« Ind. Decisions - Court of Appeals issues 2 today (and 9 NFP) | Main | Ind. Law - Still more on Crown Point's "Big Box" Ordinance »
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Ind. Court - Judge orders defendant to get rid of cable TV
From the Decatur Daily Democrat:
A unique form of punishment - ordering a halt to cable television at a defendant's home - was part of a sentence handed down in Wednesday's session of Adams Superior Court.The unusual decision by Judge James A. Heimann came in the case of Margaret C. Vanzo, 39, Decatur, who was sentenced after pleading guilty on November 22 to fraud and identity deception. She admitted obtaining a credit card by using the name of a former boyfriend.
The judge, who ordered Vanzo to serve 30 days in the county jail, took note of her lack of a job as he decreed that Vanzo must stop cable TV service and use the money saved to pay $1,637 in restitution to the ex-boyfriend, $159 in court costs, and probation fees.
Heimann told Vanzo that cable TV "is a luxury you cannot afford." He gave her two concurrent 18-month jail terms, with all but 30 days of each suspended; placed her on probation for 18 months; and told Vanzo to complete the Life Skills course offered by the local branch of LOVE In the Name of Christ.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 23, 2006 08:24 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts