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Jedi Guy

(3,171 posts)
16. Speaking as someone who dealt with being addicted to a substance...
Tue May 28, 2019, 05:47 PM
May 2019

Addiction is not a get-out-of-jail-free card, literal or figurative. The harm you caused when you were in active addiction still happened, and its repercussions still affect people, some even up to the present day. Just because you're "clean" doesn't mean that the people you stole from or otherwise harmed are reimbursed or given redress. They're still broke... or heartbroken.

Part of proving that you're willing to change and not be that person anymore is to right as many of your wrongs as you can. Using addiction as an excuse tells me that he hasn't changed a bit, and simply doesn't want to deal with what he did. If he changed his plea to guilty, accepted whatever sentence the judge/jury felt was fair, and then went willingly to prison, I'd be willing to believe he's interested in being a reformed addict.

As it stands, I think he's just a greedy fuck who stole from people who trusted him, and is using addiction as a shield in an attempt to avoid punishment. Unless and until he accepts some punishment to prove that he's willing to do the hard work of reinventing himself, I hope he goes to jail for as long as the law allows.

TL;DR: People should not use the pain and hard work of real addicts to attempt to escape punishment.

So sick of this CDerekGo May 2019 #1
Exactly. I wonder what kind of sentence you or I would get for the same offence. Arkansas Granny May 2019 #4
Translation: Wong was a rich businessman. Prison is for poor people. eom guillaumeb May 2019 #2
I would put him into a minimum wage job and Sherman A1 May 2019 #3
The unfortunate thing here too is that this was a Credit Union BumRushDaShow May 2019 #5
Unchecked addiction? First time I have heard of this excuse being used in an attempt to... SWBTATTReg May 2019 #6
Local official got 4 years for stealing 6.7M, blamed it on addiction pimpbot May 2019 #7
Yes, sadly. A person who steals a pack of cigs probably would get more than 4 years! Sad. ... SWBTATTReg May 2019 #8
And if he sold the cigarettes on the street corner Mr.Bill May 2019 #12
It's scary, isn't it? One of my best friends is black, and his biggest fear is getting pulled ... SWBTATTReg May 2019 #13
more from article Demovictory9 May 2019 #23
Dianna Durban was Republican Secretary of State in New Mexico (2011-2015) PoindexterOglethorpe May 2019 #15
Until some of these CEOs, company presidents and corrupt politicians start spending rurallib May 2019 #9
seems i repeat it seems that "most " buissness operators are scoundrells. AllaN01Bear May 2019 #10
The amount of fucks I give for criminals like this: Initech May 2019 #11
All such crimes should be; you get out when you've paid up The Mouth May 2019 #14
Speaking as someone who dealt with being addicted to a substance... Jedi Guy May 2019 #16
Correct me if I'm wrong The Mouth May 2019 #25
It is indeed. Jedi Guy May 2019 #28
womp womp you thief WhiteTara May 2019 #17
Frankly I think the prosecutors are being overly generous in only asking for 10 years. cstanleytech May 2019 #18
The federal government has pretty complicated sentencing guidelines Massacure May 2019 #21
Looks like none of the stolen money can be recovered. Prison for life or NCjack May 2019 #19
Wasn't he on "Hawaii five -O"? gay texan May 2019 #20
Ten years sounds about right and ought to be enough time to work through that addiction. marble falls May 2019 #22
Screw him.... Historic NY May 2019 #24
This is where I bank Sanity Claws May 2019 #26
Only a 10 year sentence? Sounds far too lenient to me. LonePirate May 2019 #27
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