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A silver-tongued Ardmore con artist found his power of persuasion had run dry Wednesday morning when Associate District Judge Lee Card said, “It’s not safe for you to be out [in society].”
Edward A. Haines appeared before Card with his attorney Jason May. Haines was in court for sentencing on a 2011 conviction of obtaining cash by false pretenses and District Attorney Craig Ladd’s motion to accelerate his 2010 deferred sentences for similar “robbing Peter to pay Paul” crimes.
A number of Haines’ victims were in the courtroom to observe the proceedings.
Markedly absent were Haines’ wife and sister. Haines claimed his wife was willing to cash in her teacher’s retirement for a lump sum and his sister was willing to sell an inherited residence and give the funds to him in order to make restitution to the victims he had bilked out of thousands of dollars.
May asked the judge to delay sentencing until March, telling Card his client would have the money to make restitution by then. However, he offered no evidence to substantiate his client’s claim his wife and sister would come to his aid. The local attorney also told Card his client was in need of a medical procedure.
On the other side of the courtroom, Ladd supplied the judge with statements from victims concerning Haines’ cons, including his attempt to bilk another victim out of money just weeks ago while awaiting sentencing.
“I know what I did was wrong and I ask for forgiveness from these people (victims). I want to make full restitution to these people,” Haines told Card.
The judge recessed proceedings to deliberate his decision.
Minutes later Card returned to the courtroom, telling the 64-year-old defendant, “You have an answer for everything,” adding when those claims turn out to be false, “You have another story that never pans out.”
The judge said while he sympathized with Haines’ medical issues, “It’s not safe for you to be out. You got probation the first time (2010) and you did it again (2011) and it looks like you did again just three weeks ago.”
Card sentenced the former Marietta High School teacher and coach to five four-year prison terms, ruling the sentences would be served concurrently.
“I’m ordering you to pay restitution when you get out,” Card said.
But the judge told the victims in the courtroom he doubted they would ever be repaid.
The judge’s final words to Haines were, “You are remanded to the custody of the sheriff.”
Following the proceedings Ladd talked about the case.
“I am pleased with the sentences imposed by Judge Card. The incarceration will ensure that, at least for some period of time, Haines won’t have an opportunity to continue conning local citizens and will serve punishment for his crimes,” he said.
A silver-tongued Ardmore con artist found his power of persuasion had run dry Wednesday morning when Associate District Judge Lee Card said, “It’s not safe for you to be out [in society].”
Edward A. Haines appeared before Card with his attorney Jason May. Haines was in court for sentencing on a 2011 conviction of obtaining cash by false pretenses and District Attorney Craig Ladd’s motion to accelerate his 2010 deferred sentences for similar “robbing Peter to pay Paul” crimes.
A number of Haines’ victims were in the courtroom to observe the proceedings.
Markedly absent were Haines’ wife and sister. Haines claimed his wife was willing to cash in her teacher’s retirement for a lump sum and his sister was willing to sell an inherited residence and give the funds to him in order to make restitution to the victims he had bilked out of thousands of dollars.
May asked the judge to delay sentencing until March, telling Card his client would have the money to make restitution by then. However, he offered no evidence to substantiate his client’s claim his wife and sister would come to his aid. The local attorney also told Card his client was in need of a medical procedure.
On the other side of the courtroom, Ladd supplied the judge with statements from victims concerning Haines’ cons, including his attempt to bilk another victim out of money just weeks ago while awaiting sentencing.
“I know what I did was wrong and I ask for forgiveness from these people (victims). I want to make full restitution to these people,” Haines told Card.
The judge recessed proceedings to deliberate his decision.
Minutes later Card returned to the courtroom, telling the 64-year-old defendant, “You have an answer for everything,” adding when those claims turn out to be false, “You have another story that never pans out.”
The judge said while he sympathized with Haines’ medical issues, “It’s not safe for you to be out. You got probation the first time (2010) and you did it again (2011) and it looks like you did again just three weeks ago.”
Card sentenced the former Marietta High School teacher and coach to five four-year prison terms, ruling the sentences would be served concurrently.
“I’m ordering you to pay restitution when you get out,” Card said.
But the judge told the victims in the courtroom he doubted they would ever be repaid.
The judge’s final words to Haines were, “You are remanded to the custody of the sheriff.”
Following the proceedings Ladd talked about the case.
“I am pleased with the sentences imposed by Judge Card. The incarceration will ensure that, at least for some period of time, Haines won’t have an opportunity to continue conning local citizens and will serve punishment for his crimes,” he said.
