Let him try Scotland Yard on for size.
I hope this young man realizes the gift that has been handed to him, and takes this opportunity to turn his life around.
If he chooses not to do so and continues a life of crime, I hope they throw the book at him next time!
I think it is one thing to acknowledge his cooperation and give him a break because he was cooperative. It is another to use “the troubled childhood” as a mitigating circumstance. Holding people less accountable for their actions because of their terrible childhood may seem to be compassionate, but it is actually a disservice. They need to be held to the same standard as anyone else when it comes to the breaking the law, otherwise they will continue to do things like that and worse. Allowing someone to get away with unacceptable behavior because of their background is not helpful, and implies that they are lesser beings, unable to handle being treated like everyone else. The bad childhood may help explain the behavior but it does not excuse it. No one is responsible for the things that happen to them when they are a child, but once they become an adult, they are absolutely responsible for their actions. That is the difference between going through life as a victim or being a survivor. Victims have no power, but survivors are very powerful.
I had a very good friend who did some real bad stuff when he was 15 // 24 He also had a terrible childhood Absolutely NO ONE to tell him what was right, and what was wrong. Contrary to popular opinion, none of us are born with this knowlege. He was caught in a stolen vehicle with a number of guns in the trunk. The judge gave him a break, and he used it well. He joined the Marines, fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, came back home, and now drives an ambulance in Houston Texas. His wife and two children love him, and there is almost no sign that he was ever anything but a good person.
Sometimes a break is just whatr a person needs to tuyrn their life around.
It is nice he turned his life around, but even without good parents, MOST people figure out that stealing is not ok.
It is amazing how many people out on this board never made a mistake. I’m willing to bet that some folks here would not be just as upstanding, honest, and probably judgemental if they were born to a crack addict laid in their own feces for the first year of their life, and were hungry until they were 14 when they went out stealing cars. Ever try to get a job wearing rags and smelling like last wek’s garbage?
I know I know, you would have gone to school, joined the Y and supported your mother. Some folks are born without your imagination.
So there were no aunts, grandparents, teachers, or other stable adults to provide some guidance? The fact that it is against the law to steal, etc is usually a clue that something is wrong. The problem is that angry young people are not always receptive to what is offered. However, they benefit most from structure and clear and consistent limits. Some people get that in school. Some people get that in their church. Some people get it from dealing with a probation officer or other professional who expects more from them and gets it. And some, like your friend, learn it in the military. Sadly, some never learn that life does not adjust to us, we have to adjust to it. They are the folks in and out of jails, treatment programs, psych hospitals, and homeless shelters. Regardless of the lousy hand someone may be dealt, at some point it is important to recognize that the person that most determines your success or failure in life is yourself.
I hope this man follows in the footsteps of your friend and not other criminals who take a “slap on the wrist” as a chance to go out and get themselves into more trouble….
It mentions probation, but doesn’t say how long, if he violates, I hope he sees the rest of the 3 years!
19 is no longer a youth.
That may be your philosophical position, but scientifically a human being is not fully formed until their mid twenties. One of the last phases of maturity is the formation of neurotransmitters which give us judgement and patience.
true. He is just barely old enough to die fighting on foreign soil.
They should send him over there, send the problem child over seas, out of sight out of mind…He is a menace to society.
A lot of people commit crimes. Usually for one reason or another. All are not text book models. You cannot group all offenders into one group. Some need to be handled on a case by case scenario. Sometimes you have to give someone a break and hope they learn from it. Since the owners of the camps were willing to give him a chance, I think Mr. Landry has an opportunity to prove that he can stay out of trouble. He has the resource of his probation officer to help him along. Just because one commits a crime does not necessarily mean they will keep on that path. Some DO learn from their mistakes. Good luck to you, Mr. Landry. Please take this opportunity to do the right thing.
Sounds like a restorative justice program is being implemented and that the victims are okay with this.Looks like he did a plea and left the other 2 to hang. He stated he was homeless and had mitigating circumstances to serve only 69 days. I would hope paying the victims back, fixing their camps, probation including engaging in a work/vocational program is part of the restorative justice program. I really have a difficult time buying this story when there is discussion of alcohol and cuban cigars. How desperate was he?I do not condone this crime.However, I prefer my tax dollars do not house him at $40,000 per year.(not a wise investment)
i haven’t heard the “troubled youth” defense in awhile. i hope it was appropriate in this case and he turns out ok.
Mr. Landry has been given a huge break and an opportunity to not go down this path again…..here’s hoping he can make appropriate choices from now on……
What do you bet 6 months down the road we will be reading about him again in the paper.
I would not be surprised at all.
He has been given an amazing opportunity to truly turn his life around and make something out of himself VS continuing on the track he was on. I hope he is thankful for the opportunity and I hope he realizes that he was not punished nearly to the extent that some will say he should/could have been.
I hope if I ever get in trouble for breaking the law that my hard childhood is taken into account. Growing up was one of the hardest times of my life. I just hope this young man makes the most of this gift and leads a good and prosperous life. The ball is now in his court.
Sigh. I know this family well and Troy was never molested, neglected or abused. He has two parents that love him very much and were ALWAYS there for him.