Tag: criminal

Another Dumb Criminal: Dissatisfied Customer Returned Printer with Counterfeit Bills Inside

"Court Case Friday" A Target store, in Augusta, Georgia, agreed to take back a printer from a dissatisfied customer. The quality of the copies was not good enough.  Then the clerk noticed that the customer forgot to remove copies from the machine - counterfeit bills. “We don’t catch the smart ones.” (“Meet the 38 Dumbest … Continue reading Another Dumb Criminal: Dissatisfied Customer Returned Printer with Counterfeit Bills Inside →

Another “Dumb” One – “Prayer for Relief”

"Court Case Friday"  Pro per prisoners often send complaints to judges without requesting a remedy (“prayer for relief.”)  In these “snivel sheets” (guards’ lingo), they whine and complain, sometimes legitimately.  However, they often don’t explain what they want the court to do.  As a prosecutor, I received such a petition filed by a prisoner in … Continue reading Another “Dumb” One – “Prayer for Relief” →

Another “Dumb” One – “I’m the Criminal”

"Court Case Friday"   I was in the middle of jury selection, in a trial I was presiding over, when a young man entered the courtroom. I had ordered all witnesses excluded during jury selection. So, I interrupted the proceedings, and asked, “Excuse me sir, are you a witness in this case?”  He replied, “No, … Continue reading Another “Dumb” One – “I’m the Criminal” →

The “Dumb Criminal” and the Fake Lie Detector (Plus, Vintage Photos of Early Lie Detectors)

"Court Case Friday" “We don’t catch the smart ones.” One of my favorite “criminals are stupid” cases, took place in rural Oklahoma. Two officers were on routine patrol in the middle of the night.  As they drove down a residential street, they saw the defendant breaking into a home. They cuffed him and put him … Continue reading The “Dumb Criminal” and the Fake Lie Detector (Plus, Vintage Photos of Early Lie Detectors) →

Another “Dumb Criminal”- Outburst in Front of the Jury

"Court Case Friday" “We don’t catch the smart ones.” I learned of a case where the defendant was on trial for armed robbery.  The typical trial issue in these cases is whether the victim can identify the robber. Often, the victim is so focused on the gun, they can’t describe the criminal. The victim in … Continue reading Another “Dumb Criminal”- Outburst in Front of the Jury →

Another “Dumb Criminal” – The Whipped Cream Disguise

"Court Case Friday" One of my favorite “criminals are stupid” cases took place, long ago, at a bank robbery in L.A. County. The robber parked in front of the target bank. He grabbed his gun and cash bag, but then realized he forgot his disguise. He saw a grocery store next door and got a … Continue reading Another “Dumb Criminal” – The Whipped Cream Disguise →

Death Certificates: The Law of the Harvest and the Law of Consequences

"Court Case Friday" I have spent my careers, as a criminal prosecutor and criminal law judge, imposing legal consequences. Frequently, the natural consequences are far worse than the legal consequences. The Law of the Harvest, "you reap what you sow," is also the Law of Consequences. One of my assignments has been to dismiss criminal … Continue reading Death Certificates: The Law of the Harvest and the Law of Consequences →

Another harsh sentencing judge

"Court Case Friday" In the “old days” when I was a prosecutor, one of our former old-time Orange County judges gave a criminal a consecutive sentence for each of his dozen serious felonies.   The total was over 300 years. (Such huge consecutive sentences no longer exist under California law.) When the judge imposed the … Continue reading Another harsh sentencing judge →

Another Time I had to Eat My Words in Court

"Court Case Friday" There are a few times during my 33-year judicial career when I violated the rule: "Think before your speak." Occasionally, I had to apologize for my comments and eat my words. Here is one such episode: One morning, a very well-dressed middle-age woman appeared in front of me during my misdemeanor arraignment … Continue reading Another Time I had to Eat My Words in Court →

My Case of the YouTube Star Who Jumped off Hotel Balconies

"Court Case Friday" YouTube Star Hotel Jumper I presided over an interesting case involving a YouTube “Star.”  The young man filmed himself jumping off very high balconies or roofs of hotels into their swimming pools.  Apparently, when he posted the videos on YouTube, he had so many “views” and “likes” that advertisers were eager to … Continue reading My Case of the YouTube Star Who Jumped off Hotel Balconies →