It's bad enough to break into someone's home, but then to wear the homeowner's clothes, eat their food and drink their wine is just adding salt to the wound. A man from Biloxi, Mississippi is accused of committing all that, and because of his actions, he is sentenced to 8 years behind bars.
It was a Thursday night that a jury found Edward Parker Eldridge, age 61, to be guilty of burglary. Eldridge apparently broke into a cottage located on Beach Boulevard on June 10, 2014.
Assistant District Attorney Beth McFadyen stated, "The victim returned home from work and saw that his house had been broken into and rummaged through. All of the homeowner's property had been scattered across the cottage and the defendant made himself at home by eating a ham sandwich and drinking the victim's wine."
The homeowner found a casino player's club card with the name "Edward Eldridge" affixed to it while tidying up the mess left by the burglar. He then took the card and other evidence to the police department. The authorities remembered on that same day, a man bearing that name had been stopped by police in the exact same place, on an isolated report of trespassing.
The homeowner also stated that Eldridge was even apprehended while wearing his stolen shirt. The victim said the shirt was easily recognizable since it had the distinctive logo and name of his family's farm in north Mississippi.
Circuit Judge Larry Bourgeois sentenced the burglar to 20 years in prison, with 12 years suspended. Eldridge will serve eight years in prison, and another three years of probation.
. But is punishment not too hard for him ?
