[dennisw]

This ex-criminal has been a productive citizen. The state of Missouri bungled this. Too late to jail him now. Give him 5 years probation

Plus how is robbery with a BB gun an armed robbery?

[kiryandil]

Plus how is robbery with a BB gun an armed robbery?

Don't question the judgment of your Royal Betters, peasant dennisw.

[Rastus]

Plus how is robbery with a BB gun an armed robbery?

I once personally witnessed a lone cowpoke with an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200 shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time wipe out the entire Black Bart gang.

[Vigilanteman]

As to whether Anderson deserves to be free, he said, 'The jury heard the evidence, the judge upheld the sentence,' he says. 'As unfair as it may seem to he and his family, he's got 13 years he owes the state. I don't think there's much more to say than that.'

Except that the LEO who said this is an idiot. Why not just have him pay restitution to the victim. Or let the state handle it for a 20% cut?

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Any weapon, real or fake, used in a robbery turns it into an “armed robbery” because the victim(s) don’t know if it is real or not, and could suffer psychological harm or even death (heart attack).

In this case, the guy should be put on probation and be sent out to speak to children about how a stupid criminal act could ruin his life and that of his family.

Might as well get something good out of this case. Might even save a life down the road.

[mountainbunny]

This ex-criminal has been a productive citizen. The state of Missouri bungled this. Too late to jail him now. Give him 5 years probation.

My first thought was that if he is reformed, why didn't he own up to his crime? Part of being responsible is... actually being responsible for your actions. Responsible people don't shirk their debts. Failing to appear (another crime) and calling foul when finally caught doesn't sound responsible to me.

Plus how is robbery with a BB gun an armed robbery?

In many, and possibly most states, pointing any gun, even a fake gun, is armed robbery. Just saying that you have a gun is also armed robbery. If you choose to use a weapon or say that you are using a weapon to commit a crime, your victim is not in a position to determine the legitimacy of the threat. Thus, you've used the threat of force in your crime.

Best suggestion: Don't point any weapon in anyone's face, and if you know you have a jail sentence, know that they'll eventually catch up with you if you walk away from your punishment.

[trebb]

Plus how is robbery with a BB gun an armed robbery?

The same way a half-eaten Pop-Tart can be reason for expulsion from school?

On the flip side, the act, even with a fake weapon, causes the same dynamics as if the gun were real. The only upside to a BB gun vs. a real gun is that it's unlikely that you will kill someone in the commission.

Since nobody was hurt way back then, and he seems to have turned his life around, I'm all for super-leniency and allowing him to keep tending to his business and family.