Man gets life in Slidell Wal Mart theft case

Co-defendant sentenced to 40 years

By Suzanne Le Breton
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 12:27 AM CST

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A Baton Rouge man was sentenced to life and his co-defendant got 40 years after the two men attempted to steal digital cameras from the Slidell Walmart on Natchez Drive.

District Judge William Crain sentenced Damon Caliste to life in prison and Darien Hainkel to four years behind bars after determining that both men qualified as career criminals.

The two men were arrested in November 2008 after they were observed on the store’s video surveillance system stealing cameras. A jury found both men guilty of theft over $500 in July 2009.

That charge normally carries a penalty of no more than 10 years in jail.

Rick Wood, spokesman for District Attorney Walter Reed, said because both men had extensive criminal histories the District Attorney’s Office opted to seek a stiffer sentence.

Crain handed down the sentence following a multiple offender hearing Friday evening.

Wood said during a multiple offender hearing the judge is allowed to take into consideration the defendant’s role in the crime as well as his prior convictions when deciding on a sentence.

It is unknown what prior convictions Hainkel possesses, but Caliste has been convicted previously in St. Tammany Parish on drug charges.

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Comments

13 comment(s)

L.CALISTE wrote on Feb 17, 2010 1:21 PM:

" DAMON CALISTE IS MY COUSIN, AND I AM HEART BROKEN,I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN LOUISIANA IS THAT MESSED UP.. "

Pearl River wrote on Feb 5, 2010 8:33 PM:

" Okay a sentence of life and 40 years for previous charges on top of the new one of theft for over $500. There are people killing,shooting,,rapeing,and commiting other major crimes who get a sentence with way less time. We don't need to spend tax dollars on petty crimes. If the criminal system does not get better we are all out of luck in the future. They deserve to be punished and made an example but gee wiz this is to far. "

NSCitizen wrote on Feb 5, 2010 12:23 PM:

" Unless Caliste was arrested somewhere else, his record shows only one other arrest for possession of a scheduled narcotic. This is way too harsh considering there are a lot of others with more serious offenses sentenced to lesser time. "

bob wrote on Feb 4, 2010 4:15 PM:

" wah wah wah great job judge, people you will learn that when you come to ST Tammany we dont play.. Career crimanals what dont yall understand..Next they could kill someone, great job and keep up the work "

OMG Bullcrap wrote on Feb 4, 2010 2:36 PM:

" All three of my grandchildren were sexually assulted! and the creep only did 7 years... this country is going to crap in a handbag. Lets focus on the crimes that are serious...and make the punishment fit the crime! "

Gee Wizz wrote on Feb 3, 2010 4:19 PM:

" So a CAMERA is worth more than a HUMAN LIFE? Hello Judge alzheimer, killers are walking the streets. "

HOSS wrote on Feb 3, 2010 2:41 PM:

" I agree that both sentances were severe. We do not know what other types of crimes these two have commited in the past. Who wants a loved one killed by someone who has an extensive criminal record when if a judge had put the pyscho away years before your loved one would still be alive. "

deb wrote on Feb 3, 2010 7:05 AM:

" what? life
when you try to kill someone or rape a child or women they get out after a few years or even months this makes me sick LIFE FOR STEALING CAMERAS "

mimi wrote on Feb 2, 2010 10:39 PM:

" thats a shame they get 40 to life theres people out there charges for attempted murder and they still out in the street! "

R.SIDE wrote on Feb 2, 2010 2:41 PM:

" This is a tragic situation. Violent career criminals have forced our judicial system to impose stiff sentances for those who seem to not be able to abide by the laws of our great country. Now granted, these two stole from Walmart, and no one was hurt. But if had been my house they stole from, I would be glad to see them going away forever. "

Judy wrote on Jan 31, 2010 11:06 AM:

" Hello people, the District Judge Crain needs to revaluate himself or mind for senile. True saying Justice is Blind in the world. OMG "

a tax payer wrote on Jan 30, 2010 4:46 PM:

" life for stealing a few cameras? What BS! "

Man of God wrote on Jan 28, 2010 10:10 PM:

" So there goes another prison bed to a petty thief. I can't stand a thief but 40 yrs and a LIFE sentence is ridiculous.
I'm sure they will parole murderers early so they can have space for camera thieves!

Jeeze! "

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