Karen Lodrick’s Story - Part III: The Aftermath
Is it up to citizens to capture identity thieves, only to have them set free? Why is a person with nearly 70 counts, wanted in two counties, walking free after their apprehension? Laws are distorted and warped by injustice. Paris Hilton goes to jail. And yet, a life-long criminal with 69 prior arrest; involving robbery, theft, fraud, and drugs, serving probation when I apprehended her, is sentenced with time served (44 days in jail), and 3 years probation. She is out. Is she back to her same dwelling which is only 5 blocks away from my apartment? Is she already roaming the streets looking for her next crime?
The D.A. made their plead-bargain without ever contacting me. I found it funny at the sentencing that the incarcerated thief’s public defendant had a relationship with his client and the D.A. didn’t even know who I was. I tried contacting them several times but never received a call. I had to give the bailiff a note to let them know I was even at the hearing/sentencing. The D.A. took two minutes to get to know me before they brought forward the criminal and I was asked to read my statement. The reporter, Mike Weiss and a photographer from the Chronicle, were there. Mike helped me to understand the process. It was all so confusing. He mentioned after the sentencing the thief, Maria Nelson, was waving at me and smirking trying to get my attention while they were bringing her to the stand. I didn’t notice because I wasn’t looking at her. I kept my focus towards the judge and the D.A. She obviously has unfathomable troubles.
When I finished making my statement they continued sentencing her. The D.A. made a small gesture on my behalf to have a harsher sentence applied but since she had already made an agreement with the judge and public defender it didn’t make much divergence for the judge. Plus, my statement obviously didn’t impact him in the slightest either. He kept to the same verdict.
A week earlier I met with Mike Weiss a writer for the SF Chronicle. He brought a photographer along. We met at the Starbucks “the scene of the crime” where I first spotted her. We sat and drank coffee. I was wearing the same outfit the day of the capture. It was a warm conversation. And it felt good to share the story again; even though I had talked about it numerous times, and have them ask questions. He told me I had an optimistic attitude and great energy. Sure and inside there is a superhero lurking. We reenacted the chase. The photographer took what seemed a hundred pictures. People took notice, but I didn’t care I was focused on the story and enjoying my new friends.
After the court hearing I walked home. I was disappointed with the system. I thought about everything I had been through. Then, I thought about our justice system. The victim’s notification memo for her sentencing arrived in the mail to me just one day before. Had I not gone to my PO Box that day I would of missed it all together. It said be there by 9AM. My case didn’t go before the judge until 11AM. Just for that one courtroom alone there was a list of at least 50 cases for the day, maybe more. They started promptly and called up the cases like it was an assembly line. Some were incarcerated and some were not.
They seem to treat non-violent cases like out-patient day surgery. She has to get drug rehab and counseling paid by our tax dollars. Plus, we are meeting in court again to review my lost wages so the judge can make a ruling on restitution. The thoughts going threw my head were, “yea right. Where is she going to get the money from another victim?” I don’t want it under those circumstances. She’s never held a regular job. She doesn’t have any money. I’ll never see a cent, but it doesn’t matter. It’s more the principle for me.
The news story should be in the SF Chronicle the week of June 10, 2007. Mike called me to tell me he finished writing it. They took photos of her so it should be in the story which I’ll try and post also. So… beware! She is out there, and YOU may be her next victim! Start protecting your identity, visit my protection page to find out how.