Pubdate: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX) Copyright: 2001 Corpus Christi Caller-Times Address: P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9136 Feedback: http://www.caller.com/commcentral/email_ed.htm Website: http://www.caller.com/ A DRUG HABIT WAS AT FAULT Jury Opts For Probation, Gives A Robber A Second Chance. Only a criminal court jury that has heard all the evidence in a case is the best judge of the facts. Yet, without diminishing respect for citizens doing their duty, the decision by a local jury last week to give probation to a defendant convicted of holding up eight local businesses at knifepoint was something of an eyebrow-raiser. From June 1 to June 8, 1998, John DeLeon, 42, robbed the businesses, including a restaurant, a shoe store, a grocery store, and a school supply house. The defense argued that the former youth baseball coach was a good man pushed into a life of crime because of an insatiable drug habit. Less compelling, apparently, was testimony from holdup witnesses who said they feared for their lives during the robberies. The jury assessed DeLeon 10 years' probation and a $10,000 fine; he could have received a life sentence. Drug addicts need treatment rather than imprisonment. But criminals who put people's lives in peril need to be deterred, too. His defense attorney said DeLeon has shed his cocaine habit and is getting his life in order. DeLeon would be wise to take full advantage of the second chance he has been given; another jury might not be so forgiving. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager