Thief sentenced to clean veteran's memorial with toothbrush

[pacific breeze]

FOXNews.com - Judge Orders Man to Clean Vets' Memorial With Toothbrush for Iraq War Memorial Scam - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News
SAGINAW, Mich. — A 73-year-old man has been ordered to clean a veterans memorial with a toothbrush for taking part in a scam to solicit scrap yards for metal, saying it was to be used to build a memorial for soldiers in the Iraq war.

Philip Kolinski and another man were arrested after scrap yards reported the men soliciting metal donations for a sculpture. Detectives said the men sold the metal and kept the money.

"You certainly should be ashamed," Saginaw County District Court Judge A.T. Frank said as he sentenced Kolinski to clean the veterans memorial in front of Governmental Center on Aug. 7.

"You will have a toothbrush and bucket with a placard saying you stole from veterans," Frank said.

Kolinski pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obtaining more than $200 under false pretenses, although he claimed he didn't know he was committing a crime. He said he agreed to haul the metal for another man, who is awaiting trial in the case.

"I just hauled it and took it to the dump yard," Kolinski said. "I feel sorry for what I did."

The judge also ordered Kolinski to pay $9,000 in restitution and $2,095 in fees and fines.

[nwgirl]

Ha ha ha ha! This is hilarious! For some reason I think humiliating sentences are good things. Don't know how well they work, but why not give them a shot?

[Sojiita]

Good punishment!!!

[Mel1973]

what are the odds that a 73 year old man will ever be able to pay those fines? To me, it speaks more about how we treat our elderly...

[McJag]

Mel! This is a 73 year old crook-if he can haul scrap, he can clean!
If he was a respected elderly person, he wouldn't be doing this!

[Mel1973]

Originally Posted by McJag

Mel! This is a 73 year old crook-if he can haul scrap, he can clean!
If he was a respected elderly person, he wouldn't be doing this!

I hear ya, but it seems to be a very sketchy piece..... why not name the other people involved. Plus, if I were a "real" crook, I'd have taped some nails to a paint can for arms and legs, put a hat on it and called it a sculpture ... they'd have never got me!!!! nah, if this guy is a criminal, then let him scrub memorials...