Carlson letter: Apply law equally
An article in the May 13 Idaho Statesman (Truth is as strange as fiction in staged roadside shooting) describes Shannon Egeland’s scheme to avoid prison and collect disability insurance. The most stunning sentence of this article is that, “Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford said he plans to recommend a five-year prison sentence.”
Five years? Egeland is a habitual offender: mortgage fraud, dealing drugs, petty theft and now insurance fraud. If Egeland were poor, black or Hispanic he would probably be looking at a life sentence.
This was not a victimless crime. Egeland not only attempted to defraud an insurance company, but he also lured his son into the commission of a violent crime. The damage to his son might actually be worse than the damage to his leg.
Our legal system often fails to provide equal justice under the law, but this case stands out. It says, “Put on some good clothes and hire a good attorney, and you will get off lightly.” Mr. Bradford, Judge Brown, please apply the law equally. This Egeland is a career criminal.
David Carlson, Boise
This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 11:19 PM with the headline "Carlson letter: Apply law equally."