Dumb as a ...

Thursday, February 17, 2005

A Racine man facing numerous felony burglary charges because of a self-confessed obsession with doorknobs has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to two of those counts in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
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According to a criminal complaint, Laufer stole dozens of doorknobs and other items in December from homes under construction in a Franklin subdivision.

Laufer also has been charged with six felony counts of burglary in Ozaukee County in connection with a similar spree in Mequon.

If convicted, Laufer could be imprisoned for 12 1/2 years and fined $25,000 on each count.

First of all... who gets obsessed with doorknobs? Even if you are mentally unstable... doorknobs? Secondly... 12 1/2 years? There are people convicted of manslaughter who go to jail for shorter periods of time. Now try to convince me that sentencing guidelines aren't screwed up.

Posted at 3:06 PM by Nick | | |

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Comments:

I wouldn't dismiss doorknobs that quickly. Sure you can get a mass produced modern doorknob for a few dollars, but for an antique brass elaborate example you could be looking at big money.

My dad recently went looking for a suitable doorknob for an antique house, it ended up costing $1000 from a demolished estate in Argentina.

Posted at February 22, 2005 1:22 AM by

Anonymous