Zane Linehan (center) will be free on $500 bail
In this day and age when almost everyone has instant access to communication you have to be pretty stupid to rob an outdoor farm stand, in broad daylight, on a fairly well traveled street, in a close-knit community like Hadley.
That, or you have substance abuse problems.
In Eastern Hampshire District Court this morning Judge John Payne allowed a Section 35 addiction treatment commitment (90 days) for Daniel Bartusewich, age 31, aka "Ras Fire" (the Judge did not acknowledge the recent name change saying, "What is this, a comic book?").
His companion in crime, Zane Linehan, age 20, addressed the Judge saying he had "enjoyed 1.5 years of being sober, but now drugs are destroying me." His mother was said to be enroute and would be filing for a Section 35 addiction treatment commitment as well for Mr. Linehan.
The DA's office wanted bail revoked and for Lineham to stay in jail so he couldn't "continue to go on a spree." Only the day before the Hadley theft Lineham had been arraigned in Holyoke District Court on another criminal matter.
The Judge set bail at $500.
A neighbor of the farm stand called in the theft as it was occurring and gave Hadley police a good description of the car (with front end damage) including three digits of the license plate.
Within 10 minutes HPD had the vehicle, and in the center console they found $57 in wrinkled cash with only one $5 bill and all the rest $1 dollar bills.
The kind of thing you would expect to find in a farm stand cash box.
Farm stands: A way of life in Hadley
I think it's you, Larry, that should be taken to court over the use of the "mosaic" filter on your camera, or whatever the heck is pixellating your pix.
ReplyDeleteWhen perps are "in custody" they appear before the Judge in a protective booth that is far from my front row seat.
ReplyDeleteThe iPhone zoom leaves a lot to be desired. And the lighting in the courtroom is not all that great either.
I'm sorry to hear of the addiction problems, but when I originally read the story, I thought, "How low can you go?" After all, farmers have to work like crazy for that $57.
ReplyDeleteHopefully this was bottom for them, and that the program they enter is a good one.
ReplyDeleteunfortunately "Ras Fire" has been in jail before for some sort of violent crime against an ex girlfriend I believe. And possibly other charges as well. He hasn't had an easy life. I hope both of these guys get the help they need. "Ras Fire" spent part of his childhood living on/off of Shattuck rd. with his parents. VERY close to where this theft occurred. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe these two bozos are going to rob a bank or commit any violent crime. They're more the type to rip off a Girl Scout cookie stand or steal from their mother's purse. Too bad they won't be spending any "rock bottom" time in jail.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect candidate for state prison. I guess all he needs now is a DUI to get there.
ReplyDeleteBeig violent, thieving and stupid just deserves pity.
Only drunks go to jail anyway.
And they say that drugs are a victimless crime. Tell that to the little children who had their $51 stolen from them.
ReplyDeleteNot all, but many of the farmestands are children's money. That's why stealing from them is so low...
And Larry, if these schmucks are drug addicts, then wouldn't the driver have been DUI?
That's not a liberal sentiment. It's a conservative one. Liberals would say the drug addict needs help and he does.
ReplyDeleteBoy, sounds like a public stoning is needed to resolve this one...
ReplyDeleteTrue, liberals would say the drug addict needs help but would also want to know where he gets his stuff from.
ReplyDeleteLiberals would say the drug addict needs help and he does.
ReplyDeleteHelp finding more and better drugs...
I say jail will help him just fine.