Two Years for Milford Teen Who Stole $8 from Church
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Craig Brosman-
Lucas Howland, 19, Milford, was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison with two years suspended for kicking in a window of the Milford Christian Church and stealing $8 from the secretary’s office on Sept. 4.
He was put on probation for the duration of the suspended sentence, as well as a $100 fine, a $100 users fee for probation, $20 a month for probation. Other than fines, Howland was ordered to continue to attend counseling, give an oral apology to the Milford Christian Church and to continue to live with his aunt and abide by her rules.
Howland was initially charged with burglary, a Class B felony, and theft, a Class D felony. Howland later pleaded guilty to burglary, a Class C felony, as a lesser-included offense and the theft charge was dismissed.
During the sentencing hearing this morning, Howland’s attorney, Scott J. Lennox, pleaded Howland’s case to the court and Judge Duane Huffer for mitigating circumstances.
“He has no prior criminal history,” Lennox said. “He has certainly strayed from the path. Upon his release he has started to recognize his life was heading down the wrong path. He is fully employed and wakes up at 4 a.m. each morning to go to work. He has turned his life around since living with his aunt.”
Lennox agreed that going into a church was bad form and bad judgment on Howland’s part.
Howland addressed the court and Huffer prior to sentencing.
“I have changed my life around and you will not see me in this courtroom again,” he said.
Huffer agreed with Lennox and Howland and sentenced him favorably.
“You do not have a criminal history and you are young … and dumb,” Huffer said. “But I think from what I see you have certainly made progress since you have resided with your aunt and I hope you are respectful and listen to her.”
Huffer then informed Howland that the possibility of probation is an act of grace and the opportunity to prove himself to the court and himself.
“By giving you probation you hold the key to your prison cell, and if you screw up, you turn the key and close the door,” Huffer said.[[In-content Ad]]
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Lucas Howland, 19, Milford, was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison with two years suspended for kicking in a window of the Milford Christian Church and stealing $8 from the secretary’s office on Sept. 4.
He was put on probation for the duration of the suspended sentence, as well as a $100 fine, a $100 users fee for probation, $20 a month for probation. Other than fines, Howland was ordered to continue to attend counseling, give an oral apology to the Milford Christian Church and to continue to live with his aunt and abide by her rules.
Howland was initially charged with burglary, a Class B felony, and theft, a Class D felony. Howland later pleaded guilty to burglary, a Class C felony, as a lesser-included offense and the theft charge was dismissed.
During the sentencing hearing this morning, Howland’s attorney, Scott J. Lennox, pleaded Howland’s case to the court and Judge Duane Huffer for mitigating circumstances.
“He has no prior criminal history,” Lennox said. “He has certainly strayed from the path. Upon his release he has started to recognize his life was heading down the wrong path. He is fully employed and wakes up at 4 a.m. each morning to go to work. He has turned his life around since living with his aunt.”
Lennox agreed that going into a church was bad form and bad judgment on Howland’s part.
Howland addressed the court and Huffer prior to sentencing.
“I have changed my life around and you will not see me in this courtroom again,” he said.
Huffer agreed with Lennox and Howland and sentenced him favorably.
“You do not have a criminal history and you are young … and dumb,” Huffer said. “But I think from what I see you have certainly made progress since you have resided with your aunt and I hope you are respectful and listen to her.”
Huffer then informed Howland that the possibility of probation is an act of grace and the opportunity to prove himself to the court and himself.
“By giving you probation you hold the key to your prison cell, and if you screw up, you turn the key and close the door,” Huffer said.[[In-content Ad]]
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