This is an outrage! Tesla vandal causes $20,000 in damages, receives no charges.

[Great White]

Paying restitution that covers the cost to correct the damage he has caused is far too little.
What about the the anxiety, grief, anger and sorrow he has sown in the hearts of his victims?
Imagine walking towards your beautiful CT with joy in your heart at the thought of another drive in this amazing machine only to discover the heinous damage inflicted on your prized Tesla by some random weak-minded lowlife who has been empowered by his dirtbag politician boss, Tim Walz, thinking he can attack others with impunity

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[PungoteagueDave]

Not just simple property damage.

Six Tesla vehicles specifically damaged.

This is a hate crime and the judge treating it as she did enables further hate crime.

The judge had nothing to do with this. There was no judge. It was a prosecutor’s decision and there were consequences.

 

[Gritted Cybe]

The judge had nothing to do with this. There was no judge. It was a prosecutor’s decision and there were consequences.

Not really.. He just needs to pay back what he has damaged.. No real consequences except making others whole. He showed a complete disregard for other's property and the law. He is a serial criminal and vandal, dare I say political terrorist. Many Tesla owners, including on this form live in terror and fear and are impacted by actions this man reflected. He deserves to lose his job, and he deserves time in the slammer with Bubba to teach him a real lesson. There is a severe lack of FAFO in this case and that is why so many people are up in arms about it.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Sure, let's be factual. We live in a time where Soros prosecutors are letting people off every day for serious crimes, and unfortunately this is exactly the sort of thing they'd do that for. What you've done is essentially read and cited to us the paperwork. What you have not done and cannot do is look at the actual outcome. Right now nobody knows what that may be, because it is a future event.

But there's every reason to be concerned that after the publicity has wore out, this perp is let off with a "wink, wink and a smirk."

Cynical speculation. In my experience the criminal justice system is particularly hard on diversion candidates. Many are subsequently picked up and jailed for noncompliance. A drawbridge operator in Palm Beach was just jailed for many years due to failure to comply with her pretrial diversion terms. This was a case where she lied about her role in the death of a bicyclist due to her criminal error in opening the bridge while occupied by the cyclist. The justice system had flaws but mostly gets to the truth and correct outcomes. The exceptions are what we see splashed across the internet and news. I get the anti-Soros sentiment and agree that stacking liberal judges and prosecutors is bad. But that is decidedly not what happened here. Right wing media (I am a conservative) has appropriated this incident as an example of lax prosecutorial discretion but it simply isn’t true. The headlines indicating the pro got off free are flat out lies. Don’t be taken in by either side. The outcome here is just.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Not really.. He just needs to pay back what he has damaged.. No real consequences except making others whole. He showed a complete disregard for other's property and the law. He is a serial criminal and vandal, dare I say political terrorist. Many Tesla owners, including on this form live in terror and fear and are impacted by actions this man reflected. He deserves to lose his job, and he deserves time in the slammer with Bubba to teach him a real lesson. There is a severe lack of FAFO in this case and that is why so many people are up in arms about it.

Hyperbolic extremist talk. Therapy might be advised. There are no CT truck owners who “live in terror”. Not one. If anyone is so cowed, they need professional help or institutionalization.

 

[65SoYoLO]

" but this is a stupid mistake" - I hate the mistake bullshit . . . It was a purposeful act. He didn't trip and key the vehicles. He made a choice, and SOME punishment other than just getting his daddy to pay a fine is warranted.

100%. He is not a ten year old brat, he is a grown man.

 

[pkauf01]

100%. He is not a ten year old brat, he is a grown man.

Exactly. Money is not a consequence …. Having a felony conviction is.

 

[Paul Scott]

Hope he keeps his job - just long enough to be able to pay everyone back quickly. And he better have to pay extra for the whole process of getting a car repainted which includes scheduling, drop off/pick up, loaner/rental process, etc.

This little diversion program might make sense if he had vandalized unowned cars at a SC that Tesla could fix up before selling, but this isn’t okay. He just caused major personal and financial headache to lots of people who are just trying to live their lives in peace.

well, the headline is incorrect. He was charged and admitted guilt. But instead of throwing him in jail and the insurance company having to pay for all the repairs he’s having to make the restitution himself which is punishment. And given the having to pay $20,000. It sounds like that’s more than just the cost of the paint job. The owner while inconvenienced is getting a brand new paint job. It seems like this is a better solution than someone being a burden on the state and the owners insurance company having to cover it. Since the first time offender, and that is a very steep penalty, I seriously doubt the person would do it again. Someone said earlier Grace has to start somewhere.

I have had conversations lately with people that I disagree politically with and look to find a common ground. I understand the anger that creates the protests at the same time there’s no excuse for damaging somebody’s property.

 

[dalton108]

well, the headline is incorrect. He was charged and admitted guilt. But instead of throwing him in jail and the insurance company having to pay for all the repairs he’s having to make the restitution himself which is punishment. And given the having to pay $20,000. It sounds like that’s more than just the cost of the paint job. The owner while inconvenienced is getting a brand new paint job. It seems like this is a better solution than someone being a burden on the state and the owners insurance company having to cover it. Since the first time offender, and that is a very steep penalty, I seriously doubt the person would do it again. Someone said earlier Grace has to start somewhere.

I have had conversations lately with people that I disagree politically with and look to find a common ground. I understand the anger that creates the protests at the same time there’s no excuse for damaging somebody’s property.

It’s almost as if we have a well-oiled system for this with professionals who know: the law, the details, care about their jobs, the safety of our persons and property and want to stop crime! ?

Who would’ve ever believed that having adversarial attorneys on either side of the issue one representing the government and one representing accused and a impartial judge or jury weighing the facts and evidence and meting out punishment would work? ?

If lynch mobs were just, successful, and effective we wouldn’t have abandoned them in the old west.

 

[65SoYoLO]

And given the having to pay $20,000. It sounds like that’s more than just the cost of the paint job. The owner while inconvenienced is getting a brand new paint job.

It wasn't just one car, it was several cars over a few days. Restitution should occur AFTER jail time.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

It wasn't just one car, it was several cars over a few days. Restitution should occur AFTER jail time.

You obviously have no idea how the actual justice system works. And I’m sure you’d be happy as a victim to get paid years in the future after the perp gets out of jail instead of being paid today. He is taking loans to make payment now and will be paying them off for years. Punishment comes with every payment.

 

[pkauf01]

You obviously have no idea how the actual justice system works. And I’m sure you’d be happy as a victim to get paid years in the future after the perp gets out of jail instead of being paid today. He is taking loans to make payment now and will be paying them off for years. Punishment comes with every payment.

And some time in jail and a felony conviction would be good too. And we understand how the justice system works. Unfortunately, there is a camp of people who think deferring punishment is grace. It’s not. Just helps people think that criminal acts are ok. Forgiveness happens after true contrition.

 

[OldDirtyRobot]

I would be willing to give up the option of ever seek payment for damages to ensure he was charged and went to jail.

 

[shopaholic]

It’s property. It’s exactly the same inanimate object it would be if your wife or daughter were in the vehicle and crashed it and you would have grace and wisdom to say the same thing that everyone else says under such circumstances to your crying wife or daughter … “it’s just a truck!”

Guess what? It still is just a truck! Someone made a mistake, did something dumb. I’m supposing since I don’t know the facts and really don’t care that he is being put into a diversion program he probably has - no prior record whatsoever.

I have no doubt whatsoever that every single one of you demanding a pound of flesh right now would want nothing but grace, deference and a 2nd chance if this was your kid and that instead of because of politics he vandalize someone’s vehicle out of just boredom or because his sports team won or lost and he was hanging around with his buddies (which happens way more than this shit here). 100% guarantee it - to the man!

I am stupefied by how the introduction of just a little bit of politics turns people into blood thirsty ghouls over … again an inanimate object that can be easily repaired. Of course we want to prevent future crimes and have deterrent; but draconian overreactions do not have that outcome (this is known).

For fuck sakes, men! Jesus turned the other cheek! I see way too much Christian virtue singling on this forum to see the constant barrage of UNHINGED burn them at stake bs that proliferates here.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you guys???!!

We have an entire system and skilled professionals most of whom have been elected to deal with crime on a secular level. And for the rest of it, the guidance is not even sort of ambiguous especially for people who consider themselves “followers of Christ:

“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

— Matthew 5:39, KJV

YIKES!!!!!! Seriously, WTF?

Seriously, this is 2025 and I ain’t Jesus.

 

[kbrown415]

$20,000 seems very low. Does that include the everyone’s time and efforts to get their cars repaired? How about pain and suffering? I wonder if this is being broadcast on ALL media. Probably not.

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