Shoplifting a thrilling, addictive habit for students

Teen Shoplifters ignore costly consequences for stealing at Wal-Mart. "It just a testing of the waters for teenagers. All of us do something bad until we get caught...it's something we'll all outgrow - if we don't get caught first." Thirteen percent of students admit that they have shoplifted at a Wal-Mart, according to a survey. Of the students who have shoplifted at Wal-Mart store, about 58 percent of them say they have stolen items from the store location across the street from school. Almost half said they were most likely to shoplift at the store after school let out. A 2001 University of North Texas survey found 38 percent of all shoplifters are between the ages of 13 and 17. But the numbers rise higher, with 62 percent of students admitting to shoplifting at least once. A lot of teenagers shoplift because it's really easy to to. They get what they want without having to pay consequences. The more they don't get caught, the more they'll keep doing it." However, consequences for shoplifting are expensive. Fines range anywhere from $500 to $5000, plus jail time. Police are allowed to arrest minors for shoplifting - even for stealing a candy bar. " If you get away with it once, eventually you're going to think you can get away with it all the time," Wal-Mart store manager steve Higbee said. "That is what's really going to hurt you. Eventually you're going to get caught."

Ramirez convicted in death of estranged wife

"Jose Angel Ramirez was convicted this afternoon in the stabbing, strangling and burning death of his estranged wife more than 20 years ago." They found that he strangled her with a telephone cord, stabbed her with a kitchen knife and then set the house on fire, just because he getting mad at his girlfriend. Defense lawyer Ed Bartolomei urged that there wasn't enough evidence for a warrant. 'They got a break in the case in 2004 when they received a telephone call from Rebecca Tuttle, Ramirez's third of four wives, saying he told her years ago that he had killed Gladys Ramirez. Bartolomei said Tuttle was out for revenge. As for the friends and family members of Gladys Ramirez, who testified to seeing him bully, shove and threaten her, he noted that they were united in their dislike for Joe Ramirez.' The jury is scheduled to begin hearing arguments in the penalty phase of the trial Wednesday morning.

After reading the article about the conviction of Jose Ramirez of murdering his estranged wife over 20 years ago, I do not feel the author did a very good job in describing the past and present events in that the article was confusing and took reading it several times to really understand what she was trying to describe. The author seemed to be expressing more of her opinions and the opinions of others rather than stating many of the facts. As per the descriptions of the article, Mr. Ramirez was probably convicted of 1st degree murder, though the article doesn't come out directly and say that. Then in Texas, that conviction would carry a punishment of, in 2004, 1. death by lethal injection 2. life in prision, without parol 3. life in prision, with possibility of parol after no less than 30 years In my opinion, I think he should spend the rest of his life in prision because this would be an example to others that "you do the crime you'll do the time. In Texas criminal trials are two stages. First stage is the evidentiary stage in which both the defense and prosecution give opening statements. and the evidence of the case. The second stage is, if the defendant is found guilty, the penalty for the crime is determined.