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Toilet paper thief declared incompetent to stand trial
By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICAN
POSTED: December 14, 2007
A Marshalltown woman who garnered international headlines after she was caught stealing toilet paper from the county courthouse has been declared incompetent to stand trial.
Suzanne Butts, 38, was accused of stealing the toilet paper several months ago and was recently evaluated by Dr. Luke Hansen of Center Associates.
“His report indicates that Defendant cannot be restored to competency in a reasonable amount of time, due to functioning in the mild mental retardation range of intellectual functioning,” Judge Kim Riley wrote in her ruling.
The order also applies to four other cases, mainly involving theft.
Butts was theoretically facing a maximum of two years in prison for stealing three rolls of toilet paper. However, it was unlikely she would have been sentenced to the maximum and the county attorney’s office indicated it would have not asked for such a sentence, even if there had been a conviction.
While the ruling effectively ends the litigation in all five criminal cases for the time being, Butts may still have to answer for the crimes if her mental condition improves, the judge said.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
Suzanne Butts, 38, was accused of stealing the toilet paper several months ago and was recently evaluated by Dr. Luke Hansen of Center Associates.
“His report indicates that Defendant cannot be restored to competency in a reasonable amount of time, due to functioning in the mild mental retardation range of intellectual functioning,” Judge Kim Riley wrote in her ruling.
The order also applies to four other cases, mainly involving theft.
Butts was theoretically facing a maximum of two years in prison for stealing three rolls of toilet paper. However, it was unlikely she would have been sentenced to the maximum and the county attorney’s office indicated it would have not asked for such a sentence, even if there had been a conviction.
While the ruling effectively ends the litigation in all five criminal cases for the time being, Butts may still have to answer for the crimes if her mental condition improves, the judge said.
———
Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
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View Comments: | 1-2 | Post a comment
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CycloneMom
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12-15-07 1:09 AM
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Don't give them any ideas, bill. They might come up with one. In the meantime, remember to wash your hands--and don't use paper towels, should you happen to use too many in sight of the paper police!
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mtownwatcher
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12-14-07 10:52 AM
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Was justice served in this case? This is a hard one. I can see both sides.
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