Here in St Louis its the stealings that are more difficult to prosecute. Misdemeanor stealings are under $500.00, with Felony's being over $500.00. However, if you get someone with two prior conviction's, you get to charge Fenoly Stealing 3rd offense...but, you need to have two prior convictions with a minimum of 10 days each served by the suspect in order to run that one. Our PA's cant be bothered to contact an out of state agency to verify if a person has actually served 10 days though. So say you have suspect who has about 20+ priors for stealing, and they served time in Illinois....you're not getting the warrant issued.
Keep in mind, these are the same people who turned a stabbing into a flourishing. Two guys were at the same party. One has a history of assault, drugs, burglary, etc, and just got of jail for the assault. The other has the bad judgement to hit on the first's GF at the party.
Bad guy whips out a knife and shouts that he's going to kill the motha@#%^*&, and then chases him around the house, (knife in hand, in front of 5 witnesses), and outside to the backyard, (no witnesses there). Everyone hears a scream. Bad guy walks back inside, w/o the knife he had just moments ago. Idiot staggers back inside with a knife wound in his left leg, screaming he's just been stabbed, call 911!
One of our PA's (St Louis County) decided since no one had actually seen the stabbing take place, all that could be charged was flourishing the knife. (Displaying the knife in front of all the witnesses).
Sometimes the stupid ones are sposed to be on our side.
Nick
