Posted on 06/22/2018 1:30:20 AM PDT by SMGFan
JERSEY CITY -- Prosecutors haven't presented enough evidence to support a robbery charge against a man cops say was a would-be bank robber when he entered a Hoboken branch after the money had already been locked up for the night, a judge has ruled.
Edward Dempsey, 54, of Bayonne, hopped over the teller counter at Investors Bank on River Street at 6:45 p.m. June 7 and saw that every cash drawer was empty, police said.
After Dempsey learned there was no loot to be had, he requested the return of his note and left the bank otherwise empty-handed, an official said.
Defense attorney James Lisa argued at last week's detention hearing that the note Dempsey passed to a teller said something like: "This is what I need. Give me the money." Lisa said he argued that the note contained no threat of physical harm to anyone.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
The discussion of whether punishment should be based on intent vs results is a worthwhile discussion, but I say this isn’t a great case to pretend he’s not a bad guy.
Must be a member of a protected class.
He’s an old white guy. Definitely not protected a protected class.
Maybe the judge is a relative?
I believe the issue is the wording of his note.
If you're an "old white guy" with no money, health issues, nowhere to live nor family to help, Club Fed may be a viable option. d;^)
I worked with an old white guy. He was smart, generally able, eccentric and had been devastated years earlier by a bad civil divorce.
His job at my company was mostly commission, and in the early days he was living out of his mid-sized Oldsmobile. No registration, no insurance. The police stopped him, and he explained his situation, and they basically let him go, as sending him to jail wouldn’t fix anything, and Rockford, IL had enough problems.
People have robbed banks just to get thrown in prison so they can get some healthcare and a place to sleep. For many people all they really need or want is a TV, a bed, and decent food.
..Not a robbery til there is money in the till...
No. But he should be recharged with Attempted Robbery.
If you ask for money without a threat and they give it to you, is it still technically robbery?
Pure and simple its Attempted Robbery, the judge should be removed.
Wow, police had compassion on an old white guy? Maybe I should do the same.:....
Robbery requires the use of force or at least the threat to use force. It seems like the Judge thinks there is no evidence of that.
That said, unless the guy was obviously unarmed, I don’t see how a threat wasn’t at least implied here.
“Accused bank robber was too nice to be charged with robbery”
Hmmm...next time I must remember to be more polite in my bank hold up notes.
I’d hope you wouldn’t have to think about showing compassion to old white guys...
Yet another example of a “great” judge.
“Hmmm...next time I must remember to be more polite in my bank hold up notes.”
A new niche for Hallmark?
Tailored to the season or nearest holiday.
Loose shoes and a place to dump?
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