Two men choose Navy as sentence

[Contrary1]

More fodder for Bushco. Yeah, you guessed it...Lunsford is Republican

BELLEFONTE, Pa. - Two 19-year-olds facing probation and community service or even jail time in the shooting of a steer considered a family pet took advantage of another option offered by the judge - joining the Navy.

Chris Jabco and Eric Smith, both from Bellefonte, had pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals and two summary violations in the shooting of the $3,500 Scottish Highland steer.

The two were drinking Sept. 17 and drove through Spring Township with another man in search of deer to poach, culminating in the shooting of the steer, authorities said. The pair reached a deal with prosecutors, who recommended two years' probation and at least five hours of community service.

But Centre County Court Judge Bradley P. Lunsford said the case warranted more than probation. He noted the pain caused to the animal's owner and said Jabco and Smith had been drinking and driving around looking for something to kill. Their actions, he said, "were premeditated, senseless, and your motivations were evil..."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/16830976.htm

[ShortnFiery]

1. Just like during Vietnam (late 60s-early 70s), it's JAIL or the MILITARY. n/t

[Lasher]

7. It was even better then.

I was drafted in 1969. The guy who bunked above me in basic training had killed someone and had copped a plea for manslaughter. Drug deal gone wrong, I think. Then he joined the Army to keep from going to prison. If memory serves he had to enlist for 5 years instead of the 3 year minimum or the 2 year active duty requirement for draftees.

[ShortnFiery]

12. OMG, that's a little different than my brother

My brother is 13 years older than me and trouble with the City Police caused him to agree to joining the 101st Airborne around 68' ... but he was just doing stupid stuff like smoking dope (don't know for sure) but he didn't kill anyone. :wow:

I remember helping mom pack his favorite snack "Fiddle Faddle" to send over to Vietnam.

Yes, I heard that, in addition to the draft, a significant number of young men opted to go into the army rather than jail.

It goes without saying that you took care not to piss him off lest he might "get weird." ;)

[Lasher]

22. I got lucky. Didn't get sent to 'Nam

I'm just a subvet with no combat experience. They sent me to Seoul.

But I can relate to those 'care packages'. My mother and Mrs. Lasher were good to send them and it was just like Christmas to get them. Things you couldn't get over there, like anchovies, yum. They made sure to send plenty so I could share with the other lost souls.

Peace, it's still a good idea. :hippie:

Edit: Some things of the past are better off left unsaid.

[ShortnFiery]

23. Yes, most combat vets wouldn't wish war on their worst enemy.

Sure, it matures you ... that thousand yard stare and a feeling when you get back to the states that you just don't fit in because you're hypersensitive to every sound.

You're correct, many things are better left unsaid but the scars of war remain deep within everyone who has experienced it. No one escapes combat without being changed emotionally ... deep down and not always in a good and maturity driven way.

Yes, war is insanity. I'm glad I served my four years during peacetime because as I age I've become much more liberal and see only war as a very last resort.

Best regards, SnF

[Lasher]

24. Thank you for the candor, SnF.

I've seen you around and like what you have to say.

When our soldiers return home let's don't ever allow ourselves to resent them on account of the failed war they have been sent into. They would be able to tell.

Your friend,

Lasher

[itsmesgd]

2. forget the navy, put them on the front, and put the poor people there as well

SARCASM
Is this the next recuitment drive for the military?
Overcrowding in prison + a need for troops = a good fit??

First the criminals, then the poor, then the minorities. Problem solved two birds with one stone.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. And we wonder why military readiness is shit.

The service will feel no benefit from having these two.

[Taoschick]

14. The military

Is under no obligation to accept them into service.

[iamjoy]

4. Is This The Type Of Person We Want

in the military? Men (or women) who already demonstrate a propensity for cruelty? And when they get over there and commit crimes against civilians, what then? We can jail these boys then, but the damage (to the victims) and the reputation of our armed forces will be done.

[dkofos]

20. Not exactly. But we don't want repubes either.

[purduejake]

5. Now they can look for things to hunt and kill overseas....

Two people who recreationally kill are now joining our military. Is it really surprising to see torture and murder committed by our troops when we find people like this and send them over? It's a disgrace to the large majority of troops who are honorable and should be proud of their service.

[hippiechick]

6. " ... drinking and driving around looking for something to kill..."

Send 'em to Baghdad and lets see how long they last when their fodder can shoot back at them.

[The Stranger]

8. Exporting Evil.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Cool - Cuba gave us their criminals. Might as well send ours to Iraq.

My uncle served in Vietnam under the "jail or military" option. Thankfully, he lived through it, though not without a lot of suffering.

[acmavm]

10. The Shape of Things to Come...

[Rosemary2205]

11. Sending a kid into the military to fix being a drunk is stupid.

I am NOT claiming all soldiers are drunks, but clearly alcoholics have no problem finding drinking buddies in the military.

[donsu]

13. was watching the new reality show Juvies when the Judge

told two teenage sisters who had been fighting other girls, that if they liked to fight they could join the military.

I thought - what a for crap thing to say.

[ecstatic]

15. so they were given the death penalty? nt

[WI_DEM]

16. they chose the military over probation and FIVE HOURS of community service

It sounds like it is their decision.

[Contrary1]

18. The judge rejected that deal:

"The judge said they could spend 48 hours in jail, two years on probation, and 100 hours caring for animals on a farm; avoid jail time but spend 200 hours on the farm and remain on probation for two years; or enlist in the military."

[WI_DEM]

21. heck 48 hours in jail, two years probation and 100 hours of caring for animals on a farm

is still a pretty soft deal for what they did. But they decided to choose the military--kind of dumb to me.

[ComerPerro]

17. They shouldn't have had the option. It should have been jail, no questions asked

Drinking and Driving, and they decide to go out shooting?

I know a lot of gun nuts here will take issue with this, but these people should be in jail.

[Raskolnik]

25. "I know a lot of gun nuts here will take issue with this..."

Could you please point to *anyone* on this site that would disagree with these morons going to jail?

[dkofos]

19. I would have picked the Air Force

They only shoot at the officers

[Horse with no Name]

26. I have a problem with this

If I am in the fight for my life, I want honorable soldiers next to me...not punk kids who get their kicks shooting animals.
They are cowards.
The other thing that stinks, why the navy? Why not the army or marines?
What is striking is that poaching is highly illegal. They claimed that is what they were doing. The fact that they shot a domestic animal who isn't subject to poaching laws is a travesty.