Dallas County court documents state that Bobby Joe Springfield, on December 16, 2007, did criminal trespass, burglary to property owned by Larry McClendon. According to the court papers, Bobby Springfield was originally charged with a felony count and faced up to two years in prison and fines up to $10,000 for his actions. A plea bargain reduced his sentence to a slap on the wrist - six months supervision and $300 in fines. His attorney was Brian Sanford. Now everyone in Texas knows the lawyer to get when they decide to steal property from someone else.



Why did Bobby Joe Springfield commit this act when it could have cost him two years in jail, not to mention the fines? Probably the same reason everyone decides to commit a crime - because they know that they can get away with it. Plea bargains have taken over the justice system. It used to be that if you did the crime, you did the time. Today, even violent offenders are getting second and third and fourth chances to commit crimes again and again.

While criminal trespass, burglary is not a violent crime in nature, but a crime against the property of another individual, many career criminals get their start in this manner. Often, once a person like Bobby Joe Springfield sees how easy it is to plead down a case, he will be tempted to commit a crime again. After all, if someone virtually gets away with a crime once, what is to stop them from committing criminal trespass and burglary again? Will Bobby Springfield repeat is crime? The jury is still out on that.

However, statistics on criminals show that offenders who feel they can break the law in the first place are more likely to do so again. While as of yet, Bobby Joe Springfield is not considered to be a violent offender, what is to stop him from using violence the next time he decides he needs money? Many violent offenders are out on parole when they commit a crime. They apparently do not learn their lesson and go back for more. And why not? Prisons often seem to be equipped with revolving doors.

The plea was entered in agreement with the prosecuting counsel and an order was entered into the records on January 21, 2009 by the Honorable Dorothy Shead, a Dallas County judge. The court records indicate that Bobby Joe Springfield was admonished for his crime of criminal trespass, burglary to the property of Larry McClendon and ordered on supervision. He cannot commit any crimes during this six months period or he faces sterner action.

No one knows much about Bobby Springfield of Texas or why he decided to commit this crime. In some cases, first time offenders are truly scared and sorry for their actions and quickly rehabilitate. In others, a plea bargain such as this inspires them to commit more crimes as they feel a sense of power that they got away with something. Will Bobby Joe Springfield commit criminal trespass and burglary again? Only time will tell.