I'm not sure, but I think under$500 is a misdemeanor, and over $500 is a felony. That could be the reason. Audean Peggyt1950@aol.com wrote: I think the bigger question is why they were charged with damages up to $500 when the damage appears to be much, much more that. The charges should be commensurate with the crime. Anything less smacks of home cookin'. Peggy M. T. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNWEAKLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Jer 6:16"Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths where the good way is, and walk in it;Then you will find rest for your souls....." --------------------------------- Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.

I did a little more research (I can't help myself!) and found the following Tennessee statute relating to whether or not an offense is classified a misdemeanor or a felony: 39-14-105. Grading of theft. — Theft of property or services is: (1) A Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services obtained is five hundred dollars ($500) or less; (2) A Class E felony if the value of the property or services obtained is more than five hundred dollars ($500) but less than one thousand dollars ($1,000); (3) A Class D felony if the value of the property or services obtained is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more but less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000); (4) A Class C felony if the value of the property or services obtained is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more but less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000); and (5) A Class B felony if the value of the property or services obtained is sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or more. [Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.] Here's the punishment given in Tennessee for destroying a mailbox: 39-14-412. Mailbox tampering — Damage or defacement of government property. — (a) It is an offense for any person to knowingly damage, destroy, remove or otherwise tamper with a residential mailbox or other container such person knows or reasonably should know is used for the receipt or deposit of United States mail. Any person convicted of violating this subsection (a) shall be sentenced to not less than twenty-five (25) hours of public service work. (b) It is an offense for any person to knowingly damage or deface real or personal property of the state, or a subdivision thereof, by the painting or other permanent application of graffiti directly onto the property. (c) A violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor. All violations shall be punished by at least twenty-five (25) hours of community service work to be determined by the court. [Acts 1990, ch. 1010, § 1; 1992, ch. 769, § 1.] Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: tnweakle-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:tnweakle-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Audean Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 2:49 AM To: tnweakle@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [TNWEAKLE] Names of Accused Vandals I'm not sure, but I think under$500 is a misdemeanor, and over $500 is a felony. That could be the reason. Audean Peggyt1950@aol.com wrote: I think the bigger question is why they were charged with damages up to $500 when the damage appears to be much, much more that. The charges should be commensurate with the crime. Anything less smacks of home cookin'. Peggy M. T. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNWEAKLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Jer 6:16"Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths where the good way is, and walk in it;Then you will find rest for your souls....." --------------------------------- Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNWEAKLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

You are correct. It wouldn't be good for a mayor's daughter to be charged with a felony so they put it down as under $500. Leslie ----- Original Message ----- From: Audean To: tnweakle@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 5:49 AM Subject: Re: [TNWEAKLE] Names of Accused Vandals I'm not sure, but I think under$500 is a misdemeanor, and over $500 is a felony. That could be the reason. Audean Peggyt1950@aol.com wrote: I think the bigger question is why they were charged with damages up to $500 when the damage appears to be much, much more that. The charges should be commensurate with the crime. Anything less smacks of home cookin'. Peggy M. T. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNWEAKLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Jer 6:16"Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths where the good way is, and walk in it;Then you will find rest for your souls....." --------------------------------- Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNWEAKLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/959 - Release Date: 8/17/2007 5:43 PM