Sometimes I don't understand our legal system. The following is an article from our local paper.

Four plead guilty to possessing tractor-trailer, cargo stolen from Botetourt County
Judge requires supervised probation but suspends prison sentences.
By Duncan Adams | The Roanoke Times
WINCHESTER — Four Florida men with ties to Cuba entered Alford pleas of guilty today in Frederick County Circuit Court to felony possession of stolen property with intent to sell or distribute in connection with the November theft of four tractor-trailers and about $1 million in beauty products cargo from a trucking company in Botetourt County.

Judge Herman Whisenant sentenced Armando Canaura, 54, Jose Canaura, 44, Osvaldo Pedraza Rojas, 48, and Denis Perez de Castro, 41, to 10 years in prison each, suspended, with the condition that they serve probation of several years. Specifically, Perez de Castro and Jose Canaura were ordered to complete five years of supervised probation. Rojas and Armando Canaura were ordered to complete three years probation. All four told the judge that they had finished high school in Cuba. Their current citizenship status was unclear.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Andy Robbins did not object when defense attorney Roger Inger asked that the men be able to serve their probation in Florida and continue to travel outside the state as truck drivers.

In an Alford plea a defendant does not admit he committed a crime but acknowledges the prosecution has enough evidence to likely convince a judge or jury to convict.

On Nov. 21, around 2 a.m., four tractor-trailers loaded with Elizabeth Arden beauty products disappeared from the lot of Lawrence Transportation Systems, a company that frequently hauls cargo for Elizabeth Arden.

About 16 hours later, an owner of a garden center and nursery near Winchester spotted a tractor-trailer on his lot. When Mike Weber went to investigate, he found four men standing around the truck with paint rollers and paint cans, apparently to cover the logo on the trailer, Robbins said.

The men fled and Weber called 911. Three took off in what turned out to be a rented Jeep Liberty and the other fled on foot, authorities said. A Frederick County sheriff’s deputy responding to the scene saw four men in a rented Ford travel toward the nursery and then turn around. He stopped the vehicle and arrested the Canauras, Rojas and Perez de Castro.

Originally charged with grand larceny, the indictments were amended today to the possession of stolen property charges.

Robbins said after the hearing that the prosecution could only charge crimes committed within its jurisdiction.

The cargo seized in Frederick County was valued between $250,000 to $300,000, said J.D. Robinson, a spokesman for Lawrence Transportation Systems.

The three other trailers stolen were found empty in New Jersey. The combined value of that cargo was about $795,000, Robinson said.

All of Lawrence’s tractors and trailers were recovered. The tractor hitched to the trailer at the garden center was registered to Jose Canaura.

Negotiations about its forfeiture are not complete. But Inger said the state will likely allow Canaura to buy back the truck for about $11,000.

Joel Branscom, commonwealth’s attorney for Botetourt County, said he has asked the state to retain other evidence collected during the investigation – something Robbins said will be done. He said evidence to date has not allowed the county to file charges in its jurisdiction.



So to sum up, the guys stole 4 trailers with approximately $1 million of merchandise. About 750K is gone! They are given suspended sentences and released to another state hundreds of miles away.

I wish I could steal 750K and just get a few years probation. Wouldn't it be worth it? It wouldn't be any worse than having a job for the next 4 years and it pays awefully well!!

All criminals should come to Virginia because according to this "that the prosecution could only charge crimes committed within its jurisdiction."

I hope Botetourt gets them because this is ridiculous!