{"id":16494,"date":"2020-02-03T20:22:41","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T01:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=16494"},"modified":"2020-02-03T20:22:41","modified_gmt":"2020-02-04T01:22:41","slug":"jailed-pennsylvania-cancer-patient-sparks-debate-over-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2020\/02\/03\/jailed-pennsylvania-cancer-patient-sparks-debate-over-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Jailed Pennsylvania cancer patient sparks debate over justice"},"content":{"rendered":"

The case of a Pennsylvania cancer patient sentenced to up to seven years in prison for shoplifting has sparked a debate over the justice system.<\/p>\n

Ashley Menser, 36, who has ovarian and cervical cancer, was given a minimum 10 month jail term for stealing $109 (\u00a383) worth of goods from a market.<\/p>\n

The state’s lieutenant governor criticised the punishment as “insane”.<\/p>\n

But the district attorney has dissented, citing the woman’s prior record.<\/p>\n

Menser has begun serving her prison term since pleading guilty on 22 January and being sentenced by Lebanon County Judge Samuel Kline.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman on Friday called on the judge to “err on the side of mercy” in Menser’s case. He later offered to personally reimburse the shop for the stolen goods.<\/p>\n

“In what universe do you deserve to be sent to prison for 10 months for stealing $110 worth of groceries?” he\u00a0asked in the New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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John Fetterman<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2714<\/b><\/span><\/span>@JohnFetterman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A picture of the actual check I\u2019m going to personally deliver to the @<\/span>WeisMarkets<\/span><\/a> in Lebanon to make them whole after they were victimized by this specific shoplifting conviction that sent her to prison for 10 months.<\/p>\n

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Mr Fetterman said the case was an example of failures in the US criminal justice system and how it handles people with mental health issues or drug addiction.<\/p>\n

Menser, a mother of four, had a history of post traumatic stress disorder and drug abuse for which she was receiving treatment,\u00a0the PA Post newspaper<\/a>\u00a0reported. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2011.<\/p>\n

“Nobody wants this,” Mr Fetterman said.<\/p>\n

However, the state’s district attorney has pushed back against Mr Fetterman’s response, saying he left out key details in the case in his criticisms.<\/p>\n

“Our Lieutenant Governor found it appropriate to criticise the Court and the victim; he went so far as to offer a personally delivered check for the underlying amount to the victim to absolve the defendant of the crime,” District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said.<\/p>\n

“He failed to mention in any of his tweets, however, the extensive prior record of the defendant, her drug abuse, or the fact that her sentencing ranges – as set forth by the legislature – call for jail time.”<\/p>\n

According to the district attorney’s office, Menser has 13 prior theft convictions and a record with welfare fraud and endangering children’s welfare.<\/p>\n

She pleaded guilty to retail theft for stealing goods including makeup, hair dye and a candle from the Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Weis Markets grocery store in 2018.<\/p>\n

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