Aussie teen blames Pot for thieft

[chemlove]

Aussie Teen Blames Pot for Animal Thefts
From Associated Press
January 08, 2008 11:56 PM EST
DARWIN, Australia - An Australian teenager blamed the influence of marijuana for his decision to steal two crocodiles and a monkey, local media reported Wednesday.
Benjamin Glen Watts, 19, pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to twice breaking into a wildlife park on the outskirts of the tropical city of Darwin last July, Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio reported on its Web site.
Watts said he planned to sell the stolen baby crocodiles and the marmoset but had been unable to find buyers, ABC reported.
Crocodylus Park spokesman Grahame Webb said Wednesday the animals were returned unharmed.
Watts' lawyer told the court his client admitted it was a "dumb stoner" thing to do and had written to Crocodylus Park to apologize.
Magistrate Greg Cavanagh sentenced Watts to a three-month suspended jail sentence. Watts has been counseled for his marijuana use since the thefts.
A court official was not immediately available for comment.
http://my.earthlink.net/article/str?...80108900443610



SWIM doesn't know about you, but has never had the urge to steal anything breathing while on marijuana. This article taught me two valuable things. First don't come up with your big idea while stoned, and second if your going to steal some animals from a preserve then make sure you have buyers before you stuck with a couple baby crocodiles and a monkey.
Next time you get a brilliant idea, just leave the baby animals alone.

[Mr. Giraffe]

My cat finds that big ideas come easier when he's stoned, actually. So I'm gonna say that the moral of the story is that it's easy to blame cannabis when the actual fault lies in the fact that you're a blessed moron, drugs or no drugs.

Reputation Comments on this post:

totally agree short but sweet.

[Hyperspaceblastoff]

the ol stoned plea
worx everytime
just like the ol twinkie defense, were the man ate too many twinkies and got sugar rush and killed some1 lol

[cosmicruler]

To any1 who can go out and STEAL 2 CROCS and a MONKEY while STONED....well fucking done...!!!!;-)

i no i wouldnt have the balls to try it..

[Powder_Reality]

I hate when people blame drugs for their crimes because it's just one step backwards for the efforts of those trying to put an end to prohibition.

New studies are always popping about how harmless marijuana is, and quite often the same people who did the studies express their support for legalization and regulation of this substance. But then Johnny Dumbass decides to steal (for some odd reason beyond explanation) 2 crocodiles and a monkey after smoking a joint. Because he is not willing to take responsibility for his own dumb actions and accept his punishment, he decides to blame marijuana for his actions, thus proving once again just how terrible it is ("I'm not a criminal, I'm a victim!"). I guess we can conclude from this news report that a major side-effect of marijuana is the uncontrollable urge to steal zoo animals.

I can only hope that in the future, judges will stop accepting the "I was high so it's not my fault" excuse and show people that you can't blame a substance in an attempt to pass the blame for your actions.

Of course, I guess playing with a monkey might be kind of fun if you were stoned. Maybe it really was the weed that made him do it.

[psyche]

This scenario looks to me as if this young aussie kid came to a confession booth: "You know, father, the devil took over me and made me do something I'm not proud of. I'm glad the great prince of evil loosened his grip enough for me to come to my senses. Now I'm ready to leave satan behind and regret." And the priest blessed the boy, cursed the satan and the congrecation was reliefed for the saved soul but alarmed by the powers of the dark at the same time.

[chemlove]

Originally Posted by cosmicruler

To any1 who can go out and STEAL 2 CROCS and a MONKEY while STONED....well fucking done...!!!!;-)

i no i wouldnt have the balls to try it..

For a moment i kinda thought the same thing then realized how lucky he is to still have arms and legs (though realizing their baby croc's kinda ruined it for me).

[Purest]

Dinosaur's substance-attributed kleptomania has never reached as far as live animals, however this may be entirely due to there not being any zoos or wildlife parks around his area.

Once again this article reminds me of Family Guy. In "Bill and Peter's bogus journey" Bill Clinton and Peter get high in a limo, then steal a pig because they have the munchies.
Betcha if the aussie kid had thought of that episode he'd have done the double whammy of "television is so imatatable" and "drugs are bad" just so he'd really seem like a victim.