MASON CITY – A man and a woman who committed a crime of opportunity when they grabbed an expensive musical instrument from a student who wasn’t looking and then tried to sell it to a music store earlier this year pled guilty to reduced charges after first facing felonies.
The incident took place back in February at a bus stop near 1st Street and Pierce Avenue in Mason City. A student set a saxophone valued at nearly $1,500 down on the sidewalk near bus stop. Police told NIT that “it was a windy, cold day so the kids stood around the corner, behind a building to get out of wind. That apparently is when someone came by and snatched the sax from sidewalk.”
After the theft, the stolen sax was presented for sale at a local music store by 69-year-old Keith Riser and 29-year-old Donyale Jones. Employees at “the music store looked at the sax, realized it was stolen, and called police,” a police spokesman told NIT.
After an investigation, Jones and Riser were arrested on charges of felony second-degree theft and taken to jail.
Weeks later, Riser was allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree theft. He was sentenced to 62 days in jail and ordered to pay $499.50 in court fees and surcharges.
Jones also was allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree theft. She was sentenced to a suspended 2-year prison sentence, one year of probation, and was ordered to pay $448.50 in court fees and surcharges.
I know Riser. He’s always been stuck in trying to fulfill this image of a bad boy. A small time hoodlum. It’s his claim to fame. Basically a harmless idiot.
That will sure teach them a lesson they won’t forget. They will never pay the fines and will be back on the street stealing from children.
Oh look, another light sentence for Mr. Riser. How many times do you have to steal, burglarized, shoplift, Rob, or fraud someone before they give you a real reason to stop?
I’m so tired of these plea deals. Make them plead guilty to the crimes they committed. Let them out early for good behavior, but don’t let their records be sugarcoated.
Stealing from a child and they were allowed to plead to a lesser charge? That is just not right! I doubt either one of them will pay their fines either.