Oldest U.S. bank robber gets 12 years

[candy331]

Is this funny? The Judge took Janklow's age in consideration and gave him a slap on the wrist.

Oldest U.S. bank robber gets 12 years
Friday, January 23, 2004 Posted: 3:42 PM EST (2042 GMT)



LUBBOCK, Texas (Reuters) -- The oldest bank robber in the United States, 92-year-old J.L. Hunter Rountree, was sentenced to over 12 years in prison Friday after he pleaded guilty to robbing $1,999 from a Texas bank last August.

Rountree, who goes by the nickname "Red", said he robbed his first bank when he was about 80 because he wanted revenge against banks for sending him into a financial crisis.

Rountree was sentenced to 151 months in a federal prison, which he will serve at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

He appeared in court in a loose-fitting prison outfit and shackles on his ankles. He had a cane to help him walk. Rountree listened to the proceedings through headphones because he is hard of hearing.

Police said Rountree, who was not armed, handed two envelopes

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www.cnn.com

[raifield]

1. Why even sentence him to prison?

At that age, anything over 2 years is likely a life sentence anyway. I'm not saying I'm against punishing a criminal, but this has an oddly surreal quality about it.

[Torrey Pines]

3. "Why even sentence him to prison?"

Cuz he's a bank robber. LOL. Reminds of that time they asked some famous bank robber why he robbed banks - "Cuz that's where all the money is."

[Paranoid_Portlander]

9. I looked up the life expectancy of a 92-yr old man.

It's about 2.5 years. So you're right, it would be a life sentence. But this assumes he just turned 92. If he is close to 93, then it would be 1.5 years. At that age, every month counts. My uncle is still alive at 96, so you never know.

[Old and In the Way]

2. A real uniform application of justice.

A Republican commits manslaughter - 10 months
A 92 year old stealing $2000 - gets 12 years


I read where Indians convicted of manslaughter in Janklow's state get 14 years for the same crime.

Where's the justice?

[baldguy]

4. Justice is for sale.

If you're rich, or a well connected Republican.

[Say_What]

5. 92, with a cane, and they have him in shackles??

Has everybody completely lost it? What did they think he'd do, run away?

:spank:

[MrPrax]

8. Beat me to it...

Ankle shackles??? I scrolled back to re-read it...'92'??? years old?....

Orange jumper suit ...as well?

[Serenity-NOW]

6. I dunno but maybe they are doing him a favor

He's in a financial crisis and possibly not too good at taking care of himself. At least he's guaranteed 3 hots and a cot as well as health care and a warm place to sleep. Many would trade places. I'd like to know the whole story.

[diamond14]

7. sounds like about the time that neil bush* stole all the seniors'

savings and investments in his 'Savings and Loans' criminal activities....the BILLION dollar collapse of the Silverado Bank (with neil bush* on the Board of Directors stealing all the money) affected much of the West....especially Denver, but the impacts rippled through other banks and other states....

among many many seniors, an 80-year-old man got ripped off...had no way to survive, his savings and retirement stolen from him, no one to support him, no government programs to fall back on....and so, he robs a bank without a weapon, and ends up with three meals and a bed for the rest of his life, and TV, internet, library, work-out facilities...his current sentence is to a MEDICAL FACILITY, which is like a dream come true for many seniors...totally paid for....


the whole scene is a sad reflection on the bush* treatment (both george and neil)....enron collapse must have squashed down a whole bunch more seniors....expect more of the same in the future, as bush* failed health care policies and theft of seniors retirement funds, actually make the best option to check into a prison for medical, room and board, TV, pool, exercise rooms, movies....that's more than you get in the collapsing senior nursing care facitilies...