I found out the hard way that criminals have more rights than victims.
The guy who burglarized my home and my neighbors was caught with all of our stuff in his car plus he used one of their credit cards. He was allowed to roam free on bail for two years because his lawyer told him to change his plea every three months when he had to appear before the judge.
I would run into him at my kids elementary school events. It was very upsetting for my wife. Especially when the guy’s skank girlfriend, Dixie Brown, would start yelling at us claiming his innocence. At one event she tried to start a physical fight with my wife. The cops wouldn’t do anything. They said we can’t restrain her from her kids school programs.
The Burglar’s name was Drew Pankotai. He served five years for 8 counts of burglary previously. That time, when he was to report to the State penitentiary he stole a car and fled to Florida. I told the DA that he was a flight risk and that the police found my pills and others things in his car. The DA said he has the same rights as anyone charged wiith burglary. We have to prove his guilt.
I figured that having all of our stolen items in his car was proof enough. Especially since Drew worked for me a few months. All of his hits were in my neighborhood and at the houses of some of my landscape clients. Plus he was OCD and he wrote his name and address on the gas can that he stole which he was caught stealing on a game camera in someone’s yard. He left the van behind by accident. Name, address, and phone number on it.
After two years of dicking around with flipping pleas the DA made a deal to lower his sentence if he signed a document of guilt. (Why!?! He was guilty!). He showed up for sentencing and when his lawyer told him he’s next and will be taken away, he asked the bailiff if he could go to the bathroom. Nobody went with him. He waltzed right out of the court house, picked up Dixie and hit the road. Two years after committing his crime.
The US Marshall’s found him a year later in New Mexico in a county jail on a driving violation. They only were aware because Drew claimed to be a Sovereign citizen and his buddies called and said they were coming to take him under their custody. The Marshalls got to the jail and waited and nabbed them all for entering the building with weapons.
Sorry for the long story.
