Last week we told you about Jose Raul Pineda, the 25 year old who pleaded guilty to stealing 38,500 dollars in cash from his mother's bedroom. Senior Magistrate Baja Shoman sent him to jail on remand while she deliberated on his sentence. And today, one week later she imposed a non-custodial sentence upon Pineda after taking into consideration the fact that he is a first time offender and that he saved the court time when he pleaded guilty. But, she also noted that Pineda stole from his own mother who went to the court to show forgiveness towards him despite what he did.
With that, she fined him $2,500 dollars plus $5.00 cost of court which he must pay by October 31, 2023, or, failing to do so, serve a year in jail.
All things considered, he got off easy and Mom and Dad were right outside the courtroom to embrace him when the court told him he was free to go after a week on remand.
