OK...so let's say we protect this guy and keep him from losing any of his
civil rights by not charging him with a felony...but what about the juvenile
delinquents that broke out 80 year old stained glass windows and broke off
150 year old tombstones in the cemetery that I serve as secretary for? What
kind of example are we setting for them if we allow the destruction of
cemeteries by adults? Let's face it, Misdemeanors get reduced to probation
and a small fine...felonies get reduced to misdemeanors. I spent ten years
in the judicial system in this state and can attest to how screwed up things
are, but it's not because we are too firm in our laws. It's because the
Courts have too much discretion in how they handle the offenders. It's one
thing to accidentally discover a cemetery while building a house, but to move
the stones to make way for the construction is blatant...that is an
aggrevating circumstance in my opinion. Oh, and one only loses his right to
vote (disinfranchised) in Indiana while incarcerated. Once they are no
longer detained, they have the right to register to vote once again. (IC
3-7-13-5) That should make you feel better, that your neighborhood sex
offender can vote once released back into society...
Kyle D. Conrad