Gas thief defends man who pointed gun at him

troy2000 · 02-15-2007, 10:53 PM

Retired farmer plans to fight charges from confronting thief at gunpoint

CAMBRIDGE, Minn. - A man pleading guilty to stealing gas and a car radiator offered words of support for the retired farmer who was charged with threatening him with a shotgun.

Kenneth Englund, 74, confronted Christian Harris Smith and a woman on Oct. 15 at a vacant farm near Englund’s home as Smith was taking gasoline from a vehicle, police said.

England chased the pair while calling the sheriff’s office on a mobile phone.

After the vehicles stopped and a deputy sheriff arrived, Englund’s shotgun was found to be unloaded, according to the criminal complaint.

A felony assault charge against Englund on Monday was reduced to two misdemeanors: pointing a gun at another person and disorderly conduct.

A judge sentenced Smith, 28, to 90 days in jail last week. As Smith entered his guilty plea, he defended Englund’s actions.

“I don’t think he should be held responsible for, you know, anything involving any of these issues,” Smith said. “I committed a crime and, you know, he did what he probably thought was right to ... resolve the situation.”

Smith said that in addition to paying restitution to the owner of the property, he would like to do “whatever I can” to help Englund, according to a court transcript.

Englund’s attorney, Brian Toder, said he will fight the reduced charges.

Englund did not point the shotgun at anybody, Toder said. “Even if he did, that’s reasonable force. He’s with a guy who he thought was a drug-crazed meth-head.”

Englund, a member of the Bradford Township Board, has received an outpouring of support in the community about 45 miles north of Minneapolis as well as from around the country.

Rave · 02-16-2007, 09:31 AM

Goes to show how screwed up the justice system in this country really is,when the criminal does abetter job of wanting wrongs made right!

02-15-2007, 10:53 PM	#1
troy2000 Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,554 Images: 9	Gas thief defends man who pointed gun at him Retired farmer plans to fight charges from confronting thief at gunpoint CAMBRIDGE, Minn. - A man pleading guilty to stealing gas and a car radiator offered words of support for the retired farmer who was charged with threatening him with a shotgun. Kenneth Englund, 74, confronted Christian Harris Smith and a woman on Oct. 15 at a vacant farm near Englund’s home as Smith was taking gasoline from a vehicle, police said. England chased the pair while calling the sheriff’s office on a mobile phone. After the vehicles stopped and a deputy sheriff arrived, Englund’s shotgun was found to be unloaded, according to the criminal complaint. A felony assault charge against Englund on Monday was reduced to two misdemeanors: pointing a gun at another person and disorderly conduct. A judge sentenced Smith, 28, to 90 days in jail last week. As Smith entered his guilty plea, he defended Englund’s actions. “I don’t think he should be held responsible for, you know, anything involving any of these issues,” Smith said. “I committed a crime and, you know, he did what he probably thought was right to ... resolve the situation.” Smith said that in addition to paying restitution to the owner of the property, he would like to do “whatever I can” to help Englund, according to a court transcript. Englund’s attorney, Brian Toder, said he will fight the reduced charges. Englund did not point the shotgun at anybody, Toder said. “Even if he did, that’s reasonable force. He’s with a guy who he thought was a drug-crazed meth-head.” Englund, a member of the Bradford Township Board, has received an outpouring of support in the community about 45 miles north of Minneapolis as well as from around the country.

02-16-2007, 09:31 AM	#2
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 8,433	Goes to show how screwed up the justice system in this country really is,when the criminal does abetter job of wanting wrongs made right! __________________ Better days are comeing! .