Florida man gets 20 years for cigarette theft

[left-of-center2012]

A Florida man who stole $600 worth of cigarettes from a convenience store has been sentenced to 20 years in state prison.

A jury in Pensacola convicted 48-year-old Robert Spellman of burglary and grand theft in August. Authorities say Spellman took 10 cartons of cigarettes from a stock room in the store manager's office last December. He was sentenced Friday.

The Pensacola News Journal reports that Spellman had 14 felony and 31 misdemeanor convictions prior to the cigarette theft, which qualified him as a habitual felony offender. That led to the lengthy 20-year prison sentence imposed Friday by an Escambia County judge.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/stolen-smokes-florida-man-20-years-cigarette-theft-58020570

[KCDebbie]

1. With 14 felony and 31 misdemeanor convictions prior to this one...

This loser is a non-repentant law-breaker. Even if all the prior convictions are non-violent, this guy has shown that he just can't follow rules/obey laws!

It's too bad though that we the taxpayers will spend about $77k/year for 20 years or $1,540,000 to lock this loser up for his final crime of stealing $600.00 in cigarettes!

[underthematrix]

2. Pay attention

Link to tweet

[left-of-center2012]

4. "Spellman had 14 felony and 31 misdemeanor convictions prior to the cigarette theft"

He's a career criminal.

[underthematrix]

8. So is Papadopoulos

He was working on behalf of white collar criminal cabal. I think he needs treatment in a highly restricted environment. My quibble is with the 20 year sentence.

[democratic friend]

9. Perhaps he should have been sentenced in Pensacola

Looks like they don’t play down there.

[qazplm135]

3. I mean the man has almost as many convictions

as years on the planet...he clearly cannot stop being a criminal and is not aging out like most criminals do.

I'm struggling to feel a ton of sympathy for his situation. This is more a straw that broke the back situation then "20 years for cigarettes."

[lpbk2713]

5. Mr Spellman must have thought the anticipated reward was greater than the risk.

His smoking habit got the best of him.

[left-of-center2012]

6. He's a career criminal.

"Spellman had 14 felony and 31 misdemeanor convictions prior to the cigarette theft"

[David__77]

7. No way do I agree with this.

$600 of property- 20 years. This is unreasonably, in my opinion. And Democrats should reduce sentence length guidelines in general.

[left-of-center2012]

11. "Spellman had 14 felony and 31 misdemeanor convictions prior to the cigarette theft"

Ever hear of the "three strikes law"?

He had 45 priors.

[David__77]

12. I got it.

I don’t agree with a 20 year sentence for the crime committed, regardless of past convictions. I heard of a three strikes law and do not support a three strikes law.

[left-of-center2012]

13. You do not support a three strikes law.

This guy had 45 prior 'strikes'.

[Jake Stern]

10. Some people focus on the property involved and get bent out of shape about a 20 year sentence

while ignoring the fact that this guy is a career criminal that has shown he cannot be in the free world without offending.

[left-of-center2012]

14. They do not support a three strikes law.

This guy had 45 prior 'strikes'.

[Jake Stern]

15. I don't support "three Strikes Laws" where someone is put away for life as in California

That being said, this guy's record is eye popping and I just can't muster sympathy for him nor do I see him as a miscarriage of justice.