Off To See The Wizard To Ask For A Brain
Yes, Judge, I took the car; I didn’t steal it. You see, he couldn’t pay me for the drugs I delivered, so I took his car as payment instead.
Judge Shadid apparently didn’t think that was such a great defense.
PjStar:
PEORIA - A South Peoria man said Friday he didn’t understand how a jury found him guilty in October of stealing another person’s car when he admitted the car was used as payment for a drug debt.
Despite that, Peoria County Circuit Judge James Shadid rejected a plea for probation and sentenced Christopher J. McCaster, 22, of 1507 W. Butler St. to five years in prison.
A Peoria County jury found McCaster guilty of possession of a stolen vehicle but acquitted him of more serious charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking, armed robbery and possession of a weapon by a felon.
McCaster was accused of taking another man’s car at gunpoint while he was unloading groceries at the Pierson Hills apartment complex on June 23.
Assistant State’s Attorney Nancy Mermelstein argued for a stiff sentence, saying McCaster had never abided by probation and had done poorly every time he was given a chance. McCaster’s attorney, Robert Gaubas, countered his client never had drug treatment and pointed to his miserable childhood as a reason to consider probation.
The judge declined, noting McCaster’s prior record, which includes convictions for aggravated robbery and possession of a weapon by a felon.