A 17-year-old Ross Beatty High School student with “sticky fingers” was sentenced to 18 months probation for stealing 20 district basketball tickets from the school.
Micha Jones, of 60637 Main St. in Vandalia, admitted to stealing the tickets Feb. 29 as a form of payback resulting from a feud he had with the school’s sports director. Jones said it was a bad decision.
“There are four words (Jones) should put at the forefront of his thoughts … ‘thou shalt not steal,’” said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz during Friday’s sentencing in Cass County Circuit Court.
“The best decision for Mr. Jones is to be an honest man.”
Jones, who has three prior juvenile convictions related to theft, was given credit for 62 days served in Cass County Jail.
Judge Michael Dodge said prior to Jones’ arrest, Jones was attending Ross Beatty as a junior.
“Obviously it is not a good thing to spend the last couple months in jail instead of school,” Dodge said. “Hopefully you’ve learned your lesson from time spent in jail and you resolve to not be there anymore.”
Jones pleaded guilty to larceny in a building on March 28. Sentencing guidelines were zero to six months.
It was Jones’ first time in adult court.