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Man gets 5 years for stealing televisions
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
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PONTIAC -- A Livingston County judge turned down a man’s request for a second chance, sending him to prison for five years for stealing televisions that were supposed to pay for his daughter’s prom and graduation pictures.

Manual Gaines, 37, of Markham, previously pleaded guilty to charges that included burglary, aggravated fleeing and reckless driving. Livingston County Circuit Judge Harold Frobish on Monday issued several concurrent sentences to Gaines.

In court, Gaines apologized and said he wanted to remain in jail for six months to continue drug rehabilitation and to finish his high-school equivalency studies.

“I am asking for forgiveness in order to be the community member and the father that I know I can be,” he said. “I know what I did was wrong, but please believe that if I was sober, it wouldn’t have happened. I am asking for the opportunity to start the path for correcting my wrongs.

“I am asking for a second chance,” he said.

But Frobish, basing his ruling on previous reports, said Gaines was in the business of burglary and is a dangerous person.

“I know that this is a stiff sentence, but people are what they do and in this instance you were a dangerous individual,” Frobish said.

First Assistant State’s Attorney Carey Luckman had recommended a three-year prison term. Public defender Randall Morgan had suggested a six-month term in the Livingston County Jail.

During a plea entered in late December, Gaines told the court he wanted to sell more than $10,000 worth of stolen plasma televisions to provide money for prom and graduation pictures for his 17-year-old daughter.

Gaines was arrested Nov. 20. Police patrolling Vermillion Plaza heard breaking glass at the Rent-A-Center, 5 Vermillion Plaza, and saw Gaines in a van parked outside the business.

Police said Gaines drove the stolen van onto Ill. Route 116, crossing the median several times before entering the northbound ramp onto Interstate 55. When he slammed on the brakes, a patrol car hit the back of the van. Gaines then drove over the median and continued south on Interstate 55.

Police later found the van crashed through a field fence near the intersection of Livingston County roads 13190 East and 1600 North. Police used thermal imaging devices and police dogs before finding Gaines in a field.

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Reader comments on this story - 9 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

to what happened wrote on Feb 26, 2008 11:27 AM:

" Good question
"

what happened wrote on Feb 26, 2008 5:51 AM:

"
to the person who stole $25,000 from vermilion estates,never heard the end to that. "

John G wrote on Feb 26, 2008 1:04 AM:

" Way to go Judge Frobish, it's about time the court system stood up to take back the streets from these people that have no reguard for the laws. Those that put others in harms way of personal injury should get the maximum sentence. "

jipsi, to "Its been awhile" wrote on Feb 26, 2008 12:57 AM:

" I THINK the article pointed out that it was $10,000 worth of plasma TVs stolen; whatever someone could "get" for re-selling stolen merchandise has GOT TO BE considerably LESS, perhaps even as low as 10% ($1000) of the retail value? Just my guess... Prom and pictures, thesedays, could EASILY run into $1000 and more, by the way. And I agree: you do the crime, so do the time. If I were a daughter learning my father planned to provide for my prom in THIS fashion, I would be so ashamed, and far more heartbroken than if I had learned I could not even go (no dress, no pictures).
What a terrible example some parents set... The reason "behind" stealing can NEVER "justify" it. Period... "

yo wrote on Feb 25, 2008 11:32 PM:

" nice try, bum "

Johnny Paycheck wrote on Feb 25, 2008 10:16 PM:

" I never understood it when judges dont even go with what the prosecuter suggests, whats the point in wasting our tax dollars if the judge isnt going to listen "

It's Been A While wrote on Feb 25, 2008 8:23 PM:

" but do pictures for prom and graduation now cost $10,000? Based on all actions during crime, he should consider himself lucky to only get 5 years. "

haha wrote on Feb 25, 2008 6:17 PM:

" lol no kiddin "

resident wrote on Feb 25, 2008 6:08 PM:

" 2nd chance in livingston county? never! "
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