Victoria Bascom: Teen To Walk 30 Miles For Stiffing Cab Driver
An Ohio judge has ordered a teen to walk 30 miles for stiffing a cab driver.
Painesville Judge Michael Cicconetti is known for giving out somewhat unusual punishments to those who break the law, so it was no surprise when he ordered teen Victoria Bascom, 19, to walk 30 miles, the same distance she rode in the cab.
Ciconnetti’s secretary Diane Armstrong told ABC News that Bascom was given the option of walking the distance, or spending 30 days in jail after she was found guilty of running off from her $100 cab fare. The driver drove Bascom approximately 30 miles from Cleveland to Painesville this past February before she jumped out of the cab and refused to pay.
“Poor guy, they’re mostly on contract so he’s out 100 bucks,” Cicconetti said.
Bascom’s walk had to be completed within 48 hours, so she started earlier this week by walking at the Lake County fair grounds. The judge quickly realized that Bascom would not be able to complete her 30 miles by walking at the fair grounds, rather than the asphalt, and reduced her sentence to 20 miles.
“At that pace, it’s going to take most of the 48 hours,” Cicconetti said after stopping by to check on Bascom.
“I’ve never been to jail and I don’t want to go to jail,” Bascom told Newsnet 5 Cleveland. “I’m kind of upset about this sentence, you know, ’cause I’m thinking I was going to go in and just have to pay a fine — I guess only a 100 dollars or whatever.”
“I almost ended up getting jail time, so I guess I’m kind of lucky he gave me this option.”
Along with her 30 mile walk, Cicconetti sentenced Bascom to four months probation, and she was also ordered to pay the $100 to the cab driver.
So, why the unusual punishment?
“I typically use these creative alternative sentences for younger people who are more impressionable, at least somewhat remorseful, and are usually first-time offenders,” Cinconetti said. “The philosophy behind it is that whatever punishment they choose, it’s going to prevent them from coming back to court on another charge.”
[Photo via Shutterstock]
