Sarasota, Florida - Thomas Edward Fuller, a.k.a. Snake Snake is back behind bars for the 134th time.
Police say Fuller, who was arrested for allegedly breaking into a church, had been released just days earlier from prison.
"He has a history that goes back 33 years, involves 134 criminal charges and 49 convictions," Sarasota Police Captain Paul Sutton told 10 News.
"Nobody should be the 100th victim of somebody committing a crime."
Police say Fuller had an ax in his back pocket when they found him inside a music room at the Church of the Redeemer. They also say he also had socks on his hands.
"When officers asked him; 'Why do you have socks on your hands?' he said because fingerprints tend to come back and haunt you."
Fuller was sentenced in 2010 to 2-years for breaking into an Englewood restaurant. The manager of the restaurant expressed frustration over Fuller's latest arrest when 10 News interviewed him last week, believing the judicial system is letting victims like him down.
"134 times, I don't think he's learned a lesson at all. I think he should just stay there. He's a person who needs to stay in jail," Nick Cira said.
So why do Fuller and other career criminals keep getting back out on the streets? 10 News requested to speak with the judge who sentenced Fuller in 2010 but she declined. However the judge did note that the sentence handed down was part of a plea deal.
While Fuller got 2-years behind bars, he could have received a 25-year sentence if convicted.
The state attorney's office also declined to talk with us on camera about the case but they did send 10 News an email in response to several of our questions saying Fuller's sentence; "was a guideline prison sentence under Florida Statute 921.0022. Mr. Fuller scored 23.775 points, which equates to months in prison."
The state's scoring system may be partly to blame for why some criminals keep getting arrested, convicted and ultimately released.
A misdemeanor for example scores only .2 points. Even if it can be bumped up to felony petty theft it still registers just 4-points. Car burglary is 22-points yet state guidelines call for prison time only if a person reaches 44-points.
A victim's cooperation can also play a role in the state's ability to get a conviction. Officials say if the victim doesn't show up to testify, or doesn't want to press charges, they may not be able to get a conviction.
Which brings us back to Fuller's most recent alleged crime; the church he allegedly broke into doesn't want to press charges. Instead Father Fredrick Robinson believes the Church is at fault because they left 2-doors unlocked the night Fuller was arrested.
"So the fact that he really didn't do any harm to us makes me included to not look too harshly at him," Robinson said.
And that means Fuller could get yet another chance.
However if he is convicted, Fuller will qualify as a prison release re-offender which means he'll be facing a mandatory life sentence.
SOURCE
Police say Fuller, who was arrested for allegedly breaking into a church, had been released just days earlier from prison.
"He has a history that goes back 33 years, involves 134 criminal charges and 49 convictions," Sarasota Police Captain Paul Sutton told 10 News.
"Nobody should be the 100th victim of somebody committing a crime."
Police say Fuller had an ax in his back pocket when they found him inside a music room at the Church of the Redeemer. They also say he also had socks on his hands.
"When officers asked him; 'Why do you have socks on your hands?' he said because fingerprints tend to come back and haunt you."
Fuller was sentenced in 2010 to 2-years for breaking into an Englewood restaurant. The manager of the restaurant expressed frustration over Fuller's latest arrest when 10 News interviewed him last week, believing the judicial system is letting victims like him down.
"134 times, I don't think he's learned a lesson at all. I think he should just stay there. He's a person who needs to stay in jail," Nick Cira said.
So why do Fuller and other career criminals keep getting back out on the streets? 10 News requested to speak with the judge who sentenced Fuller in 2010 but she declined. However the judge did note that the sentence handed down was part of a plea deal.
While Fuller got 2-years behind bars, he could have received a 25-year sentence if convicted.
The state attorney's office also declined to talk with us on camera about the case but they did send 10 News an email in response to several of our questions saying Fuller's sentence; "was a guideline prison sentence under Florida Statute 921.0022. Mr. Fuller scored 23.775 points, which equates to months in prison."
The state's scoring system may be partly to blame for why some criminals keep getting arrested, convicted and ultimately released.
A misdemeanor for example scores only .2 points. Even if it can be bumped up to felony petty theft it still registers just 4-points. Car burglary is 22-points yet state guidelines call for prison time only if a person reaches 44-points.
A victim's cooperation can also play a role in the state's ability to get a conviction. Officials say if the victim doesn't show up to testify, or doesn't want to press charges, they may not be able to get a conviction.
Which brings us back to Fuller's most recent alleged crime; the church he allegedly broke into doesn't want to press charges. Instead Father Fredrick Robinson believes the Church is at fault because they left 2-doors unlocked the night Fuller was arrested.
"So the fact that he really didn't do any harm to us makes me included to not look too harshly at him," Robinson said.
And that means Fuller could get yet another chance.
However if he is convicted, Fuller will qualify as a prison release re-offender which means he'll be facing a mandatory life sentence.
SOURCE
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