Katrina looters get 15 years in prison

Aquawind · #1 Postby **Aquawind** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:16 am

A maximum sentance for a change..

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/29/loote ... index.html

Katrina looters get 15 years in prison

Thursday, June 29, 2006; Posted: 1:47 a.m. EDT (05:47 GMT)

KENNER, Louisiana (AP) -- Three people convicted of hauling away liquor, wine and beer from a grocery store after Hurricane Katrina were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.

The judge said he wanted to send a message that looting would not be tolerated when he gave the maximum sentence to Coralnelle Little, 36, Rhonda McGowen, 42, and Paul C. Pearson, 36, all of Kenner.

A jury convicted the trio May 2 on a portion of the state's looting law that took effect two weeks before the Aug. 29 storm. The amended law set a three-year minimum sentence, and a maximum of 15 years in prison, for looting during a declared state of emergency.

They were convicted of attempting to leave the grocery with 27 bottles of liquor and wine, six cases of beer and one case of wine coolers, six days after Katrina made landfall.

Little, McGowen and Pearson each testified that they were not looting, but they offered conflicting accounts of matters such as who drove to the store.

Pearson's attorney, Bruce Netterville, said the sentence and conviction would be appealed.

"We believe the sentence is excessive," said Netterville.

Attorneys for the other defendants agreed.

#2 Postby **Dionne** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:27 am

But, but, but.....your honor....the alcohol was for medicinal purposes.

Looters are the scum of the earth. I support this sentencing 100%.

#3 Postby **TSmith274** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:12 pm

Well isn't this nice... Louisiana did this right. Hopefully more scum will follow.

#4 Postby **george_r_1961** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:18 pm

And during the 15 years they are imprisoned if there is another storm they should be taken out of the prison in leg irons under armed guard and made to work 12 hours a day 7 days a week cleaning up debris. That'll teach the little punks :grr:

rainstorm · #5 Postby **rainstorm** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:23 pm

lets pray for them

#6 Postby **HollynLA** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:59 pm

lets pray for them

Let's not and say we did :roll:

Audrey2Katrina · #7 Postby **Audrey2Katrina** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 pm

lets pray for them

Yeah... let's pray the appeal doesn't wind up in some bleedin' heart courtroom where rights of the perps trump the rights of victims...pray they serve every minute of this well deserved sentence. The only downside is that a WHOLE LOT of those in New Orleans who did this despicable deed got away with it. I have NO problem with people getting essential needs, such as food... but this, and many many others, were simple greed and taking advantage of a national catastrophe. Lock 'em up and throw away the key!

A2K

#8 Postby **bvigal** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:14 am

Audrey2Katrina wrote:Yeah... let's pray the appeal doesn't wind up in some bleedin' heart courtroom where rights of the perps trump the rights of victims...pray they serve every minute of this well deserved sentence. The only downside is that a WHOLE LOT of those in New Orleans who did this despicable deed got away with it. I have NO problem with people getting essential needs, such as food... but this, and many many others, were simple greed and taking advantage of a national catastrophe. Lock 'em up and throw away the key!
A2K

Amen! Whatever happened to "looters will be shot on sight"? 15 yrs by comparison is getting off easy!

#9 Postby **MGC** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:31 pm

I saw those "looters shot on site" signes all over the coast after Katrina. Didn't hear about any looters being shot though. My brother, a St Benard Parish Deputy, told me he and several deputies "looted" after being stranded without food or water in St. Benard. He told me that after not eating for several days will make you loot. He didn't steal booze though, just bottled water and food. He help feed a couple of dozen people that had gathered waiting to be rescued......MGC

Audrey2Katrina · #10 Postby **Audrey2Katrina** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 2:06 am

"looted" after being stranded without food or water in St. Benard

Personally... I don't consider that "looting" any more than I would shooting someone in self-defense to be murder. Misnomer there. As I'd stated in my earlier post, there is a HUGE difference in desperation and trying to get needed items for survival... and just plain greed and avarice driving one to "loot" many items they neither have nor need at all-- and THOSE kind, are SCUM! --- And should be dealt with as such.

A2K

#11 Postby **bvigal** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 6:23 am

Audrey2Katrina wrote:
"looted" after being stranded without food or water in St. Benard

Personally... I don't consider that "looting" any more than I would shooting someone in self-defense to be murder. Misnomer there. As I'd stated in my earlier post, there is a HUGE difference in desperation and trying to get needed items for survival... and just plain greed and avarice driving one to "loot" many items they neither have nor need at all-- and THOSE kind, are SCUM! --- And should be dealt with as such.

A2K

I don't consider that looting, either. When you see someone walking out of a store carrying a tv, that's looting. Or going through a neighborhood taking stuff out of people's homes. If they run when questioned, that's usually a good sign they don't live there!

#12 Postby **bvigal** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 6:26 am

As to the stiff sentence, with good behavior, they'll probably be out on parole in 2 years... or less! :roll:

Katrina looters get 15 years in prison

Katrina looters get 15 years in prison

Who is online