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Home Front: Culture Wars

15 years for Katrina looters

2006-06-30

HT to Drudge
KENNER, Louisiana (AP) -- Three people convicted of hauling away liquor, wine and beer from a grocery store after Hurricane Katrina were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.
Judge Roy Bean presiding
The judge said he wanted to send a message that looting would not be tolerated when he gave the maximum sentence to Coralnelle Little, 36, Rhonda McGowen, 42, and Paul C. Pearson, 36, all of Kenner.
"the cream of the community...."
A jury convicted the trio May 2 on a portion of the state's looting law that took effect two weeks before the Aug. 29 storm. The amended law set a three-year minimum sentence, and a maximum of 15 years in prison, for looting during a declared state of emergency.

They were convicted of attempting to leave the grocery with 27 bottles of liquor and wine, six cases of beer and one case of wine coolers, six days after Katrina made landfall.

Little, McGowen and Pearson each testified that they were not looting, but they offered conflicting accounts of matters such as who drove to the store.

Pearson's attorney, Bruce Netterville, said the sentence and conviction would be appealed. "We believe the sentence is excessive," said Netterville. Attorneys for the other defendants agreed.
They nooded their heads like bobble dolls....

Posted by:Frank G

#8 Hey, if you guys wanna loot, get elected. People got no repsect for tradition nowadays.

Posted by: SteveS 2006-06-30 14:23

#7 I swear to God I thought the headline read "Katrina Hooters".

Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2006-06-30 14:11

#6 Brer,
Hanging. Public. (And I moved from Providence to 'Greater' New Orleans.}

Posted by: Glenmore 2006-06-30 12:24

#5 What about the two NO police who were video taped looting WalMart? Same 15 years?

Posted by: BrerRabbit 2006-06-30 11:25

#4 Back in 1978 we had a bad blizzard in Providence, RI. The police were wallowing on foot. National Guard blocked major intersections (under 3 feet of snow). Looting started. Cops shot and killed a looter coming out of a store - turned out it was a kid, and he had a can of tomato sauce or such. The expected uproar ensued. The mayor (later convict) Buddy Cianci came on tv and said (paraphrase) 'This was tragic and I am sorry it happened, but I am not changing the orders of martial law, and future looters should expect the same.' There was no more looting.

Posted by: Glenmore 2006-06-30 11:23

#3 Hmmm ... still waiting for widespread looting in Wilkes Barre, PA.

Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden 2006-06-30 10:47

#2 They were convicted of attempting to leave the grocery with 27 bottles of liquor and wine, six cases of beer and one case of wine coolers, six days after Katrina made landfall.

Little, McGowen and Pearson each testified that they were not looting, but they offered conflicting accounts of matters such as who drove to the store.

Good gawd, I first thought this sentencing was excessive but hearing these details make me think the punishment fits. I mean all of N.O. was basically a ghostown by 6 days after Katrina struck (the troops rolled in on Day 3, I believe, and the busses shipped others to Houston starting on Day 2, I think) and the fact that they could DRIVE to get there. Yeah, REAL needy. Listen, I understand swiping food/essentials, but driving up almost a week later in a ghost town to have your own personal Mardi Gras is ridiculous.

Posted by: BA 2006-06-30 10:00

#1 And how many think that the 'white collar' criminals who stole relief monies are going to get 15 years? [And in my book that includes the Governor and the Legislative Branch of Louisiana and their outrageous request for monies far and beyond anything Mississippi asked for.]

Posted by: Spomble Phinerong1942 2006-06-30 09:19

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