Today’s stupid criminal story comes from Anchorage, Alaska where a 34 year old man walked into a bank to inquire about the balances in his accounts. He gave the teller his account number and showed his picture ID as requested. He then handed over a piece of paper, a receipt, with a note scribbled on the back. The note read “I have a gun. Give me all the money in your drawer.” He didn’t show a gun, but had his hand in his jacket as if he had one.

He walked out of the bank with about $600 in cash.

FBI agent, Steven Payne, recalled that he had previously arrested a man who had the same name. He confirmed the identity through surveillance images and arrested the man once again.

7/16/10

Here is an update on the status of Mr. Bartella. He has been located in Austin, Tx. He is working as a security guard at a condominium complex and is reported to be living with his wife and children. A concerned citizen notified me of his location. Unfortunately, Texas and Colorado laws prohibit compelling him to return to Colorado to answer to the traffic charges. They are not viewed as a serious enough matter. However, the warrant remains in the computer and his photo will remain on this site until he returns to resolve the matter.

I had my doubts about the story that his wife gave me about him leaving her and the children. Apparently, those doubts were well founded.

Chris, come back before the end of August and I’ll remove the photo. Contact me to make arrangements.

Christopher Lee Bartella, DOB 4/6/1972 is wanted for failure to appear on a traffic charge in Jefferson County, Colorado. He is described as 6′4″, 175 lbs with Brown Hair and Green Eyes. He lived at 4870 Otis St, Wheat Ridge, Co until May of 2009. His wife reports that he left her and the children without telling her where he was going. He has family in the State of Washington and may be there. He was associated with Mannatech, a multi-level marketing organization selling nutritional supplements. It has a poor reputation and is believed to be a scam.

Update  11/4/09

Mathias James Larson was captured and returned to the custody of the Douglas County Sheriff.

Mathias James Larson, DOB 8/5/1989, is wanted in Douglas County, Colorado for failure to appear regarding a violation of a restraining order. He is described as 6’1″ 160 lbs with Brown Hair and Blue Eyes. He is believed to be living in Aurora, CO.

Today’s Stupid Criminal Story originates from San Antonio, Texas as reporter in the San Antonio Express-News. The story is quoted below, but here is the summary. Our heros, a male and female were in a car that was parked in an area that raised the suspicions of some neighbors. The police were alerted and contacted the subjects. They found the subjects engaged in having sex, which called for closer investigation. The police then found that the car was loaded with enough materials to start a meth lab.

Here is the story:

“The car was rocking, so someone called police.

When officers arrived Thursday night, they discovered a man and woman having sex inside the parked car that authorities said was loaded with enough equipment and chemicals to start a methamphetamine lab.

“The car seemed suspicious to residents,” Deputy Ino Badillo of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said.

The 1991 blue Oldsmobile 88 had been parked in front of a house in the 6800 block of Buckley Drive for about two hours, Badillo said. The homeowners thought it strange that an Oldsmobile they did not recognize was parked out front with two strangers inside, so they called police at 10:48 p.m., he said.

When deputies arrived, they noticed the couple intimately engaged.

“They were having a lovers’ tryst, so that’s what brought attention to the vehicle,” he said.

He said deputies soon realized the car was full of chemicals and instruments used to manufacture crystal methamphetamine.

Timothy Overly, 26, and Candace Prewitt, 25, were arrested and charged with public lewdness and the manufacture of a controlled substance. Records show Overly lives about a block from where the car was parked.

He and Prewitt were being held Friday in the Bexar County Jail on $30,000 bond each on the drug charge and $800 on the lewdness charge.

County court records show Overly has been in trouble before because of drugs. He is awaiting trial on a March 23 arrest on a possession of a controlled substance charge. He also was convicted in 2003 on a similar charge.”

Today’s post has nothing to do with bail bonds, rather it involves something I have a passion about – guitars.

In the Spring of 2008, singer Dave Carroll was traveling on tour with his band, Sons of Maxwell. They saw one of his guitars being thrown by the United Airlines baggage handlers and later discovered that a $3500 guitar had been severely damaged. For nine months, United declined to compensate Dave for the damage. Finally, Dave promised to write and produce three songs about his experience. Here is the first of those three.

United Breaks Guitars

Today’s stupid criminal story comes from a clothing consignment store in Lone Tree, Colorado. Two young ladies visit the consignment shop, select a number of items of clothing, place them in a basket and leave the store without paying. They made it out of the store and to a waiting truck and made their getaway… almost.

It seems that one of the young ladies filled out a form to sell some of her clothing. She left her name and phone number while the other young lady was filling the basket. The Police called the number and are waiting for the girls to turn themselves in. It would be fitting if the Police would allow them to put the handcuffs on themselves when they make an arrest.

Here is a recent event that occurred in Denver. A thief broke into a vehicle and removed the victim’s wallet and assorted valuables. Apparently, this type of activity can build one’s appetite. The thief, being the stupid and lazy sort, went home and promptly called his local deli and ordered food to be delivered. He knew better than to have it delivered to his apartment so, he had it delivered to the apartment next door. It didn’t take the Police long to figure out who the hungry thief was and they made arrangements for him to get his meals at the jail.

Is it possible to be too stupid to be a criminal? I’ve never heard of a successful stupidity defense until I read about this case in Argentina. I expect that the defense will likely be used more in this country as result of this case.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUENOS AIRES —  An Argentine man who tried to use two counterfeit bills has been found innocent, by reason of incompetence.

A federal court in Buenos Aires says the forged bills presented by Marcos Ribles were “so clumsy and crude” that “they could not be accepted by most people.”

The court says the 65-year-old man tried to pass a false 100-peso Argentine note, nominally worth about $26, as well as a false U.S. $50 bill.

Judges say the counterfeit bills had such shoddy printing and poor-quality paper that nobody could be fooled.

The court announced its ruling dismissing the charges on Wednesday.

I’ve always believed that smoking pot contributed to one’s stupidity. Here is a story from Pennsylvania in support of that theory.

A new study sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy finds an association between drug abuse and criminal behavior. The Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program gathered information on drug abuse from adult male arrestees in 10 counties across the country. Denver county was one of those tested. Face-to-face interviews and urinalysis were conducted with the arrestees, whose participation was voluntary and confidential.

The study findings are as follows:

• Drug use among the arrestee population is much higher than in the general U.S. population. Over 50% of all arrestees tested positive for at least one drug. The percentage is higher for younger offenders (age 21 and under, 85%; age 36+ 68%).
• The most common drugs were marijuana, cocaine, opiates and methamphetamine in that order. The lone exception is Atlanta, where the most common drug is cocaine. The urinalysis did not differentiate between cocaine and crack.
• Cocaine use in Denver and Indianapolis has declined since 2007 while remaining stable in the rest of the country.
• Methamphetamine use varies by region. Less than 1% tested positive in the eastern states, slightly higher in the mid-west and highest on the west coast. Sacramento had 35%testing positive.

There is an association between criminal behavior and drug use, but what does it all mean? The association does not show cause and effect. Do criminals use drugs? Do drug users commit crimes? How do we correct these behaviors? The questions still remain. Perhaps future studies with show a cause and effect relationship and lead to a solution.