|
|
After Smith pleaded guilty to stealing a donation kettle from the Salvation Army, Judge Michael A. Cicconetti sentenced Smith to spend Thursday night homeless - like the people Salvation Army helps.
After having a GPS tracer strapped to his ankle, he was dismissed from Painesville Municipal Court and told to return at 11 a.m. Friday.
Smith, 28, of Painesville, spent much of his day in government buildings, first the Lake County Job and Family Services headquarters and then the Lake County Sheriff's Office. At 2:45 a.m., Smith left the Sheriff's Office and wandered the streets of Painesville.
"It's hard to find a spot to go that's warm, unless you're inside," Smith told Cicconetti Friday.
According to GPS records, Smith spent the next six hours roaming Painesville, spending most of his time on State, St. Clair and Main streets.
"It appears he would go into a building at night, get warm, come back out and wander around a little bit," Cicconetti said.
At 3:30 a.m., he went to Recreation Park but did not go under the Main Street bridge where many of Painesville's homeless sleep, Probation Supervisor David Washlock said.
When Smith returned to Painesville Municipal Court Friday, he was red-eyed, red-cheeked and unshaven.
When he took off his gloves, his hands were blood red from knuckle to tip.
He blew his nose as he waited for his hearing to begin.
Smith told Cicconetti he regretted the theft.
"It was stupid. I shouldn't have done it in the first place," he
said.
Smith still has to serve three days in jail and perform eight hours of community service, either at Project Hope or the Salvation Army, to repay court costs.
Cicconetti seemed to think Smith learned his lesson.
"You did everything you were to supposed to last night," he said to Smith. "You didn't cheat anything."
As part of his probation, Smith was also ordered to get a
general equivalency diploma and a job.
