Trooper gets prison in theft from dying motorist

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Trooper gets prison in theft from dying motorist
Oct 10, 9:50 PM EDT

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- A former Connecticut state trooper was sentenced Friday to a year in prison for stealing $3,700 in cash and a gold crucifix from a dying accident victim.

Aaron Huntsman, 45, apologized at his sentencing hearing and said he wasn't the same man he was at the time of the 2012 accident, the Connecticut Post ( http://bit.ly/1tMiwHX ) reported.

"I'm truly sorry for everything, I never realized a simple gold crucifix could cause so much hurt," Huntsman told Judge Robert Devlin. Devlin told Huntsman that he should have been the one person at the crash scene who could have been trusted.

"You threw that trust out the window," he said. The judge sentenced Huntsman to five years, suspended after one year and followed by three years of probation.






Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TROOPER_CRASH_THEFT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-10-10-21-41-48

[juxtaposed]

1. Aaron Huntsman, 45, apologized at his sentencing hearing and said he wasn't the same man he was at

the time of the 2012 accident..
We know, back then you were a cop.....

[JimDandy]

2. I doubt this was the trooper's first time stealing from someone.

That's what we hear LEOs say about other 'regular' criminals anyway.

[christx30]

7. Just the first time he got caught.

Right there with you.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. What do you think becomes...

with a lot of the weed they confiscate?

[theHandpuppet]

12. I was just thinking the same thing

Yep.

[Historic NY]

3. GOOD...

[Mister Nightowl]

4. Time's Person of The Year 2014 is gonna be The Bad Cop

Wouldn't you agree?

[dballance]

5. How totally repugnant. Only a year? Just a year?

Stealing something that might be of great sentimental value to the victim's survivors is just reprehensible. That would be like taking the wedding ring off of some one's body.

Total, total break down in trust in our LEO these days.

Thank goodness I'm an old white guy who can dress decently.

I Googled the penalties for "Third Degree Larceny" and "Tampering With Evidence" on the CT government site. Both are "Class D" felonies and carry a 1-5 year prison sentence w/ up to $5,000 in fines EACH.

I wish I had time to Google the record for other people who have been sentenced under CT laws according to those guidelines. I'd love to see if the Trooper pulled a lighter sentence than some one like you or I would pull.

[gvstn]

6. A year for $3500 sounds right to me.

It does not send a message to LEO, but the punishment fits the crime.

It is the guys that get 20 years for their third strike for stealing a loaf of bread that get to me.

Not in this case, but I wish LEO(s) got harsher sentences then regular people for crimes instead of less. It is the "breach of trust" that is the true crime. LEO(s) that breach the public's trust should be treated like pedophiles, thoroughly disgraced and vilified.

[dballance]

10. You say "A year for $3500 sounds right to me." Yet you wish LEO's got harsher sentences????

I'm a bit confused.

You say that "A year for $3500 sounds right to me." Yet, later in your post you say "...I wish LEO(s) got harsher sentences then (sic) regular people for crimes instead of less. It is the 'breach of trust' that is the true crime. LEO(s) that breach the public's trust should be treated like pedophiles, thoroughly disgraced and vilified."

Which is it? Should they or should they not be treated more harshly since they've taken a sworn oath to uphold the law and protect the people?

IMHO, they should be treated more harshly for breaching their oath and the public trust.

[gvstn]

14. For the crime of stealing $3500, one year in jail seems fair.

I'm all in favor of punishing LEO(s) more harshly when they beat someone and then claim they were in fear. But for a property crime, a year in jail sounds about right. I am only for putting people in jail when they exhibit a propensity for beating people or other violent act without provocation.

"Which is it?"; I don't think LEO should get harsher sentences for property crimes but think they should get harsher penalties for lying under oath.

[heaven05]

18. really

Last edited Sun Oct 12, 2014, 09:13 AM - Edit history (1)

LEO's aren't even arrested in this country when seen by dozens of witnesses shooting and killing unarmed citizens. LEO'S are the anointed ones in our society. This one just got stupid or maybe he didn't even care who saw his theft. Yeah he should serve time and make restitution. I'm all in favor of just getting these type of jerks off the police forces and in most cases sending them to prison to face the consequences of their heinous actions.

[jaysunb]

11. +1 n/t

[7962]

9. Lets hope this isnt the LAST one to hit the slammer

[PADemD]

15. This happened to our family, too.

My Dad died in 1952 the day after payday, and his wallet came back empty.

[madokie]

16. Another one who should not be a LEO, now without a badge

Maybe he was a good cop up to this moment but I kind of doubt that he was. More than likely he has compromised priorities that goes back many years. I can't see this as the first time he didn't take advantage of the situation.

[ncjustice80]

17. They should have given this asshole a choice-

15 years in solitary or 3 in general pop...and well makebsure the other inmates know you are a filthy cop

[Blue Idaho]

19. Cops are thugs.

You can forget "to serve and protect" now it's "to harass and dominate."

[tabasco]

20. Standards for law enforcement are VERY low

Combined with all the stupid laws in this country - it makes this a pretty fucked up place to live.