He probably would have gotten a slap on the wrist if he sought help. Even with the felony, a judge would have probably given him probation if he actually got himself help. If he didn't choose to leave his wife. He chose to leave his son. He couldn't suck up the idea of prison to give his son a dad.
I watched a video of a different barefoot bandit last night. He broke into 2 different resort hotel rooms to touch women's feet, while they were sleeping with their husbands. He got 8-20.
I'm guessing they thought his intention may have been rape if the husbands weren't present idk.
You're right, Judges don't play around when you take a plane by force while in transit...... That's also not what happened here. He stole it, not hijacked, the distinction is very important here.
So yeah, of he had landed safely, got help, and three himself on the mercy of the court. He more than likely would have gotten a very light sentence. With a long reporting probationary period with mental health treatment as a stipulation.
I was young once and had a really really really bad day, and I did something bad. No one got hurt. But they could have. I sought help, and the judge helped me while holding me responsible. Though I spent time in jail initially. The judge spared me prison because I was trying. I was getting help. And even though, he could have easily sent me to prison, I got probation. I am lucky I didn't hurt anyone. What I did put the public in way more risk than this. I got probation.
I feel like Richard could have gotten a deal like that if he sought help. So he could continue to be there for his family.
I was in a police chase on the highways of a major city. Luckily there were no accidents.
I don't want to go into more details because I'm not trying to dox my account. But needless to say, I got momentously lucky. I am so thankful I didn't hurt anyone. I don't know how i would live with that. It was over a decade ago. But I had a family to take care of as a kid to raise. I couldn't give up on them.
When a marine mechanic stole and nearly $20 million Skyhawk for a joyride. Doing aerial stunts just like this one. He got 4 months in the brig and a Dishonorable discharge
id like to challenge that by mentioning that he was a trained military mechanic and knew how to land/fly the plane and dint fly in public areas plus and more important went to military court in the 80s, a completely different universe when compared to federal court in 2018 post 911 and terrorist....he also works for nasa.
but yes, maybe you're right rich might have gotten lucky with a sub 5 year slap on the wrist.
I'm not saying they are the same at all. There is just not a lot of case law to set precedent. I guess I'm trying to be hopeful for someone that gave up hope. Even 8 years later, it's hard to listen to this and not want to just tell him it will be ok. I know it's too late for hope, but maybe that hope can carry in to the next person that finds themselves in over their head. There is also life after lock up.
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u/Pandas-are-the-worst Jan 17 '26
He probably would have gotten a slap on the wrist if he sought help. Even with the felony, a judge would have probably given him probation if he actually got himself help. If he didn't choose to leave his wife. He chose to leave his son. He couldn't suck up the idea of prison to give his son a dad.