If you’re a going to pull a prank in Kentucky, just remember to never mess with baby Jesus.
Nicholas A. Brainard, 21, and David A. Gialdini, 19, pleaded guilty to theft and receiving stolen property. A street sign, Christmas lights and other decorations, including a baby Jesus statue from a Nativity scene, were found in the men’s apartment.
They will both serve a ridiculous 45 day prison sentence for this misdemeanor theft.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David Dalton said the intent behind the thefts was nothing more malicious than a prank, and a first-time theft charge often won’t garner jail time. But…
“These were callous and hurtful acts directed at families trying to celebrate a sacred event,” Dalton said in a news release. “These are tough times, and parents shouldn’t have to explain to children why someone would steal ‘baby Jesus’ out of a Nativity scene or rip decorations from the side of the house. It was a stupid stunt and deserved some jail time.”
Susan Mucci, who owns the baby Jesus statue that was stolen, said she thought the sentence was appropriate.
“I would hope that they have learned their lesson out of this deal,” said Mucci.
I wonder if the sentence would have been equally as harsh if they had stolen a statue of Buddha? I’m sure Attorney Dalton would have been equally as outraged by the assault on a Buddhist family’s sacred event.
Add another item to the long list of reasons I’m glad I don’t live in Kentucky.
Tags: Attorney, Court, Guilty, Harsh, Jesus, Police, Prank, Sentence, Statue, Theft
June 2, 2009 at 5:22 pm |
Alabama is a wretched wretched place.
June 2, 2009 at 7:33 pm |
The stupid SOB’s don’t get it. They committed petty theft. They should be punished the same as if they stole a travelocity gnome. Being they live in Christian Hell Alabama. They get a more severe punishment.
“These were callous and hurtful acts directed at families trying to celebrate a sacred event,” How is the theft of a plaster/concrete baby Jesus a hurtful act directed at families? It is not like they stole the real baby Jesus. Hey it is not like they(Any Fucking Christian) can prove Jesus even existed. He was totally made up. Did they leave a note at scene wanting a ransom? One million in cold hard cash or the stone figurine of the fictitious baby gets it! I still see not direction towards those intollerant Christian families. Maybe I am missing something.
I think putting up any Christian themed items is callous and hurtful to homosexuals and any freethinker. Maybe Christians in Alabama should spend 45 days in the pokey.
Hey if 95%+ inmates are Christian and a good portion of them are doing the backdoor slide. Them Alabama boys will be right at home
)
June 2, 2009 at 8:36 pm |
Ugh, Alabama gives me the shivers. Hooray for the midwest! (Chicago guy myself)
June 2, 2009 at 8:38 pm |
So is Missouri and Kansas part of the midwest? Hurray for the Upper Midwest! lol
June 2, 2009 at 8:52 pm |
Wow. I wonder if they still have blasphemy laws on the books…
Mixter
June 3, 2009 at 3:16 pm |
Most states do.
June 3, 2009 at 3:19 pm |
Really? I wonder if my state does?
I’m going to run around town repeatedly yelling, “God damn it! Jesus Christ!” and see if I get arrested.
June 3, 2009 at 3:50 am |
Doesn`t anyone else think that the “Baby Jesus” looks like a character from one of those cult horror movies? I think it`s almost enough to scare a child to death!
June 3, 2009 at 12:13 pm |
Come pray with us. Forever and ever and ever…
Wait, isn’t that pretty much what heaven is all about?
June 3, 2009 at 2:00 pm |
Hmmm….
Did no one else notice that none of this has anything to do with Alabama? All of this–crime and punishment–took place in Kentucky. There is no Pulaski County in Alabama, and a very quick search on the internet shows that all this transpired in KY (hence the reason the article is featured on Kentucky.com).
But, it was nice to note all the prejudice and stereotyping from this post and the subsequent comment thread! Of course, everyone here is right. Every person in Alabama is a hateful, intolerant, butt-sex-having (in the closet) Christian bigot. We still burn homosexuals and blacks (and the occasional Jew). Bottoms up!!! (Welch’s Grape Juice toast)
June 3, 2009 at 3:48 pm |
LOL! I live in Kentucky and I’m not surprised.
But my own opinion of Alabama is based on personal experience, not hearsay. And I say again: wretched wretched place.
June 3, 2009 at 3:55 pm |
Thank you for pointing my error out. Kind of a major detail to mess up.
I was not intending to stereotype the people who live in Alabama. Only to point out the religious bias of their legal system. Most of this post is a direct pull from the article. My only apology is I unintentionally listed Alabama instead of Kentucky.
If the post came across as an attempt to negatively stereotype everyone living in the state, that was not my intention.
June 3, 2009 at 4:13 pm |
I agree with the fact that this is ludacris if the case is as religiously biased as the article makes it sound. And it is a fair question to ask if the courts would react the same way over a Buddha or some other statue. But it’s a real shame that the comment thread digressed the way it did, and so quickly. And here, I thought Christians were the intolerant bigots.
June 3, 2009 at 3:28 pm |
Ugh.. I’m going to have to agree with alan here. This thread, despite being so small, actually embodies all of the bullshit stereotypes we atheists have to fight on a daily basis.
It is bullshit that these kids, wherever the crime was committed, were given a sentence more severe than the crime calls for or is normally handed down but I don’t think spitting bile and having a hatefest is the way to react to this. Outrage is expected, but can’t “us” be upset about something without painting all of “them” with the same brush?
June 3, 2009 at 3:33 pm |
When did this happen? Why do they still have that out? (Or maybe the ruling just went through recently.)
June 4, 2009 at 2:47 pm |
Please correct the spelling of the state in your post. It is KENTUCKY, you left out the C. Not sure how as the story you link to is on Kentucky.com. The county seat of Pulaski Co, KY is Somerset. It is a decent size small city not far from the Tennessee border.
June 4, 2009 at 3:57 pm |
Thanks so much, I’m sure we all were very curious how close Somerset is to Tennessee!
June 4, 2009 at 6:04 pm |
First I put the wrong state, then I spell it wrong. I’m on a roll of accuracy this week. Thanks for pointing it out.