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By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
October 14, 2009
Scott Freeman attended last week’s sentencing of a former
employee for theft and listened to the man attempt to bargain
down jail and probation time without expressing remorse for his
crimes.
“I couldn’t believe that he didn’t say, ‘Sorry’,” said Freeman,
owner of the Gorge Surf Shop in Hood
River.
“I have no pleasure in seeing him do jail time but it just needs
to be done; he has to learn that there are consequences to his
actions.”
Todd Weeks, 38, was sentenced Oct. 6 to six months in the
Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities. He was ordered
by Judge Paul Crowley to pay $8,000 of restitution to Freeman.
The defendant had entered a guilty plea to 10 counts of felony
theft that involved three victims. He was also directed by
Crowley
to compensate two individuals that had returned stolen
windsurfing gear that they had purchased.
The recreationists brought the equipment back to Freeman after
learning of Weeks’ arrest in June 2008. One was owed $200 and
the other $1,280 from sales made with the defendant.
“I’ll lay my cards on the table right now,” said District
Attorney John Sewell to Crowley
at Tuesday’s hearing.
“The state intends to see Mr. Weeks pay back every dime, whether
it be in three years (of probation) or five years.”
His comments followed a request by defense attorney Louis
Grossman Jr. that Weeks spend only 36 months under the direct
supervision of Probation Officer Ed Powell.
Grossman replaced the first court-appointed attorney that had
been fired by the defendant.
“If Mr. Weeks is making a good-faith effort (to repay the
victims) and he gets to the end of that 36 months, I’d like to
see him get off probation,” said Grossman.
He told Crowley
that Weeks had earned the position of trustee — an inmate with
greater privileges — while currently serving 30 days in jail.
In addition to a fixed timeline for probation, Grossman wanted
the discount for “trustee time” added to the standard reduction
in his client’s sentence for good behavior.
Weeks was placed behind bars Sept. 22 after admitting to the
theft of a tractor from a Parkdale property. He had been living
rent-free in the owner’s home at the time of that crime.
Crowley
directed Weeks in that case to pay $4,800 in restitution to the
victim.
“This is a sad case in the respect that I’ve talked to a number
of people and they all describe Mr. Weeks as a likeable, affable
kind of person who made friends easily,” said Sewell on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, the philosophy of the defendant seems to be,
‘What’s the point of having friends if you can’t rip them off?’”
Sewell objected to Weeks receiving more than the good-time
reduction of one day for every 10 served.
“The defendant is already being given a break here in that he’s
not going to prison,” he said.
Crowley, who Weeks tried unsuccessfully
to have removed from hearing the case, sided with Sewell on the
issue of “trustee time.”
“The answer is no; you agreed to good time and that’s all that
you are going to get,” said the judge.
He also left open the possibility of a longer probation. He said
the amount of restitution owed by Weeks was not “insurmountable”
and should be taken care of while he was under Powell’s
supervision.
“So, we’re going to be together until this gets done,” said
Crowley to Weeks.
Freeman believes his former store manager stole thousands of
dollars more in merchandise and cash than admitted. He said
Sewell built his case only on the items that could be recovered.
“I would have had to close the store if I hadn’t owned the
building because the loss was just too great,” he said.
“When I left Todd in charge (for a trip to
Costa Rica) I only ended up
with $37 a day in cash receipts, when it should have been
hundreds.”
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