by: @Samaya.Rn
On Friday, Lieutenant Governor, John Fetterman posted a tweet outpouring his shock and discontent surrounding 36-year-old Ashley Menser’s conviction, even offering to repay restitution costs.
The Lieutenant Governor offered statements exposing his frustration with how the criminal justice system administers aid to civilians with drug and mental health issues.
“What universe do you deserve to be sent to prison for 10 months, for stealing $110 worth of groceries?“ Democrat John Fetterman quoted.
Ashley Menser, an advanced cervical and uterine cancer patient, was convicted of the petty crime and ordered to serve 10 months in prison confinement. Menser’s mother, Stephanie Bashore appeared at her daughter’s court date, testifying to her ailments. She also said her daughter needs to have her uterus and its surrounding tissues surgically removed, according to Menser’s oncologist.
“If you don’t get this done, you will die. It is eating you up inside.” the doctor said, New York Times reports. Bashore added that her daughter worked as a fast-food employee.
Menser’s lawyer, Scott Freeman requested that Judge Samuel A. Kline allow the defendant’s sentence to be served through home confinement so that she could continue treatment. While, Court records state Menser has an extensive history of minor drug & theft crimes, Feeman said his client has been clean for a while. He also argued that Menser takes impenetrable psychiatric medication to maintain PTSD caused by the death of her child, and the medications impair her discernment and disengage her sense of reality.
“She is in a lot of pain and very ill.” He pleaded.
However, Lebanon County DA, Pier Hess Graf said the sentence bestowed upon Ms. Menser was fair due to her criminal history and 13 prior theft convictions, also reciting, “the state’s system is far more capable of addressing serious health concerns for inmates.”
The grocery chain released a statement saying a woman left the store without paying for items in her cart, two years ago, but they haven’t been involved in any court proceedings.
As for cutting the check, Mr. Fetterman ultimately decided not to pay out the $109.63 grocery bill in hopes that executives from the company would join his efforts in support of a reconsideration of Ashley Menser’s conviction sentence, though he is still willing to foot the bill at the sign of a check.
Mr. Fetterman, elected back in 2018 justifies, “If there is no victim, why carry this out?”
If the underlying details of this are accurate, this cannot be allowed to continue.
I’m sure @WeisMarkets doesn’t support this. I’ll personally pay the $109 back.
Calling on Judge Kline to err on the side of mercy. https://t.co/4N50n4aKPK
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) January 31, 2020
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