Dateline: UkraineA 9-year-old boy, angry at his father after an argument, allegedly stole his family’s nest egg and spent all $4,000 of it on candy. According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the boy admitted taking the money, which was hidden inside a couch, during a school holiday. “The disappearance was first spotted by his father. He opened the stash and saw it was empty,” Tatyana Kushnerova of the Konotop, Ukraine police department told reporters. The money—some $3,300 in U.S. cash and 600 euros ($640)—was converted into Ukrainian hryvnas with the help of an adult acquaintance. Over the next several days, the boy blew it all on candy, which he was at least kind enough to share with friends.Dateline: TexasWilliam Kelter, 52, thought he’d come up with the crime of the century. Unfortunately for him, clerks at a Walmart in Abilene weren’t as dumb as he was hoping. Kelter, 52, tried to finagle a major discount on a television set by swapping barcoded price tags with a clothes hanger. Instead of paying $228, he hoped to fork over just $1.17. A clerk at the checkout counter found a television for under $2 to be somewhat suspicious and alerted the store’s security staff. According to KTXS, Kelter was detained in an office until police arrived. He was charged with felony theft, destruction of evidence and misdemeanor destruction of writing. His charges were enhanced due to prior theft convictions.Dateline: MissouriKTVI-2 in St. Louis reports a man was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted robbery, third-degree assault and armed criminal action after he returned to the scene of the crime to demand the return of his gun from his victim. The incident began at 6:45 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 24, at a bus stop on West Florissant. Police allege Lester White, 25, approached several people who were waiting for a ride. He grabbed one man, put him in a headlock and stuck a gun in his back. The victim grabbed the gun away and several witnesses wrestled White to the ground. The assailant managed to break free and run away, leaving his gun behind. The victim walked to a nearby clinic and was speaking to a security guard when White returned and asked for his gun back. The victim said the gun had already been turned over to police. In retaliation, White allegedly struck the victim in the head. White was promptly arrested and is being held on $500,000 cash-only bail.Dateline: CaliforniaJeff Rougeot, a candidate for mayor in Paso Robles, had a particularly bad election day. Not only did he lose to incumbent Mayor Duane Picanco—who claimed 86 percent of the vote, easily defeating Rougeot and another candidate—but he was arrested and thrown in jail on multiple felonies. The San Luis Obispo County Tribune says Rougeot was booked on Nov. 6 for investigation of four misdemeanors for driving under the influence of alcohol and four violations of a family court order involving domestic violence. The unsuccessful civil servant is also a suspect in a string of alleged crimes in September and October, including felony charges of making criminal threats and brandishing a firearm. Police also took reports recently involving Rougeot for alleged grand theft, vandalism and trespassing, although those charges did not appear in this latest string of warrants. Superior Court Judge John Trice remanded Rougeot, 45, to San Luis Obispo County Jail. His bail has been set at $1.1 million. Rougeot is the owner of Radtunz Car Stereo in Paso Robles.Dateline: New YorkThe Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. David Jimenez was so grateful for his wife’s miraculous triumph over ovarian cancer that he offered to clean the crucifix outside St. Patrick’s Church in Newburgh where he spent two years praying for her recovery. Unfortunately, the giant cross collapsed while he was cleaning it, crushing his right leg. The limb was eventually amputated and now Jimenez is suing the church. Jimenez said he prayed at the towering cross for two years, hoping that his wife would beat her disease. In 2010, she was deemed cancer-free. “He attributed her recovery to his devotion to the cross and Christ hearing his prayers,” Jimenez’ lawyer, Kevin Kitson, told The Associated Press. While Jimenez was scrubbing Christ’s face with rags and soapy water, however, the 600-pound marble crucifix snapped off at the base and crushed Jimenez’ leg. He’s now filed suit against the Roman Catholic church for $3 million. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in state Supreme Court in Orange County in January.
Compiled by Devin D. O'Leary. Email your weird news to devin@alibi.com.
