Woman ordered to wear sign declaring her crime
SALISBURY, Maryland (AP) -- A woman who stole $4.52 worth of fuel was
ordered to stand outside the gas station Friday wearing a sandwich board
sign that declared: "I was caught stealing gas."
Sherelle Purnell obeyed the court order, although by the time she arrived
90 minutes late to her noon sentence, the crowd of people that gathered
to watch her had dispersed.
"There were parents who came with their children, wanting to teach them
a lesson," said Jan Phipps, manager of Gordy's Tiger Mart, which pushed
for the unorthodox punishment.
Purnell, 18, who was caught on surveillance tape speeding away from the
gas pump, walked along the convenience shop's grassy storefront as
passing drivers honked horns and made catcalls.
Andrew Black, who stopped by on his lunch break, was critical of the
punishment and converted an old beer poster into a sign protesting high
gas prices.
"What is this, the Middle Ages?" said Black.
Purnell declined to comment.
Some passers-by considered the punishment to be a good deterrent.
"Embarrassment is the best way to deal with these things," Randy Jedlicka said.
wonder if she had to buy that Coke or if the gas station gave it to her on her lunch break? lol!!
Well my homegirl's boyfriend got taken to jail for stealing like 3 or 4 dollars worth, and since it was the weekend, he had to stay for the whole weekend because she couldn't get him and they had the bail too high.
All day wearing a sandwich board....Hey that ain't bad for a tank of gas I would do it. They'd probably make me go home for having too much fun during my punishment.
But am I the only one who thinks she looks a tad bit manly?
SALISBURY, Maryland (AP) -- A woman who stole $4.52 worth of fuel was
ordered to stand outside the gas station Friday wearing a sandwich board
sign that declared: "I was caught stealing gas."
Sherelle Purnell obeyed the court order, although by the time she arrived
90 minutes late to her noon sentence, the crowd of people that gathered
to watch her had dispersed.
"There were parents who came with their children, wanting to teach them
a lesson," said Jan Phipps, manager of Gordy's Tiger Mart, which pushed
for the unorthodox punishment.
Purnell, 18, who was caught on surveillance tape speeding away from the
gas pump, walked along the convenience shop's grassy storefront as
passing drivers honked horns and made catcalls.
Andrew Black, who stopped by on his lunch break, was critical of the
punishment and converted an old beer poster into a sign protesting high
gas prices.
"What is this, the Middle Ages?" said Black.
Purnell declined to comment.
Some passers-by considered the punishment to be a good deterrent.
"Embarrassment is the best way to deal with these things," Randy Jedlicka said.
