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To Unbelievable: It’s funny how you criticize others for what you engage in as well. At least most of the people blogging are discussing the article rather than simply slamming people. Your comment is of no substance.

this guy wasnt convicted of just stealing a donut.or even attacking the "worker"at the store.look at the whole picture.he is a career criminal.his conviction was based on all prior charges.what is next?is he going to shoot the store clerk and then take the donut. it might be one of your family members working the night of his next desperate act.he needs a harsh slap of reality.how many chances does he get befor he takes a life?look at the whole picture not just the donut.

There is nothing I find more pathetic than some of the comments on this page. I come to the website in search of a friend's obituary and notice how many comments a story about donuts can rack up! There are people bickering back and forth, accusations being made, and so on. This is starting to look more like the "Washington County Forum" than a newspaper site. I thought Farmington people were better than that, but I believe I have been proven wrong. At least there are people left in Farmington that find better things to do with their time (or their spare time for that matter)! On a final note, to those of you commenting on this page with "college degrees" and "PhD's", learn how to use your spell check! Thanks.

I can't believe it took this long to find something to put him away for.

That's what she said.

Personally, I would of went for the cream horns. :-)

I believe everyone is jumping to conclusions about this situation. Yes, stealing is wrong as well os stealing with force aka "robbery. If I may, I hope that I am never in a situation to where I am so hungry that I would steal food to eat and, should I get caught doing so, would fear overcome me to the point of being physical and, in hindsight, realize what a stupid mistake I made our of desparation and hunger??

Yes, he "only" stole a donut. But stealing is stealing, and most of you seem to have overlooked the fact that he also assaulted an employee of the store. And "if" his criminal background is as stated, then authorities are looking at the "big picture", not just the little 52 cent donut. And "maybe he was hungry" does not give him permission to steal, or assault another person. I do agree that punishment doesn't always fit the crime. The system does need a bit of help there.

Everyone understands that this is not stealing right? It is robbery. Robbery is stealing but during the course of the stealing force is used to steal. That is why this is not some dinky misdemeanor. It is felony. The State of Missouri and our fine elected representatives have made this the law. So don't blame prosecutors, cops, or others because they are following the Statutes of Missouri.

I find it incredibly unfortunate that our community is reading the journal and taking it at face value. Let's be honest with ourselves, folks, this is not the first time that DJ has inaccurately reported a situation. Do you honestly believe that this grocer controls the legal system. Do you honestly believe someone would get 15 years for stealing a doughnut. Please, use some logic and know that you have received a half-truth. For those of you who continue to be anti-establishment radicals, seriously, find a real cause.

Where do you get your info, he's not even a father? So apparently you don't him as well as you think.

I have three questions. Was your arm still attached to the sholder? Or was you holding the arm with your other hand when the hungry bear came along? Or was your arm on a display shelf like the donut was? If the arm was on display, the hungry bear did not forcibly steal the arm from you.

So by the logic I am seeing here, if a bear was to come up and eat my arm off it would be ok because he was just hungry.

Ok I think it's time that I block the Blog from my computer.As I read stories,I can't escape the Locke comments.As I suppose many of you can't.The name is everywhere.And of course,in a negative way.Not that others put her down,it's her mannerisms that cause others to become defensive.Mainly because of the use of "big words" and "Education" and her once "white trash background".This is about SCOTT MASTERS!It's NOT about Locke!BUT,just as every other blog,it's turned into As the Locke Spews!We've known Mr.Masters since teen yrs.,honestly,he's always been in trouble.I understand that people are outraged that the headlines read-Man gets life for stealing doughnut.BUT please read on,also try using case.net to look up records.You might be shocked@ who has done what.It's the court records!And I'm scared that Locke seems to be in the public eye-w/ the attitude she has about everything.It makes me worry & look over my shoulder just to make sure Locke isn't there!I'm sure that this isn't her real name, normally people who talk "big" on line, are frail little people that try to build themselves up.This time I didn't sign my name,but when I do comment/blog generally I sign my REAL name.I'm me no matter where I-am!Blessings-2-all!

Locke professes to "looking up" to a guy like this? A career criminal? I look down on criminals like Michael Devlin...so is he your role model now?? Talk about flawed thinking. The "To Locke" writer is really mistaken....Locke works for a living...most likely as a Public Defender or a college professor. There hasn't been a story about a criminal in this blog that he hasn't defended or a cop that he has ever liked.

However, I am offended by your presumption about SS or welfare recipients. I grew up white trash, got commodities, gov't help. I worked at sawmills, Wal Mart, and finally put myself through college... a BA, MA, PhD. I've been all over the US, to Canada, Mexico and really enjoy the life that I lead now because of my education and the job it bought me. I have been fairly consistent in anything I have posted: I am all for freedom (whether it be to wear a Rebel flag, pass out Bibles, or smoke cigarettes). I am very libertarian about the Bill of Rights (I even like guns). Other times, I defend the poor folk that most of you like to kick when they are down. Someone I admire told me to always look up to people that others look down on because when it really comes down to it, we aren't that much different. I suppose I should feel good... you don't attack my ideas (because you can't). Instead, you try ad hominem fallacies and tell me to get a job. Well, why don't you get a better one.

To my detractor(s): I have a job. Part of that job requires me to spend hours on the computer grading papers, doing research, and other things late in the night after I go home from work. Because I consider it my "duty" to stay on top of local events in my community, I often read these things in between doing my "job." I work very hard most of the time and when I get time off, I spend it in sleepy little Iron/St. Francis County. I like it there and want to make sure that it stays a place that I want to come home to. Therefore, I stay engaged in our little public sphere here. I don't necessarily see this as a hobby, I see it as duty. I am glad that y'all read this stuff and post stuff. We need to have discourse about our community... even though most of the time I don't agree with many of you and often point out what I consider to be flaws in thinking. By the way... AB is right. Put the guy to work and let him buy donuts.

I do not know what you do for a living. I think you are probbably sitting at home drwaing soc. security while you are sitting at your computer all day. You blog on every story this paper puts out. I think you are a sad person. Maybe you should try to use some of that college education and get real job. I go to work every day and when I find free time I have read some of your thoughts. I find you to be a person who crys out for attention and you honestly scare me with some of your crazy thoughts and ideas. I know here in America we have freedom of speech. O but thats right you do not like our govs rules and laws in the USA so what makes you think you are even in the right country.

Here is my "un-educated" therory: Our tax dollars are now going to spent to house, feed, shelter, educate, and allow him to watch cable TV, etc.. Maybe he should be forced to get up at 2am every morning for a year and make doughnuts somewhere. The prisons are overflowing right now and exactly what lesson will he get out of going to jail, only to be more resentful when he does get out. Pay more attention to the sexual preditors, murders, non-child support payers, etc..Dont get me wrong, he should have never stole and esp touched that employee..but 15 years? Figure he will get out in 2 years and go back to doing what he has always done so what was the point of prison? Force him to work for a living so he can buy his own doughnuts...

I can't believe some of you people. He stole, which the last time I looked was wrong. Maybe that's changed. If he was going to steal because he was hungry, I'd bet that a donut wouldn't be on top of the list of items to get. He just wanted one and didn't want to pay. If you read the first paragraph, it also says that he assaulted an employee. Is that OK now too? It seems that some of you just want to sweep this under the rug and let it go. I know there are many crimes going on that need to be stopped, but when one is, there is much criticism. Be glad there is one less criminal on the street.

In reference to Locke, I would have never guessed someone like you who is so darn educated would not realize they are being taunted for the sake of entertainment.

Thou shall not steal the policemans free donuts and coffee. Many times we have seen the(FREEBIES) that happen everyday. To sum it up, it may cost you up to 15 years and/or a fine.

I have read these comments, and there seems to be a lot of people who do not understand or care about honesty and the law. I also know the store manager at Country Mart as well as the Deli Mgr.,and either of these people would be willing to give a hungry person something to eat if they ask. Being hungry does not give one the right to steal. This man did not ask, he took. The person in persuit of this shoplifter was perfectly in their right to try and stop this theft. The law breaker and person in the wrong was the offender and he brought this on himself.

i bet the clerk that approched scott with the donut thinks twice before they get in the way of another hungry mans way.

i think it is rediculouse that this even hit made the news paper - and front page. are you desperate for a storey? some one needs to get thier priorities straight.print something worth reading.

To My Opinion: Are you sugesting that some of us should be incarcerated for using our Constitutional right to free speech and freedom of (internet) assembly? That is sad. I knew that the Patriot Act was supposed to significantly limit our Constitutional rights, but I didn't realize that folks thought it should go this far. Thank God you aren't President... We'd all be in Guantanamo.

AFTER SOME OF THESE COMMENTS, SCOTT MASTERS APPARENTLY COULD USE SOME COMPANY. THE GUY IS A PERSISTENT OFFENDER, GET IT? THE ONLY REASON THIS NEWSPAPER PURSUED THE STORY IS BECAUSE THEIR PARENT COMPANY HAS TO SELL PAPERS. "BOYCOTT THE STORE"? I WILL DEFINITELY BE SHOPPING THERE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU FOLKS WON'T. TO "CRAZY SYSTEM" I BET MIKE DEVLIN WISHES HE COULD GET A 120 DAY SHOCK TREATMENT.

Scott was in my class in school. As sad as it is, Scott has led the life of a loser for many, many years. Yeah, he was a nice guy, but HE has always made some really bad choices. Scott is not the victim, his children are. Scott has not been a father because of his wreckless lifestyle that he has chosen. He doesn't need our sympathy or pity, he needs our prayers.

I realize that a lawyer has a Juris Doctor degree. I went to Doc school at a University of Texas school. My dissertation had to do with negative stereotypes of poor white trash in 19th century literature. I have since been doing a lot of work in what is now called "the culture of poverty" and should be publishing at least one book and will likely have another out soon after that. I apply my work twice a week during the courses I teach. I apply other skills while I perform my adminstrative duties. I use the research skills I learned while I am writing things and working on publishing them. The problem here, I think, is that I don't see any difference between what academics call "theory" and "practice." I think that if it is theoretically sound, it should be practically feasable. Others (like the prosecutor) don't see that theory and practice can be reconciled in a meaningful way. He thinks that these discussions are better left in "academia" where they can't really do anyone any good except other academics. That's not how I roll.

So goes Locke, so goes the nation. I will join the boycott of this particular establishment as well. The employee obviously escalated this problem beyond what was necessary, and potentially ruined the remainder of this man's life over something that a ticket for petty theft would have been sufficient for. Following the law to the letter isn't even a defensible position, as callous and binary as the system can appear to be, people are not so objective and understandable in their actions. This man did not intend to strong-arm the store for a cheap pastry; the employee was overzealous and possibly is more of a threat to society for his haste to resort to physical means to halt and/or apprehend the petty thief.

I'll join Old Reader in boycotting the store. That is a good idea. Maybe then, folks will think about these things before they throw the book at a donut stealer. If this was o9n the news, what kind of message does that send to the bubsinesses that might want to relocate here? Better not sell donuts? Lots of good people are being locked up for stupid crimes. I always have known that the smaller the town, the bigger the badge, but this is ridiculous. I hope we can really hurt them economically... then they'll be handing out free coffee and donuts to attend any future groundbreaking.

To t: Theres only one part of your statement i take issue with. Most people in jail for unpaid child support are there because they have paid nothing!!! You cant go to jail if you are attempting to pay something. Not because they havent paid a huge amount. Did you know that if you make an attempt to pay child support...once every six months..something...there's nothing they can do to a person. I should know..my ex would go months without paying and nothing could be done until he was a full six months behind,then all they do is take your license. He was given many chances to pay his support( even just a small portion would keep a person out of jail)...until the threat of jail..then he paid . In my opinion, the ppl in jail for not paying their child support..really are NOT paying it!

People, Shut up and look this up standing citizen up on Case Net. 2nd degree robbery, possession of chemical with the intent to manufacture, and possession of marijuana belong to his extra curricular activities. He has had 3 or more strikes against him, how may more do we give him. Would it make a difference if the Country Mart employee was 16 and your daughter? This "Sweet Tooth Bandit" needs to be held accountable. If you don't know all the facts, shut up, I don't care if you have a PHD, or your the bum laying under the bridge. Enough is Enough!!!!!!!!!!!!

If he committed a robbery then he deserves the punishment. And if he has prior convictions he deserves more punishment because the first few chances didn't change his ways.

This guy is beinging charged with assault. He assault a Country Mart employee. Lets stop and think...if it were you, your daughter, your son, your wife, your husband, someone that you were close too, wouldn't you want the person that stole then pushed them to the ground punished to the full extent of the law? It shouldnt matter what he took, he assault someone in the process!!!!

Maybe I need to clarify a bit, before I stopped shopping at the store in question, I called to let them know why I would not be back till this was cleared up. I know the manager of this establishment. He is a very nice person and my boycott is no refection on him or this chain of stores, just the system and what this has turned into. It does no good to stop patronizing a place without letting them know why.

"United we stand, divided we fall". Just how many bloggers here are willing to take a stand and not just do lip service? This man is being made an example of! He did steal, yes, should he be punished, yes, does he deserve to be locked up for 15 years while you and I pay his expenses, NO. To all you PA's reading this, use your jobs to put away the real criminals and use your brains to be creative in creating ways for this type of "criminal" to pay his debt to society. What happened to COMMON SENSE in this country? Oh, I forgot, once elected to any office, the brain goes on vacation!!!!! Officials become brain dead to anything other than making a name for themselves and see how much they can get by with before people say enough.

after reading all this, i can see some people in this forum make the mistaken assumption that if you are in jail, you did something wrong. nothing can be further from the truth, 20% of the time. that's right, approximately 20% of the people in jail did absolutely nothing wrong! some are awaiting trial (and later get acquitted), some are in for crimes they didn't commit, and others are in for ludicrous/outrageous child support shortages that they simply cannot pay. we, as a nation, incarcerate 25% (i think) of the world's prison population, however, only 5% of the worlds population lives in the u.s. does anyone see the problem here? the "legal industry" no longer cares about right or wrong. in fact, the law & the (in)justice system are no longer one in the same. that all began changing many years ago. all the system cares about is feeding itself - at the expense of others. part of the reason the system is all f'ed up is because defense attorneys, regardless of the facts, try to get their client acquitted. orders of magnitude worse, prosecutors, regarless of the facts, try

The donut is not the issue, stealing is the true issue which led to "assault" according to the charges. However, why is this "knocking down" of a person who tried to stop him being blown into such a large crime??? Why can't we spend our tax dollar resources to better stop the murders, drug deals, s*x crimes and violent crimes. There are better ways to deal with this crime. I for ONE have stopped doing any and all business in St. Francois county. I used to shop the store where this happened, no more, I know that I as one can not make a difference in our laws but if everyone would do the same and let our voices be heard as one, maybe we could make a difference. Everyone has an opinion, but how many of you are willing to stop spending in St. Francois county and let our officials and business' know why they are loosing the revenue?????Look at the difference made in St. Louis over the death of a child left in a hot car and the day care worker whose negligence did not result in death. Are you willing?????

Ok guy's maybe this guy was already on probabtion. I guess you know any contact with law inforcement is a violation of probabtion. The donut is probably not the real issue here.

Locke, it is nice you have a phd,and actually, once in a while you make a good point. It is just a shame that you insist on using your "education" to belittle others who have a right to their opinion. Maybe all who blog here do not have "your" higher education, but I feel certain that many of us do have educational degrees along with common sense. Even tho stealing is breaking the law, instead of the petty bragging on here, why not put your educational background to much better properties to change our laws so they fit the crime. There are many worse "repeat" offenders who only get a slap on the hand. Maybe we all need to write, lobby, and demonstrate before our lawmakers and actually do something to let our elected officials know we are fed up with the way our tax dollars are being used on cases like this one. To many cases such as this could be handled in a much more efficient manor. At the expense of repeating myself, make him work to pay for the donut!

I know Scott (distantly), but enough, and I just have to laugh at this story. It is sad, it was just a doughnut, and he probably was hungry. But on the other side, he should be relieved it was JUST a doughnut he was caught with! Imagine if it would have been the something else.... Look at the positive, he won't be hungry anymore, and will always have a roof over his head.

I'll say it again Murder 15 years--Stealing a donut 15 years!! This has gotten more attention than my husbands Murder! This is messed up!

This comment is directed to the statement made by one of the prosecuting attorneys in the county. You state, " Philosophical and loosely theological rhetoric is appropriate in academia - but we're not in academia...". First of all, the law degree that prepared you for your profession was attained through a academic academy, in hope of preparing you to better service a community within the judicial ranks. The academia strive only for truth and not to muddy any waters. Philosophy is of even higher importance, for the meaning of that Greek word is roughly "the love of Wisdom" and that I believe is in great need these days in our halls of Justice and Government.

Well I dont know if any of the rest of you have seen it or not but it has made the big time news! Front page of the MSN home page, I have to admit I did laugh. Come on guys lets make the punishment fit the crime.The man stole a donut.

So the man was hungry..is everyone in this town so self absorbed that they can't just let it be with just that simple fact?! At least he didn't stand outside waiting to grab someones purse or break in someones car he got a donut..A DONUT!!! And Locke...get a LIFE and im not talking about being the worst gossiper in the mineral area! please get out,get some sun, lay off the computer for a day, we wont miss ya, (I PROMISE!) What is this even considering 15 yrs for being hungry? and yet there are known child abusers running free after 30 days and a fine..something is seriously wrong with this system, and you all wonder why people talk the law in their own hands, cant u balme em' if this is the small stuff were looking into!!

I think the prosecutor probably has a Doctorate of Law (i.e. Juris Doctor). I guess you aren't that smart for a Ph.D. By the way, where did you get your education? What was your dissertation? I would like to read it. Do you apply your education in a work-related field? I am interested in how well you perform your job, since everyone else is failing at theirs according to you.

But it seems SOME people ( not to mention HER name) insist on casting stones @ everyone on here.Try to read a blog w/o HER name somewhere on there.9 times out of 10 arguing w/ someone.And always bringing in her "education".We've started to call the DJ blog as...As the L_____ Spews!(name withheld on purpose)It's worth a laugh sometimes.Other times I want to cry to know such ignorance is out there in the world.Shall I restate that-such hatetred and mis-information.I'll continue to read the blogs and comment where I see fit.And I will stand up for my fellow common man as long as God allows me to do so.I work w/ mental patients for a living...I'm thinking this man MAY have more issues than one.BUT I can NOT say that,as I don't personally know him.AND if I did I certainly wouldn't write it on here for the world to comment on.I wish him well and hope he gets what he deserves-a fair trial & any other help he needs.I'm willing to feed the hungry.Come on people-he wasn't cooking meth,he's not a drunk driver(we don't know his record),not a child molester...but it seems some are trying to convict him just as if-he-was!Good-Luck!

To Prosecutor: I am glad that my rhetoric exhausts you. Yours is funny to me. Tell me, what article have you published in the Harvard Law Review? What journal did you edit? Or, were you just a “C” student in law school that worked for some ambulance chaser before you got a cushy job with the state? I am not a law school student. I already went to Doc school. I already published academic articles in my field and I’ve already made tenure. One of the things that I promised I would do afterwards was engage in real discussions with real people and not just hang out in the postmodern echo chamber of academia. Think of it as community service that was not recommended by the prosecutor and not court ordered. Tell me, what have you done for those who are considered to be “the least among us” besides help a judge to give them three squares a day and a roof over their head?

To Thankful: You have found a way to reduce this complex problem to a simple cut and dried dichotomy. I only wish the world really worked that way. If it did, then colleges, universities, think tanks, and public policy institutes wouldn’t need “brain trusts” like us to think about these things. My concern is that it doesn’t do any good for academics and think tanks to sit in the ivory tower and construct utopias without getting our hands dirty mingling with the “real world.” We have been in the ivory tower too long as far as I’m concerned and it is about time that we get in the real world and get our hands dirty again. I never said “anything goes.” That just reflects the limited understanding that you have of what I was trying to say. I also want to point out that there is one thing that separates me from O’Reilly, Limbaugh, and Michael Moore – I have a PhD. Oh… I suppose that separates me from you, Old Reader, and the Prosecutor as well.

To Old Reader: You are making my point for me. If we still practiced gleaning (as it was in the OT), poor people with no money would have food to eat. I still think that you need to look at “Thou Shall Not Steal” in its proper cultural context instead of having a narrow view of what this means given our more modern cultural construction. If you were to study this instead of just reading it within the contemporary episteme, you would be lobbying for folks like Ken Ley to get their fingers cut off instead of poor folks that stole a donut.

i know there is a joke here somewhere officers.

Come on poeple, be considerate of ones own thoughts, whether you agree or not, have respect for what is being said. respect each other and your self.

What did they put in that donut??!! Must be a good one. It is our P.A.'s reelection year right? She won't have my vote. She is only charging the guy who stole my purse for a misdameaner. Everything in it was worth 1200.00 This makes no sense. I'm not sure if I want her in office much longer.

Why are you on here if you know the situation? For another thing, why don't you of all people who are going to get on here and mouth state who you are? I mean if my tax paying dollars are paying for your job then why don't you tell us all who you are?

Thank God that we have a brain trust like Locke & Friend & company here to tell us how bad our government/society is....he has invented his own personal utopia in which "anything goes" and any person who enforces the law "is an evil big brother type". To Mr Friend....why didn't you take this guy in/feed him or give him an intervention before he started stealing?? Suddenly it's the store's fault or society at large? Maybe all homeless people should camp out on your yard and take your food...and push your wife & kids down if they get in the way. I'm sure Locke has all the answers.....another self important know it all like Rush Limbaugh, Micheal Moore/Bill O'Reilly.

To: Prosecuting attorney. AT least your big words make sense. thank you

you really should actually read with understanding before commenting on the Bible. The passage you refer to does not invite "stealing" of food. It means not to strip all the food from your fields or vineyards but to "leave" food for the poor, widows, and hungry. That is taking care of our poor and hungry, not giving them the right to steal sir. Something we need more of in this country, is compassion and providing the less fortunate with work so they might have their dignity. If you will read the old testament you will also find that he who does not work shall not eat. You will have much more understanding and ability to quote the Bible by starting at the very beginning of the old Testament and read with thought all the way to the end of Revelation. Maybe this man was hungry, but he should have asked or at least offered to work for the donut. Maybe we should use the Bible to render his punishment,God says to cut the fingers and hands off for stealing starting with a finger for first offense!!!!!

I am glad to see that the Prosecuting Attorney has time to read the comments that have been posted. That way you can dig up more information to twist around and use against Mr. Masters. Maybe you should buy Mr. Masters a donut since you have clearly been to college and learned to use big words. Keep it up champ! Buy the way I hope that law degree buys your ticket to heaven.

Fifty two cents for a donut? THAT is what offends me!!!!!!

It saddens my heart that the residents of my community are so cruel to each other. This commentary forum invites everyone to lash out with hurtful words, against the victims of the news and against each other. Be respectful and love thy neighbor ... and don't allow the anonymity of this forum to temp you to speak out with anger. The words you type here become a part of who you are, forever.

Sir, I am utterly exhausted by your comments. Your most recent one on this story was the straw that broke the camel's back. I am one of the prosecuting attorneys in this county and I can assure you that I am more aware of Mr. Masters' situation and the facts surrounding his arrest than yourself. Regardless of what you may think, you have no idea what you are talking about. I would encourage you to refrain from casting out shame upon myself and others who work hard to serve this county. Philosophical and loosely theological rhetoric is appropriate in academia - but we're not in academia and you're clearly not cut out for an academic discussion regarding the law. Come find me when you finish law school and then we'll talk about who should be ashamed. I work in the courthouse on the first floor and will be there when Mr. Masters has his day in court. Where are you and what will you be doing? My guess is you'll be sitting at your computer researching obscure passages and concepts to patronize readers of this blog. Keep it up champ!

Let him get his food in jail.

I am not a Bible thumper by any stretch of the imagination, but if you really read through the Old Testament (something that evangelical Christians are typically not guilty of) then you will see that they had a cultural practice called "gleaning" and that the commandment, "Thou shall not steal" was never about those who took food because they were hungry (because this "gleaning" provided for them). Stealing was reserved for folks who did things more like Ken Key from Enron... stealiong large sums of money through fraudulent means. Someone stole a donut that retailed for fifty cents. Enforcing this as a crime is not only what I woyuld consider to be a travesty to teh justice system (because prosecution would cost much much more) but is also against any Judeo-Christian doctrine that is really grounded in what the good book says. The governmnet and those who support this travesty should be ashamed. Shame on you.

I doubt any of this prosecution will cost you any money since I doubt you pay taxes. I also suspect that your stupid litigation in this county has cost the taxpayers more than any criminal case.

mmmmmmm.....donut.

"RSMo: 569.030.1. A person commits the crime of robbery in the second degree when he forcibly steals property." ...(1986) Sufficient force to constitute robbery in the second degree was found in a purse-snatching. State v. Butler, 719 S.W.2d 35 (Mo.App.)... Based upon such, I would like to know: 1. From who's hand did Scott forcibly steal the $0.52 donut? 2. Is the $25,00.00 bond unconstitutional? 3. How much did this grand jury investigation into the $0.52 donut cost me and others? 4. How much will the prosecution and the trial of the $0.52 donut cost me and others?

AMEN to crazy system. 15 yrs for a donut and 120 day shock treatment for a preditor, or repeated drug user. Makes you wonder.This is what our tax dollars are spent on and tieing up the courts over a donut.Something that really matters and your trying to get a court day your waiting 6m.to a year or beter. This is the biggest joke.

Just because he is facing 15 doesn't mean he'll get it or any for that matter. And I've seen Public Defender's make some pretty strong arguments that got folks reduced sentences or none at all. Rapists don't get 120 days because they won't meet the criteria. Watch what you say here.

To Read the Fine Print, yes, just trying a grape before you buy is stealing! However trivial it may seem with just one, what if everyone that shops that month takes just one? Think how many pounds of grapes has been stolen. Even tho stores throw out a lot of food that could be sold if they would lower their prices, it is not our right to "just take one". Besides the criminal aspect, just think of the pesticides you are eating from not having that one grape washed, is it worth the risk??? Not only the pesticides, but who and what has touched that grape? Think about it before you put the next one in your mouth.

Oh Lord... Whats this world comming too? A hungry man needed food, he took a donut. He did not hold the place up, he just was hungry.

I'm going to be hungry around noon. Where are you buying me lunch? I don't want to rob the Jack in the Box. Thanks. Oh yeah, hey Walmart I want a new television too. Don't make me steal it. I'd appreciate it if you could drop it off at my apartment. By the way, Quiznos sounds good today.

I would like to know where everyone is getting that he has or is being charged with assault? He is being charged with second-degree robbery, and is only accused of assaulting the employee. And by the way before I purchase grapes I always try one to see if it's sour or not, I guess I deserve jail too?

We were always taught not to approach a shoplifter let alone grab them. It's a donut!!!! He was hungry and had no money. Get a life people lets not fill the court system with ridiculous donut scams. Country Mart needs to lower there prices anyway. The owner driving that Cadillac could afford to buy the man a donut and train his staff on approaching a shop lifter.

Stealing is stealing. We must stop making excuses for people who do wrong. Of course, the sentence must fit the crime. I see Moms giving kids fruit in stores. This is WRONG too. It sends the wrong message for the kids as they grow up. They think they can take whatever they want at anytime.

Donut or armed car heist, stealing is a crime whether misdemeanor or felony. Just a shame that the punishment doesn't always fit the crime in this country. I don't know this person so I can't comment on his reasoning, but it is shown over and over that the rich in this country can and do get by with murder while the poor get the harsher punishments. Our country is BROKEN from the top down and is in dire need of being fixed! My opinion, don't send him to jail so we have to feed him, put him to work so he can feed himself.

Where does it say in the story that an employee touched or grabbed him. He may have became angry when they approached. If I were the store owner I would want my employees to approach a shoplifter. And who really believes he'll get 15 years, that's the max, not what he'll get.

I was once a public defender. And no one I represented ever went to prison for spitting on a sidewalk. And I have seen many slick lawyers walk out of the courtroom alone while their clients were headed to prison.

Hey madatyou i really wish you would list the plenty of places to get a free meal i know some people that could use them. I also agree that the employee should never have tried to grab him. I have personally turned someone in for shoplifting at country mart and all they did was call the cops. I believe our justice system has gone off the deep end. Because if you have the money to hire your slick lawyers you can get away with murder, but if you have a public defender you better not even spit on the sidewalk

I can't believe you people saying things like "maybe he was hungry". Let him steal from you if that is your attitude. There are plenty of places to get a meal without stealing from one of our retail establishments. This is just the kind of thing that raises prices for all the rest of us. I don't believe he should go away for 15 years for the donut, but the assault is a different story.

Well it is refreshing to know that our donuts are safe in St. Francious County even if our children are not.

It was glazed! Good One!!!!

did anyone consider the man may have been hungry and had no money? 52 cents wouldn't break any store - however he should not have assaulted a person for any reason

Maybe we should apologize to him and buy him a car. Then we could look at rainbows and paint unicorns on the side of all our houses and wish for good things.

It probably wasn't even a GOOD donut that caused all this problem. I agree with those who are outraged...the penalty should equal the crime. Far more heinous acts--violent crime, drug deals, etc--are happening daily and the PAs office does little about it, but let's be sure to jump all over someone and grind them to dust for the theft of an item valued at under a dollar. As a gas-station clerk from my college days, we were always taught NEVER to confront a customer who was stealing---just get the details and report it to the authorities. Country Mart should apply the same policy--that person could have been injured during the incident, again, over 52 cents of "loss."

This is sad. I feel so bad for this man. Maybe he has a mental illness and he should probably get the help he deserves instead of prison.

Yes, what he did was pretty trivial. No one, not even the store or the prosecuting attorney, cares about this stupid donut. Thats not the point. He should have been in prison a long time ago. If stealing a $.52 donut is what does it, so be it. It took tax evasion to take down Al Capone, and it took a stolen donut to take down Scott Masters. I don't see the problem.

Was it a glazed or a jelly?

I dont even know this man and this is absolutely retarded.... granite if he really did it it wasnt right, but i think that are justice system should be taking care of the murderers, child molesters, rapists, things like that these types of ppl are roaming are streets everyday (predators) and they are going to give him 15 years over a donut??? Something isnt right here.

I'm amazed at how tough on crime you all wish to be for drug addicts that haven't effected your life, but get mad at the justice system that wants to punish someone that assaults a person trying to prevent one of your friends from stealing. Small crimes lead to more serious crimes. He'll probably only get probation or some small sentence like 5 years but he deserves to be in prison far longer than the sick drug addict that you wish to lock up. One can be rehabilitated the other needs to be deterred. Don't feel sorry for Masters, feel sorry for victims of robbery. I bet you wouldn't have the same pity if you were the victim.

One guy rapes, beats a woman & abuses a child & gets 7 years, and this guy takes a donut, pushes a store employee around & could get 15 years?!! Even if he was in trouble before, there are people that's been caught 2 & 3 times with drugs, etc, & are STILL DOING IT!!! What a system we have.

This is unbelievable, scott is facing 15 years for a donut, when I know four people that got arrested with a meth pipe and was already on probation (not even supposed to be around each other)and charges were dropped to a misdemeanor. I guess you have to be a snitch to get out of anything. oh, and to JJ yeah he has been in jail before, but this is stinkin rediculous. He has always done his time unlike other people that continue to get arrested for labs and possession and violations and are out within hours and never see a day in prision. The law should pertain to everybody not just ones who can't afford a good lawyer. The Murderer that killed his sisters husband got 15 years. Does this seem like justice to you? 52 cent donut 15 years- Murder 15 years!!!!! Go Figure

message here -> -> don't steal!!!! It probably would not have went this far, if Scott had not assaulted the employee. In the first reply, it said "go back to jail"?? OK That is all I need to read to understand why this person is in trouble.

I really can't believe this, I've known Scott all my life and know of all the tribulations he has been through. And am I the only one that thinks that maybe he was hungry? He has been homeless at times and maybe this was one of those times. And I'm sure he wasn't trying to hurt the employee, he just didn't want to go back to jail, over a 52 cent donut. I realize that people shouldn't steal, that its wrong, but a donut! They probably throw more away than they sell most of the time. Scott just needs an Intervention, and Prayer. I have made, and I will bear;I will carry and will save. ISAIAH 46:4

if you steal a donut and get caught you could get 15 years in prison but if you are a sexual preditor you will only get a 120 day shock treatment. You have got to be kidding me.