Pa. man begs to be sent to jail, but judge refuses

[April 16, 2009]  HOLLIDAYBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A central Pennsylvania man begged a judge to send him to jail, only to have the judge tell him to borrow money to repay a convenience store $214 for gasoline the man allegedly stole in six separate trips. Jerome Banks, 42, wanted Blair County Judge Hiram Carpenter to jail him Tuesday.

Banks said he's due to receive disability payments in about a year, but for now claims he's broke and can't repay the Sheetz store in Tyrone for gas he stole last June and July.

Carpenter refused to accept Banks guilty plea and send him to jail. The judge told Banks he'd still owe the money after he got out of jail, so he might as well pay it off sooner -- at which time Carpenter said he'll dismiss the charges.

The judge gave Banks until May 4 to pay.

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Information from: Altoona Mirror, http://www.altoonamirror.com/

[Associated Press]

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