Punished for Doing The Right Thing

-- End Ad Box --->Theft because 2 phones were originally stolen.
Back in May of this year my son, Jacob, had toAmericorp now may never let him join and this
return an item he bought from Radio Shack thatwill make him fail all background checks.
didn't work properly. Jacob did not have a driversTo hire an attorney for this would cost at least
license so he asked his friend, Andy, for a ride.$10,000 and could go as high as $50,000. We are
Another kid asked Andy if he could tag along foron a budget so we had no choice but to get a
the ride. While Jacob was filling out forms topublic defender. Jacob is very upset over this
return the item he had bought, this kid, Jared,entire ordeal and truth be told the only lesson he
stole two cell phones. After Jacob had gotten hisis learning right now is to keep your mouth shut,
money back while they were on their way backnever do the right thing.
home he found out what Jared had done. JacobWhat has this country come to. The United
then contacted the Head of security of RadioStates has a greater number of citizens being
Shack on his own and arranged to get them backprosecuted that any other place in the world yet
the phones.there are other countries with a much greater
Fast forward 6 months, my wife and I and Jacobpopulation. The reason the authorities have such a
had moved to Georgia where life would be morelarge prosecution percentage is because they let
comfortable and less costly, Jacob was finishingthese cases go on and on forever until finally, the
his High School and then had plans to enterperson being prosecuted, is in a hurry to end this
Americorps after he graduated. We all of aordeal and they are forced to cop a plea.
sudden receive a summons in the mail that theNo wonder there are so many innocent people in
State of Florida has filed Grand Theft chargesour jails and prisons. There needs to be greater
against Jacob. Just to appear in Florida for courtpunishment for the prosecutors and police when
would have cost us at least $500 per trip and Ithey wrongfully prosecute someone and they end
am on Disability. We were able to arrange to doup losing part of their lives. I can remember awhile
the thing completely by phone. In the police reportback a story about 2 kids who had to do 30
it says that Jacob was the one to return theyears in a state prison for rape. After 30 years it
phones but the state of Florida is still chosen towas found out that they were completely
prosecute him.innocent. The state offered them the measly sum
In the state of Florida you are still considered aof $30,000 each. $30,000 for taking away life that
juvenile until you are 19 years of age. The Judgecannot be replaced. These kids had pending
told us that if the case doesn't get settled sooncollege scholarships when they were first accused
that the prosecutor will move it into adult court.of this crime, now what has become of them.
Because of this Jacob has to wait on living untilWere they able to get back the 30 years that
this case is over, in the meantime it shows thatthey had to spend in prison?
he is being prosecuted for 2 counts of Grand