http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/golf/news/2001/04/28/tiger_imposter_ap/ Three strikes, he's out SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A man who used Tiger Woods' identity to steal $17,000 worth of goods was sentenced to 200 years-to-life in prison. Anthony Lemar Taylor was convicted of falsely obtaining a driver's license using the name Eldrick T. Woods, Woods' Social Security number and his birth date. Though he looks nothing like golf's best player, the 30-year-old Taylor then used the false identification and credit cards to buy a 70-inch TV, stereos and a used luxury car between August 1998 and August 1999. Judge Michael Virga gave Taylor the maximum sentence under California's three-strikes law Friday. Taylor's lawyer, James Greiner, said the 200-year term is tantamount to a death sentence and should be reserved for those who injure or kill someone. He urged Virga to sentence Taylor to the minimum 19 years, arguing Taylor's prior crimes have involved theft. Deputy District Attorney Russ Detrick said the state's three-strikes law was written for criminals like Taylor, who has been convicted of 20 misdemeanor or felony crimes over 17 years. Greiner accused prosecutors of using Woods' celebrity status to convict Taylor of eight theft and two perjury counts. "The prosecution had a theory ... to bring Mr. Tiger Woods in here and create a celebrity case and ride that celebrity status to convict Mr. Taylor," Greiner said. Prosecutors said they treated Woods like any other crime victim, though he was given special courthouse access when he testified in December. ---------- I realize that the dude has a pretty big criminal record, but isn't 200 years kind of extreme for just impersonating Tiger Woods? If he was using someone else's identity other than Tiger Woods would he be getting 200 years?
Man he needs a better lawyer Money talks everything else run the marathon Rocket River ------------------
Basically i think the long sentence was a result of the 3 strike law. He has a criminal record and it was his 3rd time so they put him away. Just be thankful he wasn't in Cincinnati, they just shoot the offenders there! I'm kidding, don't take the Cincy comment too seriously!
The punishment was harsh but he had done the same thing before. His previous two crimes involved theft and if you ask me he was doing the same thing only worse. He stole Tiger's identity, used that stolen identity to purchase goods so the purchases were not legal, and he purchased a lot of expensive goods so more than likely it may be grand theft, according to local law or not. If you ask me the laws in this country are too kind, people know the laws and what is wrong and right so they end up doing the wrong thing and just get slapped on the wrist and let go and repeat the same thing. I say he received a fair sentence. ------------------ Arkansas' Biggest Rocket Fan!
This man, and people like him are the motivation behind the three strikes law. Basically he was a career criminal, he had been convicted of other crimes, presumably served the penalty, and continued to be a repeat offender. It is obvious that he is unwilling to be reformed, so what would anyone have the state do? Should he just be allowed to keep stealing from people? I think he got just what he deserved. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. ------------------ "Of course, thats just my opinion, I could be wrong" -- Dennis Miller
I don't think he should die in prison. He's only 30, why not just a 20 year sentence? 200 years is a joke... ------------------ Join the CC.net NBA Sim ------------------------- Rosters & Stats - Stat requests & Stats - Trade Discussions - Official Trades - Draftinfo
When was the last time somebody lived 200 years? idiots ... So does this mean now we can lock Robert Downey Jr. away for life too? ------------------ Vice President of Executive Operations of the Sean Colson Fan Club http://bbs.clutchcity.net
BGM I know 50 years old is pretty old but think about. Let's say he served the 20. Well he would have been let out of jail with felony counts on his record and it would probably be virtually impossible for him to get a job so what is he most likely to do...I say resume his old lifestyle because it is the only thing he knows how to do. It's not like 50 year olds can't steal. ------------------ Arkansas' Biggest Rocket Fan!
Well that whole "cruel and uusual punishment statement" in the Constitution pretty much rules out anything that I would do because it is so broad but if you still want me to list something tell me to. ------------------ Arkansas' Biggest Rocket Fan!
Sure I mean for me. . . I kind of go back in forth Do we PUNISH or REHABILITATE If PUNISH .. then I say . . Put them on one of those Alaskan Islands and put a big old gate around them. Make them raise food underground or something make it where they have to self sufficient or starve Rocket River ------------------
I was going to say something very similar to that. I was going to say put them in a remote area (such as Alaska as you mentioned) or on an island where they would have no chance at swimming or boating to mainlands safely and make them care for themselves. I mean the prisoners in America have it better than some good, law-abiding citizens in this country. Three meals a day, some fun activities, cable television, a place to sleep at night, books and reading material, etc. Oh yeah that' a great punishment. ------------------ Arkansas' Biggest Rocket Fan!
I think the guy has what's coming to him. If he knows that if he commits another crime and that whatever he does will send him to jail for life and he still does the crime then nothing is going to stop that guy. Nothing! Of course, he will tell you that he didn't count on getting caught! The three strikes law is not about punishing a particular crime, it's about punishing a a particular behaviour. Actually what this shows is that laws do NOT deter criminals. The whole put 'em on an island thing has already been tried. It was called Australia... ------------------
America protects wealthy people. Joy. *yawn* ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
Having your freedom taken away, being subjected to beatings, violence and sodomy doesn't exactly sound like a joy ride. However, I personally feel we in America have a serious problem with self responsibility. This is true both of the crooks and the incarcerators. Think about it for a moment. We are the most affluent society that has ever existed yet we also have the greatest debt ever known to man (both personal and as a nation) and we still can't feed those who are hungry. Study after study shows that three things prevent crime: 1. Education 2. Intervention by friends, family or community 3. Money If you are educated, have a strong relationship with your family, friends or community and are stable financially, your chances of being arrested and going to jail drop dramatically. IMO, the country sees three strikes and drug laws as a way to wash its hands of "career criminals" and addicts, but it doesn't solve the problem or even address it. It is as irresponsible an act as the crimes themselves. We spend more on law enforcement than we do on education, crisis intervention and community enhancement put together. We know what keeps people from committing crimes yet we continually refuse to do anything about it. We would rather build more prisons than attempt to solve the actual problems. There are over a million children living in poverty. They are 10 times more likely to end up in jail then children in middle income homes - MIDDLE income, not rich kids who go to private schools. That is simply ridiculous. It is simple. You can either pay now with better funding for education, increased attention paid to preserving communities and crisis and family intervention or you can build more prisons and bigger courthouses. ------------------ So, I took the million dollars and bought a steam shovel...
