Recently in the gun control topic threads, there has been some conversation about "felons", with a variety of opinions from "if they've done their time, full rights restored" to "Lock em up and throw away the key". I wanted to start a thread and let others pitch in with examples and conversation to demonstrate just how easy it is to become a dreaded "felon" now days. We assume to become a felon you have to do something pretty heinous, which is not always the case.
Lets begin:
You find some Jazz Cabbage (marijuana) in your kids room and flush it down the toilet. Obstruction of Justice and tampering with evidence
You tell your boss your sick to get the day off. Violation of the honest services fraud act. The “honest services” statute criminalizes “a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.” This criminalized an employee lying to his employer, and as Justice Scalia pointed out, “would seemingly cover a salaried employee’s phoning in sick to go to a ball game.” Prosecutors were able to get those convicted up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
You throw away any piece of mail not addressed to you. “Obstruction of Correspondence.”
You are out looking for antler sheds and mushroom and find a cool feather that you pick up to keep or show someone. Turns out it was from any bird listed in the The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. There's over 1000 species listed. You're now a felon.
Make an error on your taxes and sign the form. Tax Evasion.
I know someone who is... short. They noticed an SUV riding their bumper, after a bit sped up to get em off their butt, and then realized they were so close they couldn't see the lights on the unmarked vehicle. Almost went to jail for Evading/resisting. (OK that's a Class A Misdemeanor but there's always aggravating circumstances that could be added and raise it to a felony.)
I'm sure there is a million more but that's enough to get the conversation started.
Lets begin:
You find some Jazz Cabbage (marijuana) in your kids room and flush it down the toilet. Obstruction of Justice and tampering with evidence
You tell your boss your sick to get the day off. Violation of the honest services fraud act. The “honest services” statute criminalizes “a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.” This criminalized an employee lying to his employer, and as Justice Scalia pointed out, “would seemingly cover a salaried employee’s phoning in sick to go to a ball game.” Prosecutors were able to get those convicted up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
You throw away any piece of mail not addressed to you. “Obstruction of Correspondence.”
You are out looking for antler sheds and mushroom and find a cool feather that you pick up to keep or show someone. Turns out it was from any bird listed in the The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. There's over 1000 species listed. You're now a felon.
Make an error on your taxes and sign the form. Tax Evasion.
I know someone who is... short. They noticed an SUV riding their bumper, after a bit sped up to get em off their butt, and then realized they were so close they couldn't see the lights on the unmarked vehicle. Almost went to jail for Evading/resisting. (OK that's a Class A Misdemeanor but there's always aggravating circumstances that could be added and raise it to a felony.)
I'm sure there is a million more but that's enough to get the conversation started.
