Annapolis Capital Punishment

What does baseball and crime have in common? Some may say three strikes and you are out. But that would be wrong in Anne Arundel County. My best guess is that the use of bats might be the common element.

But back on the three strikes thing, how many strikes does it take? In The Capital yesterday, there was an article about a habitual criminal that is now undergoing yet another tax payer funded trial. Hopefully a judge this time will see him for what he is.

The guy has 12 prior convictions for the same thing--armed robbery! When they finally had him, he copped a plea bargain for 25 years in 1996. Guidlines indicated it should have been 53 to 90 years. Halfway through, he decides that he might get out early if he plays the drug card.

A spineless judge, and a spineless prosecutor (Annapolis Alderman Fred Paone have no objections and cut him loose to a halfway house. He did complete the rehab assignment and then 10 days after his release (remember this is from a drug rehab house) he tests positive for marijuana.

For some reason, he was not immediately arrested and sent back to jail. No, they let him wander the streets for 3 more months and gave him the opportunity to commit two more armed robberies.

Well, now we are paying for another trial for this guy. I am all about second chances, but at what point do you say enough is enough? Stike one, strike two, strike three--you're out!

But here in good old Anne Arundel with the weak judiciary, you are probably entitled to 13 strikes. Here is hoping the Judge that hears this trial will see this guy for what he is and put him away nor the remainder of his original sentence and than some. We do not need him on our streets.