Man Gets 3 Years In Prison For Stockpiling Junk In His Yard

[matcom]

<snip>

SANFORD -- The Seminole County man who defied authorities for more than a decade by stockpiling junk in his front yard was sentenced Monday to three more years in prison.

It is one of the harshest sentences ever imposed in Florida for someone whose crime was being messy.

In this case, Alan Wayne Davis was defiantly messy.

For more than 13 years, he has ignored notices from Seminole County code-enforcement inspectors to clear barrels, airplane parts and other junk from his yard.

Once, when a judge ordered him to move the trash, he put it on his roof. Another time, when a judge ruled against him, he made a giant sculpture of a derriere, hitched it to his truck and drove it to the courthouse.

Davis had spent nearly a year in prison after being convicted Sept. 18, 2003, of illegal dumping and creating and maintaining a public nuisance. When he was released, he was placed on house arrest.

The issue Monday was whether Davis had violated terms of that house arrest. Assistant State Attorney Beth Rutberg argued that Davis had done that four times in seven weeks. Twice in two days, he stayed too late at work, she said.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. not only agreed that Davis was wrong, he slapped Davis with three years in prison -- three times what Rutberg sought.

"Mr. Davis is marching to the beat of his own drum at all times," the judge said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/orl-asecjunkman01020105feb01,1,4230059.story?coll=orl-news-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Lavender Brown]

1. Can they arrest my roommate for stockpiling junk in our apartment?

:shrug:

[lpbk2713]

2. "....marching to the beat of his own drum"

That was his biggest offense. That and opposing Big Brother.

"We'll show these people about being individuals."

[1monster]

4. Who would have thought that one could get three years in prison for

working late?!!!??

"The issue Monday was whether Davis had violated terms of that house arrest. Assistant State Attorney Beth Rutberg argued that Davis had done that four times in seven weeks. Twice in two days, he stayed too late at work, she said." :wow:

[HereSince1628]

3. Wow, someone to rival my own sociopathy

Anyone else feel relieved?

[ooglymoogly]

5. big brother couldn't get away with this racing toward a nazi state ....

in a state like say nh (live free or die) or most blue states, but florida like most red and border red states have very docile and compliant citizenry. a pile of junk in the front yard is indeed an affront to neighbors but putting a man in prison for it is totally beyond extreme. there are much better remedies such as huge fines and forclosure for tax debt. if florida could get away with it they probably would have fired up old sparky and just eliminated the problem with some glee of vengeance but its a little too early in the bush family reign for that.

[Bunny]

6. I see what you're saying. Prison seems extreme to me, too.

But would you want to live next door to this asshole? I wouldn't.
The folks who are upset about this seem to give the impression that they don't approve of any rules regarding public nuisances. Surely that isn't true?

I mean, three years in jail is ridiculous, but he willfully snubbed his nose at the authorities for many years before it came to this point. Why didn't they just impose fines or take his property, as you suggested? If he can just keep doing this, why bother to have any rules? :shrug:

[ooglymoogly]

7. exactly