Regarding the editor’s opinion, “Barefoot Bandit receives justice,” Whidbey News-Times, Dec. 21.

A more aptly termed article would read, “Barefoot Bandit receives travesty of justice.” This young man admitted to 33 felony counts of which one could carry a term of 10 years. Anything less than the maximum sentence for this “celebrity” is a travesty of justice. Even the editor of this newspaper has fallen under his spell and charms.

Anyone who has ever had their home burglarized knows what it feels like to have their sanctuary violated. As the saying goes, “A man’s home is his castle.” It is our sanctuary where we go to get away from the madness of society. And when someone burglarizes your home it feels as if you have been violated personally. And this young man admitted to 33 counts (and that was just what he admitted to). How many actually occurred that he was not charged with or found guilty of? But our judicial system decided that less than the maximum term was appropriate. What a joke.

And if the editor is really as concerned about rehabilitation as indicated  in the article, then why even send this person to jail at all? Just give him probation and assign him to live at the editor’s house to see how normal people live. Because let me tell you, if you send this person to prison and expect him to live, eat and sleep with the bottom half of society and rehabilitate; well, you have another thing coming. Most people go to jail and compare notes with their peers and plan future endeavors.

For those future victims that are his prey when he should have still been in prison after year seven — well you can ask yourself then if it was “justice” as the Whidbey News-Times editor proclaimed.

Thomas Kosloske
Oak Harbor