McCaul’s federal indictment wasn’t the first time he saw the inside of a courtroom as a criminal defendant. The federal indictment was based upon prior felony convictions for robbery and burglary. And while being convicted of robbery is bad enough, that wasn’t the beginning of John’s troubles.
John first got introduced to the law when he was just 13--arrested first on May 25, 1984 on one count and then again on June 27 on two other counts. The specifics are sealed; but John pled guilty to the charge from May 25 and was sentenced to probation at home for six months. The charges from June 27 were dropped.
The warning shot was apparently not enough, for on September 8, 1986 when John was 15 he was arrested again. This charge was apparently much more serious; he pled guilty and was sent to jail for the first time in his life--for 14 months. He was released from prison the first time shortly after he turned 17.
[UPDATE 05/17/2014: The May 25, 1984 charge and the one from September 8, 1986 were both for crimes that would have been felonies had John been an adult. See this little notation in both of those cases?
John first got introduced to the law when he was just 13--arrested first on May 25, 1984 on one count and then again on June 27 on two other counts. The specifics are sealed; but John pled guilty to the charge from May 25 and was sentenced to probation at home for six months. The charges from June 27 were dropped.
The warning shot was apparently not enough, for on September 8, 1986 when John was 15 he was arrested again. This charge was apparently much more serious; he pled guilty and was sent to jail for the first time in his life--for 14 months. He was released from prison the first time shortly after he turned 17.
[UPDATE 05/17/2014: The May 25, 1984 charge and the one from September 8, 1986 were both for crimes that would have been felonies had John been an adult. See this little notation in both of those cases?
It refers to this section of Nebraska state law, meaning that the court found John would have committed a felony but for the fact that he was a minor. In other words, John's felony ways started at the age of 13.]
Young men sometimes make bad choices, then go on to reform and lead productive and law-abiding lives. John chose to not pursue that path.
Less than four months after being released from youth detention, John committed his next crimes--this time going to the big leagues by committing felonies. On May 16, 1988--when John was still just 17 (but charged as an adult), he was charged with three counts of burglary. Nebraska tells us that someone who commits burglary “willfully, maliciously, and forcibly breaks and enters any real estate or any improvements erected thereon with intent to commit any felony or with intent to steal property of any value.” John pled guilty to one of the counts in exchange for having the other two dropped, and was sentenced to 1-2 years in prison.
It wasn’t the last time that John acted “willfully, maliciously, and forcibly” in breaking the law. Burglary was just a warm-up.
Young men sometimes make bad choices, then go on to reform and lead productive and law-abiding lives. John chose to not pursue that path.
Less than four months after being released from youth detention, John committed his next crimes--this time going to the big leagues by committing felonies. On May 16, 1988--when John was still just 17 (but charged as an adult), he was charged with three counts of burglary. Nebraska tells us that someone who commits burglary “willfully, maliciously, and forcibly breaks and enters any real estate or any improvements erected thereon with intent to commit any felony or with intent to steal property of any value.” John pled guilty to one of the counts in exchange for having the other two dropped, and was sentenced to 1-2 years in prison.
It wasn’t the last time that John acted “willfully, maliciously, and forcibly” in breaking the law. Burglary was just a warm-up.