Nathan Pettus gets life for stealing 3 belts from Dillards, $1 over misdemeanor threshold
A police officer with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office was working a security detail at the store and testified at trial that he moved to stand between the exit doors to the store when he was radioed that a man was observed concealing three belts beneath his jacket. When Pettus observed the uniformed officer, he abandoned the belts in the store before exiting into the mall. The officer then ran after Pettus and Tasered him before arresting him in the adjacent mall area.
According to the store’s loss prevention officer, the total value of all three belts was $301, but Pettus claims their actual value was under the $300 felony threshold.
Pettus was initially sentenced to the two year maximum sentence for the crime he committed but was resentenced to life without parole under Louisiana’s habitual offender law.
Read full story at ACLU Special Report. A Living Death: Life Without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses.
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As voters, citizens, taxpayers and bystanders, we as a society have inhumanely punished thousands of nonviolent people. Currently Washington DC and 30 states have compensation statutes for wrongfully convicted inmates. Congress’ recommended amount is $63,000 for each year served. On the other hand, overly sentenced victims who in many cases have suffered equally or worse typically receive $20 and a bus ticket if they are fortunate enough to ever be released.
Select the link below to donate directly to Pettus to help him with legal and other expenses. Most of these inhumanely sentenced inmates don't remember the last time they were able to buy personal items or snacks from the commissary. No donation is too small. JPAY is used for state inmates and Western Union for federal.
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Donate to Pettus' Legal Fund (Select Louisiana, Inmate ID=411269)
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