Homeless man ordered to pay $101 million for starting Calif. fires

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Indyfella indianapolis, Indiana USA
somechick: This explains why people sometimes referr to California as being full of fruits & nuts. Fining a homeless man 101 million dollars. I wonder what kinds of drugs the court systems are on.


Might make more sense to make him assist with clean up for the duration of his jail term. dunno
dazzling_dave Waynesboro, Virginia USA
Perhaps the government will consider a new bail out plan for individuals in financial trouble. sigh



somechick Cincinnati Ohio, Ohio USA
Dknew: Well isn't Cal. the enlightened State



It could be. I lived there for alittle over 3-1/2 years and noticed how alittle wacky some of the people were.laugh
Dknew Lee, New Hampshire USA
somechick: It could be. I lived there for alittle over 3-1/2 years and noticed how alittle wacky some of the people were.



My cousin who got married here a couple weeks ago live's in LA and can't wait to get out of there but his job is there so dunno
CuspofMagic Adelaide, South Australia Australia
mastic55: I guess he has that much in his shopping cart.


--- was he cold or did he need to cook his food
sxc666 Central Coast, New South Wales Australia
Actually just because he is homeless does not mean he has no money.

In Australia there have been quite a few cases where homeless people have been found to have millions of dollars, and always question why they live on the streets?dunno

CuspofMagic Adelaide, South Australia Australia
--- I have the need for greed so much so millions of people are shelterless
- I also have the need for power and millions need to die



Indyfella indianapolis, Indiana USA
sxc666: Actually just because he is homeless does not mean he has no money.

In Australia there have been quite a few cases where homeless people have been found to have millions of dollars, and always question why they live on the streets?


We've got a guy here in Indianapolis that "dumpster dives". He looks "ratty" as hell, but people tell me he's loaded. dunno



Indyfella indianapolis, Indiana USA
CuspofMagic: --- was he cold or did he need to cook his food



He used his shopping cart for a grill. Just stack the wood underneath and light it... applause



zeelanderer Louisville, Kentucky USA
Why don't Californians get it? God is telling these people to burn down the state for the sake of the rest of the world. He tried to do it himself with lightning strikes, but some idiot kept putting it out. Now God is melting the polar icecaps hoping he can drowned them like unwanted kittens.... geez, just give up, God will win in the end.

zee tongue



Indyfella indianapolis, Indiana USA
zeelanderer: Why don't Californians get it? God is telling these people to burn down the state for the sake of the rest of the world. He tried to do it himself with lightning strikes, but some idiot kept putting it out. Now God is melting the polar icecaps hoping he can drowned them like unwanted kittens.... geez, just give up, God will win in the end.

zee


Bless you my child...

Amen angel
jlw45 saratoga springs, Utah USA
mastic55: I guess he has that much in his shopping cart.
maybe he can get bailed out?.........dunno ........laugh
kidatheart Southern BC/Lamont, Alberta Canada
ooby_dooby: here's the whole story:

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11007265

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 11/17/2008 03:37:14 PM PSTLOS ANGELES—A homeless man was sentenced Monday to 45 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $101 million in restitution for starting two fires, including a 2006 blaze that burned more than 163,000 acres in Los Padres National Forest.
U.S. District Judge Valerie Baker Fairbank sentenced Steven Emory Butcher, 50, after he was convicted in February of starting the 2006 Day Fire by burning debris at his campsite as well as the smaller Ellis Fire in the same forest in 2002.

"I threw a cigarette butt or two on the pile," Butcher told the judge. "I tried everything to put it out. I'm afraid of fire."

The Day Fire raged for more than a month and cost more than $78 million to suppress. It injured 18 people, destroyed 11 structures and was the fifth-largest fire in California's history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Ellis Fire burned 70 acres.

"The fact that in 2006 he engaged in virtually the same conduct as in 2002 shows extreme recklessness," the judge said, pointing out the defendant suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism.
Prosecutors had recommended a 10-year prison sentence for Butcher.



Why is he out roaming around? Shouldn't he have psychiatric help or be in an institution of some sort if he has a pre existing condition that the courts were aware of?confused

If he doesn't have the money to get help, where's the money for the fine going to come from? Put him in a mental ward instead of prison. He probably doesn't even realise what he's done if he has a history of mental illness.



constanza Los Angeles, California USA
mastic55: I guess he has that much in his shopping cart.


and that my friends is merely one more example of mindless spending, red tape, and bureaucratic bull shit.... all in the name of serving justice uh oh
hollandgirl Somewhere in B.C. Canada, British Columbia Canada
Homeless no longer as he now gets free room and board for years to come dunno
mastic55 Long Island, New York USA
hollandgirl: Homeless no longer as he now gets free room and board for years to come
Only in America, he gets free room and board after making all those people homeless.doh
RillyNiceGuy Southeast, Arkansas USA
Can he used that as a tax write off?confused
I have to agree with kid here...he doesn't belong in jail, he belongs in a hospital...doh

More examples of social darwinism back-firing...close all the mental institutions when Reagan was gov, so now they have the fruitcakes digging through their garbage and burning down their homes...

All that deregulation and cutting social programs makes so much sense now...doh

Why don't we put them on ships and have them sail around with no clear destination until they all starve to death like they did in the middle ages...? (ibid "Madness and Civilization" by Michel Foucault)

Oh wait, that's what they did with Earth...

Its one big mental institution...rolling on the floor laughing rolling on the floor laughing rolling on the floor laughing
fireliter Allen Park, Michigan USA
kidatheart: Why is he out roaming around? Shouldn't he have psychiatric help or be in an institution of some sort if he has a pre existing condition that the courts were aware of?

If he doesn't have the money to get help, where's the money for the fine going to come from? Put him in a mental ward instead of prison. He probably doesn't even realise what he's done if he has a history of mental illness.


and for these educated college students what should they receive as a far punishment... story below

By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER, Associated Press Writer

An anonymous tipster led police to discover that a bonfire built by students — and never fully extinguished — was responsible for the massive wildfire in Santa Barbara that destroyed 210 homes, including multimillion-dollar properties, authorities said.

The tipster told police 10 students gathered a week ago near an abandoned home in the hills of Montecito, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said Tuesday. They built a bonfire during the night and stayed until 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday morning. By Thursday night, when "sundowner winds" took hold of it, the seemingly harmless blaze was on its was to destroying hundreds of homes.

The students, aged between 18 and 22, apparently believed they had put out the fire before leaving.

"It appears this fire was the result of carelessness, not criminal intent," said Brown, who declined to say which school the students attend.

Though Brown said there was no "malicious intent," the county district attorney will review the case and determine if criminal charges are filed.

The fire burned intensely into the weekend, chewing up 1,900 acres, destroying 210 homes and injuring more than two dozen people, including a Montecito couple who remained in critical condition Tuesday. Lance and Carla Hoffman, both 29, were severely burned while fleeing their home, which was destroyed.

THESE WHERE NOT HOMELESS UNEDUCATED TYPES...
HOW SHOULD THE PUNISHMENT GO FOR THEM???????
HJFinAZ Sun CIty, Arizona USA
In many other states, it is referred to as the "Republic of Californicate". My perception (and the perception of many I know) is those from CA have the "Holier Than Thou" attitude.

We had people from CA moving to Reno when I lived there and now we have them moving to AZ.. Many consider them to be the most disliked people in the U.S...........dunno




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