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89-Year-Old Woman Accused Of Theft Over Football
BLUE ASH, Ohio -- An 89-year-old Ohio woman faces a charge of petty theft because neighborhood children said she refused to give back their football.
Edna Jester was placed under arrest last week and taken to the police station in Blue Ash.
Police say there had been an ongoing dispute over the errant football and a child's parent called to report that Jester kept the ball after it landed in her yard again.
"I'm 89 years old and I want a little piece of mind," Jester said. "This is my life here in this chair, looking out that door, and all I see is playing the ball down and all over and all over. If it doesn't come in my yard, OK, but if it comes in my yard, I'm going to get it. No trespassing."
Blue Ash Police Capt. James Schaffer said Monday that police warned Jester twice and finally arrested her after she refused to accept a citation.
"She chose to take a stand," Schaffer said, saying she told police to handcuff her, but they wouldn't do that.
He said Jester wasn't a troublemaker, but that police had been to the neighborhood several times to try to mediate similar disputes.
"The actual rule is if you take the property of another and convert it to your own use, it's theft," Schaffer said. "She was told by the police two times, give the ball back or you face criminal charges, and she refused to do so."
Jester must appear in mayor's court next month.
"I'm not giving the ball up, no," Jester said. "That's the only protection I have. They know if it comes in my yard I'll get it, and that keeps them off of me a little."
The football, valued at $15, is being held for evidence, Schaffer said.
The potential maximum penalty for a petty theft conviction in Ohio is six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Schaffer said he suspects the mayor or presiding magistrate will take into account her age and lack of criminal record when the case comes up.
"We don't like arresting 89-year-old women," Schaffer said. "We don't like going into neighborhood disputes like this, and taking them to the extreme, but some times you're backed into a corner."
Posted by: Puchiko
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Posted in: News on October 21, 2008 @ 12:00 AM
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Okay, this is ridiculous. It's a football! Shouldn't the police spend their time going after bank robbers and murderers...instead of a puny little football "theft"?!
Our neighbors obnoxiously play basketball at 7 am, thus waking up anyone whose bedroom faces their driveway. If a woman can get arrested for taking a football, surely my family could get those basketball players fined or arrested for disturbing the peace or something. But we don't. Sometimes their golf balls hit our house. Frankly, I wouldn't feel bad about keeping the balls that get thrown into our yard and hit our house's siding. As long as they weren't some expensive autographed ones or anything. If this lady gives the ball back, the neighborhood kids will know they can take advantage of her from now on. If she keeps it, the ball players won't mess with her again. If the kids are being a nuisance, I don't really blame her.
Honestly, I don't consider this any huge youth rights issue. It's a $15 football, it's replaceable. This reminds me of the lady who sued McDonalds because coffee is hot.
Sorry Puchiko if I sound rude...I respect you, but I sure don't respect the parent that called the police or the officer that arrested the woman.
I'm sorry but,how is it a step in the right direction for her to be taken to court.This keeping the ball thing isn't that big a deal.Especially since she's an 89 year old woman.All the person wants is some peace and quiet and she tolerates them playing ball next door,but when they start tossing the ball onto her property, keeping it is the only thing she can do to make it stop happening.
I mean what's she supposed to do?Walk up to the kids and threaten them with a baseball bat?
"Especially since she's an 89 year old woman."
"Schaffer said he suspects the mayor or presiding magistrate will take into account her age and lack of criminal record when the case comes up."
maximum fine: 1000 dollars, wtf!
wow that makes me want to shoot whoever called the cops on that old woman.
This is ridiculous! She's a 89 old woman for God's sake! All she wants is a little bit of peace and quiet!
This happens all the time, and kids learn who will/won't tolerate you kicking stuff into their garden.
There are a few solutions if it's kicked in accidentally:
1) You go knock the door and politely ask for it back
2) Someone runs in and chucks it out before running back out.
3) You give up and go get another ball.
Simple.
(Police/Governments should NEVER get involved it domestic disputes like this unless it's actually serious)
And this is why you don't take things that belong to others.