Did this man get too much time?

AIZZO4
AIZZO4 Posts: 404 Member
So I came across this article below:

FORT WORTH — A 20-year-old Fort Worth man was sentenced to nine life sentences Wednesday for an armed robbery spree in late 2011.

Karrington Braziel pleaded guilty to nine charges of aggravated robbery, but asked a jury to assess punishment. Jurors deliberated two hours before recommending the maximum punishment. The sentences will run concurrently.

From Nov. 13 to Nov. 30, 2011, Braziel held up businesses in southwest Fort Worth including IHOP and Pizza Hut restaurants and a Braum’s ice cream shop, according to a news release from the Tarrant County district attorney’s office.

The spree ended after a witness to the robbery of Tom’s E-Z-N wrote down the license number of the car Braziel drove away in. He was arrested after a short police chase.

During the punishment phase of the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Braziel’s criminal history, which included serving time in a juvenile facility for assaulting a public servant. The jury also heard that
Braziel had caused trouble in the Tarrant County Jail while awaiting trial.

“Given this man’s actions as a juvenile, as an adult, and even while incarcerated, he showed he will always be a threat to the peace of the community,” prosecutor Tim Rodgers said in the news release. “This jury did what was necessary to make sure there will be no more victims.”

As usual here are my thoughts and questions.

1. The guy did the crimes and probably deserves prison time. You do the crime, you do the time.

2. He is a young man. He will be in prison for the rest of his life. That’s sad.

3. I have read about murderers getting less time then he has.

4. Do you think this is too much time? Are they punishing him for what he “might” do instead of what he did?


I am curious to see what you all think about this. Let’s try to keep this to a respectable discussion. Thanks.
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Replies

  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    Too serious of a topic.
  • AIZZO4
    AIZZO4 Posts: 404 Member
    Too serious of a topic.

    Agreed but I would love to hear what you think.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Depends on what the end goal is: Restitution, Punishment, Incapacitation or Rehabilitation.

    It sounds like the prosecutor had incapacitation in mind. I'm not sure that was warranted in this case.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?

    This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.
  • pippywillow
    pippywillow Posts: 253 Member
    A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?

    This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.

    You can't put someone in jail for something that hasn't happened yet.

    It sounds like too much time to me.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?

    This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.

    You can't put someone in jail for something that hasn't happened yet.

    It sounds like too much time to me.

    No, but you can put him in jail for something he has done. And they did.
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    Sounds to me like they're punishing him for crimes he hasn't committed (yet), as opposed to the crimes he already did... which doesn't sit well with me at all.
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
    If you were to show the sentence to a group of ten people and have them guess the crime, they would likely guess something much more egregious than robbery, as bad as it is.
  • nygrl4evr
    nygrl4evr Posts: 196 Member
    I think with this guy history is going to repeat itself. Who is to say next time he does an armed robbery someone doesn't get killed?

    I think criminals are getting off too easy and getting back out into society to keep on committing crimes. I would say if it was his first time then it was too much but it wasn't a one time thing. He went on a spree and had served time before. He obviously did not learn his lesson.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    He asked to be sentenced by a jury, and he got what he asked for.

    As far as I'm concerned, he's a criminal AND an idiot, and prison is the best place for him.
  • anneerick
    anneerick Posts: 147 Member
    I have no sympathy. The only "sad" thing here is that more crimes are not treated with the same harshness as this one.
  • Sox90716
    Sox90716 Posts: 976 Member
    No. The sentence was appropriate.
  • khartley535
    khartley535 Posts: 151 Member
    Child predators (and not just first timers) get off with less than this and they've already proven a record of harming not just people, but innocent people unable to defend themselves... I work in a prison. Just my two cents...
  • ShreddedTweet
    ShreddedTweet Posts: 1,326 Member
    A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?

    This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.

    Jeebus, what is this, Minority Report?! There was a threat of violence, that is often enough for a heavy sentence but honestly I think murderers, child killers and rapists get less time that this. It ought to be relative - They should get more, he should get marginally less because while there was a threat of violence nobody was actually killed.
  • farmers_daughter
    farmers_daughter Posts: 1,632 Member
    Sounds to me like they're punishing him for crimes he hasn't committed (yet), as opposed to the crimes he already did... which doesn't sit well with me at all.
    This, if the DOC would pull their heads :explode: .....wait you said respectable :grumble: .... ok let me reload

    The DOC should put more emphasis and use a little more of the funds it has on making an "honest" and "dilligent" attempt to re-direct these kids (because that's what he is a kid) give them the "opportunity for a second chance" I say that sarcastically becasue our 8th district has that on a poster in thier office, I'd love to spit on that poster. Its a big juicy lie.

    They push them through the system, do what the paperwork says they have to do, and that's it.

    Prevent employee burnout and don't have Parole officers serving for 30 years....they are de-sensitized to new people and situations, put people in there who truly want to make a difference. Not everyone in jail/prision is a bad person, they just need that "opportunity" sometimes.

    Eh..
  • drvvork
    drvvork Posts: 1,162
    As usual here are my thoughts and questions.

    1. The guy did the crimes and probably deserves prison time. You do the crime, you do the time.

    2. He is a young man. He will be in prison for the rest of his life. That’s sad.

    3. I have read about murderers getting less time then he has.

    4. Do you think this is too much time? Are they punishing him for what he “might” do instead of what he did?


    I am curious to see what you all think about this. Let’s try to keep this to a respectable discussion. Thanks.

    First thing: It's Texas and I do not know their laws.
    #3 response: yes, me too (pedophiles as well) and it infuriated me. These same individuals got out and did it again. Very few - other than the "Crimes of Passion" walked away to no longer have that much anger pent up and there were some that re-violated but unfortunately they were under similar situations.
    #4 response: Ohio is a mandatory 8 years if a gun is used.... not sure how many places he robbed but the reasoning is - to walk in with a gun to rob a place is to say you will kill someone. As a side - note, in the great buckeye state you can go to jail for having 'tools of intent' even if you have no background for concern. If you are caught with a lock-out kit (you don't own a tow truck or work for a roadside service organization) it is considered 'tools of intent'. Each state has it's own criteria for their punishments and I just cannot say what Texas' laws reads. It's up to the people to figure this out. BTW - he may only spend 25 yrs or so before being able to get parole.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?

    This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.

    Jeebus, what is this, Minority Report?! There was a threat of violence, that is often enough for a heavy sentence but honestly I think murderers, child killers and rapists get less time that this. It ought to be relative - They should get more, he should get marginally less because while there was a threat of violence nobody was actually killed.

    QFT - I think it's too much.
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    Too much time...murderers here get much less for that.
  • AIZZO4
    AIZZO4 Posts: 404 Member
    He asked to be sentenced by a jury, and he got what he asked for.

    As far as I'm concerned, he's a criminal AND an idiot, and prison is the best place for him.

    I agree that he belongs in prison. But I don't know for the rest of his life.
  • AIZZO4
    AIZZO4 Posts: 404 Member
    I have no sympathy. The only "sad" thing here is that more crimes are not treated with the same harshness as this one.

    Ok, I get you have no sympathy but do you think this is too much time?
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
    A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?

    This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.

    Jeebus, what is this, Minority Report?! There was a threat of violence, that is often enough for a heavy sentence but honestly I think murderers, child killers and rapists get less time that this. It ought to be relative - They should get more, he should get marginally less because while there was a threat of violence nobody was actually killed.

    I agree 100% (nice reference, btw).

    The punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed.
  • Kat5343
    Kat5343 Posts: 451 Member
    So I came across this article below:

    FORT WORTH — A 20-year-old Fort Worth man was sentenced to nine life sentences Wednesday for an armed robbery spree in late 2011.

    Karrington Braziel pleaded guilty to nine charges of aggravated robbery, but asked a jury to assess punishment. Jurors deliberated two hours before recommending the maximum punishment. The sentences will run concurrently.

    From Nov. 13 to Nov. 30, 2011, Braziel held up businesses in southwest Fort Worth including IHOP and Pizza Hut restaurants and a Braum’s ice cream shop, according to a news release from the Tarrant County district attorney’s office.

    The spree ended after a witness to the robbery of Tom’s E-Z-N wrote down the license number of the car Braziel drove away in. He was arrested after a short police chase.

    During the punishment phase of the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Braziel’s criminal history, which included serving time in a juvenile facility for assaulting a public servant. The jury also heard that
    Braziel had caused trouble in the Tarrant County Jail while awaiting trial.

    “Given this man’s actions as a juvenile, as an adult, and even while incarcerated, he showed he will always be a threat to the peace of the community,” prosecutor Tim Rodgers said in the news release. “This jury did what was necessary to make sure there will be no more victims.”

    As usual here are my thoughts and questions.

    1. The guy did the crimes and probably deserves prison time. You do the crime, you do the time.

    2. He is a young man. He will be in prison for the rest of his life. That’s sad.

    3. I have read about murderers getting less time then he has.

    4. Do you think this is too much time? Are they punishing him for what he “might” do instead of what he did?


    I am curious to see what you all think about this. Let’s try to keep this to a respectable discussion. Thanks.



    Here are my 2 cents....

    I believe sentencing someone for that amount of time is ridiculous. He killed no one. He molested no one. He raped no one. Child molesters and rapists get out in a very short time (too short, if you ask me). Yes, he should do time, but life?? Crazy. Heck, in this country, you get a longer sentence for tax evasion than you do for violent crimes.

    Sorry, got off topic a bit. My opinion, he is just a kid. Yes, 20 is still a kid mentally. Make him serve time, 10 years maybe. He will come out a 30-year-old man that hopefully has learned his lesson and paid his debt to society.

    That is all.. =0)
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    A lesson to be learned here? Don't commit violent crimes in Texas.

    And I couldn't care less about what he gets. Just because someone is lucky enough to get off with a lighter sentence doesn't make his actions any less horrible. And as for murderers and rapists getting less, THAT is where the mistake is, not in this guy's sentencing.

    Edit to add: criminal trials are rarely "over" unless someone is found not guilty. Appeals will very likely occur.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    A history of assault and now a string of armed robberies?

    This guy is a murder, or multiple murders, waiting to happen.

    Jeebus, what is this, Minority Report?! There was a threat of violence, that is often enough for a heavy sentence but honestly I think murderers, child killers and rapists get less time that this. It ought to be relative - They should get more, he should get marginally less because while there was a threat of violence nobody was actually killed.

    I agree 100% (nice reference, btw).

    The punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed.

    It is.

    The guy went from business to business, robbing them at gunpoint.

    He literally pointed a gun at people and demanded that they open cash registers and give him money. He did this nine times.

    On the last robbery, when he noticed someone was chasing him and his accomplice, he or his accomplice opened fire.

    The guy also has three prior assault convictions and a fourth pending in court.

    This is a man with a significant history of violence who held nine people at gunpoint over the course of a few days. In Texas. Who then gave his sentence up to a jury.
  • kazmurphblin
    kazmurphblin Posts: 114 Member
    I think in this day and age we know enough about violent crimes and the people who commit them, and how they go on to do worse I dont think that some one needs to BE dead before some one goes to prison for it. I think that a tough sentence such as this is warented. No one will suffer at the hands of this person ever again. How many lives have already been ruined?? YES THIS PERSON SHOULD BE BEHIND BARS FOR EVER!
  • The guy committed 9 armed robberies. hmmmmmmmmm..........................................he was armed, because??? Had a gun??? Was convicted of a of a at least one prior offense so here is a felon with a gun. Back ground checks??? hmmmmmmmm..........violent while incarcerated??? hmmmmmm........................

    You look at this guy's history, and the current crimes he's admitted and therefore been convicted of and you ask if the sentence is extreme?

    Have you ever heard of anyone leaving prison that's been rehabilitated?? Not me.

    I'd give him consecutive prison sentences rather than concurrent sentences.
  • ncahill77
    ncahill77 Posts: 501 Member
    He also shot multiple times at someone following him for a tag number so yeah that becomes attempted murder and the sentence is fitting.
  • kazmurphblin
    kazmurphblin Posts: 114 Member
    BUT CHILD MOLESTERS AND ACTUALLY MURDERS SHOULD GET WORSE!! AN EYE FOR AN EYE!
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,576 Member
    The question that needs to be answered here before this question can be answered is "What is the purpose of the prison system?" Does prison exist to punish, rehabilitate or remove people from society?
  • kms1320
    kms1320 Posts: 599 Member
    BUT CHILD MOLESTERS AND ACTUALLY MURDERS SHOULD GET WORSE!! AN EYE FOR AN EYE!

    In prison, child molesters DO get worse.

    As far as the topic.. if the punishment was legally an option, and the 12 people in the jury all decided it was the best option, then we should respect that. It's not like we are privy to the details of the case, we weren't in the courtroom, they were. Sometimes people are just bad seeds.