Appeals court tosses life sentence for $15 theft [View all]

NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana appeals court has tossed out the life sentence for a man convicted of grabbing $15 from a parked car.

Walter Johnson, 38, had three prior convictions when he was convicted for snatching the money from an SUV that turned out to be a "bait-vehicle" police were using to catch burglars. He was sentenced last year under a habitual offender statute mandating a life sentence for fourth-offenders.

"Thus, the sentence imposed on Mr. Johnson is 'legal' in the sense that it falls within the statutory range," Judge Paul Bonin said in the opinion for a three-judge panel of the state 4th Circuit Court of Appeal.

"Despite its legality, however, we find the life-without-parole sentence imposed upon Mr. Johnson unconstitutionally excessive."

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/appeals-court-tosses-life-sentence-for-15-theft/408072826/