(The inmate) was offered the chance to eat the dinner at the jail before lockup and she accepted, according to the complaint. Jail officials say that (she) was shown intentionally breaking the $16 spork in an empty portion of her tray during dinner. Harris contested that the spork had broken due to the toughness of the roast beef that was being served for dinner.I never knew that there were sporks worth $16. I have only seen cheap plastic ones that were served with my meal at KFC. I originally thought that there had to be more to this story. Maybe they were valuing the expense at purchasing a while new box of cheap plastic sporks.
But a quick online search educated me to a whole new world of sporks -- several of which are worth $16. Of course, there are less expensive sporks, too. Some are made of more durable plastic. Some are metal. Some are titanium. Who knew?
The accused inmate faces up to 30 days in jail and a $625 fine for breaking the spork. This doesn't include any penalties for her others charges, assuming she is convicted.
Updated on 04/09/13: After reviewing the circumstances surrounding the case of the broken spork, Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek has announced that the fifth degree criminal mischief charges will be dropped. The inmate still faces her earlier charges related to shoplifting and criminal trespass.
I know that I joked a bit about this case yesterday, but I hinted in the comments section of this story that her behavior might be the source of this criminal charge. That seems to be the case, assuming Sheriff Pulkrabek's explanation behind the charge is accurate:
Pulkrabek said (the inmate) was disruptive, combative and difficult to handle. She also intentionally threw food around the cell block, Pulkrabek said. “The fact of the matter is she was difficult and, in trying to manage her behavior, she was threatened with a filing of a criminal charge,” he said. “She chose to continue to be dishonest and the officer followed through with a charge.”The Johnson County government has been trying unsuccessfully for a roughly a decade to build a new jail. After an initial failure, a Jail Alternatives Program was created and the Powers That Be have been trying to educate people that this county needs a new jail, that we cannot not jail people who break the law, and that we spend an awful lot of money emptying our over-crowded jail cells into other counties and spend an awful lot of time and money transporting those same prisoners to and from this jail and that. There is another special election for a new justice center next month. Needless to say, those opposed to it are gleefully using this story to undermine our need for a new jail and courthouse.