Judge denies man’s plea for prison time

HOLLIDAYSBURG - No matter how hard Jerome Banks of Tyrone tried, he couldn't convince Blair County Judge Hiram A. Carpenter to send him to prison last week.

Banks, 42, whose address is listed as 4 Cottage St., Tyrone, faced retail theft charges for stealing gas from the Tyrone Sheetz June 15 and 18, and July 6, 20, 27 and 31.

The Sheetz manager finally called police on Banks, and charges were filed.

On April 9, Carpenter proposed that Banks pay restitution and charges would be dismissed.

Banks replied that he wanted to go to jail, do his time.

He said that he had "not a flat nickel."

He said he was applying for disability payments because he can no longer work. Carpenter said he could make restitution to Sheetz out of his disability payments, but Banks said he would not receive payments probably for another year.

"I've been here for 20 years. You are a first. You want to be incarcerated for a crime for which I would never incarcerate anybody. And that will not solve the problem. You will come out and still owe $213.83," Carpenter said.

Banks said he wanted to leave Pennsylvania, and he emphasized that he can't leave the area until his court case is resolved, and he doesn't have the money to resolve it.

Carpenter said, "Well, you owe this town $213.83."

Banks can leave if he wants once that is paid, Carpenter said.

Carpenter refused to take Banks' guilty plea to retail theft, and ordered Banks to try to raise the money during the upcoming month, possibly asking friends or family for a loan.

He told Banks to come back to court May 4.

Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.