According to foreign media reports, a homeless person in the United States could face up to 7 years in prison for paying 43 cents less when buying a bottle of soda. According to pennsylvania's current law, the homeless person has a criminal record, so the crime will be heavily punished.
In Perry County, Pennsylvania, 38-year-old homeless Joseph Sobolewki walked into the gas station's store and took a bottle of soda, which was marked as "two bottles of $3" because there were no employees in the store, and Joseph left after putting a $2 bill at the cash register.
According to the store owner, a single bottle of soda sells for $2.29, not $1.50, which Joseph thought. Only when two bottles are purchased, the price is only $1.50. The bottle was still missing 29 cents unpaid, plus taxes for a total of 43 cents, so the store owner thought Joseph had "stolen" 43 cents and called the police.
Joseph is now in custody awaiting trial in November. If he wants to be released, he needs to pay a deposit of $50,000. But apparently, he had no money. To make matters worse, Joseph will face up to 7 years in prison.
In fact, Pennsylvania strictly enforces the "Three Strikes Out Act" enacted by the U.S. government, which means that if a person has been convicted twice for theft, then a third theft, regardless of the amount of theft, is considered a felony, equivalent to manslaughter and carrying a firearm without permission.
Joseph already had two similar criminal convictions before, the first time more than a decade ago, when he didn't pay for gas at a gas station; the second time in 2011, when he stole a pair of shoes. Both times were fined, and this time, he will face three-and-a-half to seven years in prison. The gas station owner asked him to make up the $43 he had underpaid, but Joseph refused.
In fact, cases of homeless people being accused of "theft" are not uncommon. To convict, prosecutors now need to prove that Joseph is deliberately underpaying, and according to the police, prosecutors are only following the judicial process, and they cannot convict a person.
Admittedly, the law is the law, and no one can shake it. But U.S. Parole Commissioner Brandon M. Brandon Flood expressed regret about the frequent occurrence of such cases: "I think this case is a misunderstanding, Joseph did not commit a crime, he has paid for it, which can also be proved by the side." We could have a better way to deal with similar cases like this. ”
Wuhan Morning Post intern reporter Liang Xia