Court Lets Local Thief Off Because He’s Friendly
The Ohio Supreme Court overturned the burglary conviction of a Scioto County man because he acted friendly while stealing a leaf blower.
Donald Bertram, 33, was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 12 years in prison back in 2021. At the time Bertram was out on parole. He has a long arrest record with 29 trips to the Scioto County Jail on charges including multiple probation violations, assault burglary, felonious assault, and domestic violence.
Back in 2020, he pulled into someone’s driveway, got out of his car, went into their garage, took the homeowner’s leaf blower, and walked back to his car, all with a big smile on his face. When the homeowner told Bertram to stop, he got into his car with the leaf blower and drove away.
Bertram’s lawyer appealed the conviction saying he wasn’t a burglar because Ohio law says burglars have to use some type of deception, force, or sneak into a building.
The Ohio Supreme Court thought Bertram’s lawyer had a point and unanimously ordered Scioto County Common Pleas Court to change the conviction to one of misdemeanor criminal trespassing.
See the actual Supreme Court hearing. Click Here.