A 62-year-old man with no fixed addressed is now an inmate at the Dominica State Prison for stealing food stuff at Greens Wholesale valued at $94.96.
The incident occurred on Saturday October 19, 2013, according to court reports.
According to the report, George Ralph Austrie, also known as ‘Power Boy’ entered at Green’s Wholesale and stole four boxes of Happy Cow Cube Cheese, corned beef, tuna and luncheon meat but was held by security.
Proprietor Paul Green then sought help from the police and Power Boy was arrested. When searched he was found to be wearing two pants, one sewed like a “bag” where the items were stored.
“I was hungry, I am not working so I took that to last me for a week,” he told police.
However, in court on Monday he said he had gotten a job which he was due to have started also on Monday.
Austrie has a string of convictions. In January 2013 he was fined $700.00 for theft and on August 9, 2013 he was given a six months suspended sentence for one year for the same offense by another magistrate.
Before passing sentence, Magistrate Ossie Lewis told Austrie that his hands are tied since he had breached his suspended sentence and must now go to jail for six months plus the sentence he was to impose on him.
“I’m extremely sorry …charge me, I will try my best to pay it,” Austrie pleaded. “I should have been at work.”
But in reading the matter over Lewis said Austrie had a “special method of committing the crime.”
“You had on two pants, one made into a bag and you always wear a cap labelled ‘security’ … that’s disturbing,” Lewis said.
Austrie was also fined $18.16 for the cheese since it could not be returned and $500 for the other items, or in default four months in jail.
The fines are to be paid by June 2014 upon his release from jail.
Please pray for the powerboy
Why dont the young men get something to do.why dont they make garden and plant food- so much unoccupied land in Dominica.
Eph 4:28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.
This is Just Sad…The elderly man is Hungry…He is a repeated offender but still…Well he wont have to steal @ prison…Free Meals for you! You’re in a better place.
Magistrate Ossie Lewis, your hands were really tied. On one hand you had a “thirsty” young man with no money to buy a drink so he took it instead; on the other hand there is a 62 year old, with no known address, stealing a WEEK’s worth of food. Austrie breached his suspended sentence for prior crimes, of course, he should go to jail for that sentence in addition to the current sentence.
“I’m extremely sorry …charge me, I will try my best to pay it,” Austrie pleaded. “I should have been at work.”
But in reading the matter over Lewis said Austrie had a “special method of committing the crime.”
“You had on two pants, one made into a bag and you always wear a cap labelled ‘security’ … that’s disturbing,” Lewis said.
Austrie was also fined $18.16 for the cheese since it could not be returned and $500 for the other items, or in default four months in jail.
Oh, now he has an address and he will not be hungry for a while.
ahahah d man hungry
You see that! The man has no degree but is a Master in stealing.
is that power boy from scotts head?
on the bright side, he won’t be hungry in Jail! He asked for it, so he gotta deal with it.
And there are those who rob us every day and telling us it’s not our damn business where they get their money.
That’s true
I feel sorry for him being saying he is hungry but not for stealing that was plan. The worst of it he was suspended last year for the same inccident and was violated is his fault.
premeditated stealing. what a ting e!
he will get food in jail..
I’m more concerned about this —–>>> four boxes of Happy Cow Cube Cheese, corned beef, tuna and luncheon meat= $94.96?
tell me he stole more stuff…
We Dominicans have too much of a relaxed attitude towards other people’s property. Jail dat
Ya man! our jails are for the elderly with no known address, committed a petty crime in stolen goods worth less than $100.00. Bet you – if that man had stolen from me he would still be on the streets.
This was a premeditated act of theft. He knew what he planned to do. He is a chronic thief and a brazen one to steal in a store especially with security of all. What made him think he would get away with it?
Some people rather steal than ask for help. They should know that they could be caught and they will end up in court and in prison.
If he needed help why did he not go to the proper authority and seek help? Surely, they could have given him a few dollars to purchase what he stole. For one as he who appears not to be able to control his desire to steal, he is fortunate that he only got 4 months. He should have been sent to jail for one year since this is not his first and second offense. The magistrate was lenient with him.
Put him to work in agriculture where he can eat the fruits and not be hungry.
he needs help. he needs to go to counselling.
this man seem to be unable to help himself. it seems to be either a conpulsion or an addiction.
please ossie before u charge and sentencing him to jail with a fine attach to it, u should have a social worker do a serious investigation why a man a senior citizen is steal food for survival something is definitely wrong, prison is not the answer there must be another way to help this man he is begging for help. please help take him to poopers line and aid y elderly citizens; concern citizen. Love one another if u see y brother hungry feed him.The moral for this Independence season to help build a better people reach out to somebody in need.
haha elderly hum
The man is a repeated offender and its the manner in which he is committing his acts.
alas 62 yrs dat not right.Thats how we treat our elderly. The just system is pure bull.
Elderly my
@ day day. If you are not old yet, you are getting there fast.
@Browney…Don’t talk nonsense. At 62 he should have known better.
A thief is still a thief. I don’t care who it is. No love for voleh!!! Your kind causes chaos to ensue like a rat with black plague!!
If you can waste brain cells and think about steal, then you can invest it into creating possibilities.
To anyone who wants to dispute this, I hope when dey bwax you, you don’t cry, while they make a clean getaway. CLEAN!
A stolden item will always bring about conflict – Irie wise man
Offer to take his place in prison and pay the fine. This is how you can assist him and do him a great favour, you bleeding heart. Bet you will not consider doing that but criticize the authorities for putting him away for a few months. This time they exercised their obligation appropriately. For one who is a habitual thief, he is fortunate he got only a few months.
what example is he sending to our youths
He was bringing the stolen goods to you. It’s time that some of us dominicans should understand wrong is wrong. In my opinion I think he get a slap on the risk. The energy they put into stealing they can put it into working.
dog bite garcon,the word is WRIST;not RISK.
JOKER
Thank you for the correction
No job is degrading, stealing is.
In regard of his age he should have known better. Elderly or not he committed a crime and must pay for it.
He entered into a deal which he broke. He agreed to keep the peace and not return to court charged with any offense within a year. it took him a month and change.
What are you talking about?
I am 4 years away from this man’s age; does that mean I am elderly? I guess when I was allu age I considered 35 old so I understand.