Florida man could face up to 5 years for stealing $1 soda from McDonalds

5 years for stealing $1 soda? that's more than harsh. I think for this kind of attempt should left with a fine or something like that, 5 years in prison could ruin as he will have record...

Imprisonment for 5 years for stealing $1 soda is too much harsh. There is no justice at all. What is the problem of the government why they charge it to the ordinary people like us? Justice is not balance after all. That’s why pity for those you don’t have money they will be imprisons for a longer time.

It may sound harsh but consider that he will get out in many cases with less than two years (time off for good behavior). The man had several options when confronted; he could have left the soda and walked out, he could have offered to pay for the soda, or admit his mistake and left. He choose to escalate the incident. One other thing to consider when you stop petty crimes you do influence the overall crime rate. New York City, several years ago, started to arrest and charge people with petty crimes, vandals breaking windows in vacant buildings, petty theft etc. What happened was the overall crime rate went down and so did violent crimes. Why do bullies act the way they do? Because nobody stops them and makes them pay a consequence. In many cases if you confront the bully it will stop. If the manager of the McDonalds had let that go it sends a message that it is OK to steal from the restaurant in small amounts. Let the man take what ever punishment the courts deal out and send the message that no crime goes unpunished.

I don't think he went to jail only over the $1 soda at Mcdonalds. that sounds as if it was added with his other thefts in the past. That is how the police look at your crime file if you have one. They total them up and decide to arrest you. I am not a officer but I am pretty sure thats how it works.

Hello onDaThrone I read on the news earlier this week where an 18 year old Floridian has received a 162 prison sentence for his part in armed robbery. It was his first offense. However, he was allegedly involved in a string of armed robberies.