MEMPHIS, Tenn. — He has been charged with crimes 34 different times, and he is only 25- years-old.
Jessie Richardson was most recently arrested for stealing over 1,000 lottery tickets and cigarettes from a gas station, but it was his record that had city leaders speaking out.
On Wednesday, he was arrested for stealing $45,000 worth of lottery tickets and $1,000 worth of cigarettes from a gas station in the 5900 block of Winchester.
Police said someone brought one of the stolen tickets to another gas station on Winchester and tried to cash it in.
When it came up as stolen, the woman agreed to lead police where she got it: to a room at the American Inn on Elvis Presley where Richardson and another man were staying.
Police said that’s where they found the stolen tickets, cigarettes and a stolen purse and stolen handgun from other thefts.
Mayor-elect Jim Strickland believed this highlighted the need to keep repeat offenders locked up.
“It’s really disheartening for the community and disheartening for the Police Department. They’re tired of locking people up, and then they swing right around and get out,” he said.
Richard is no stranger to a jail cell.
He has been accused of crimes as an adult no less than 34 times, with charges ranging from driving on a revoked license to burglary and theft.
Strickland said although he believes non-violent offenders should be treated differently than those committing violent crimes, cases like these are another story.
“When you’ve committed that many, even non-violent crimes, you ought to look at it more seriously.”
However, he said, as important as a tough legal system is, it is equally important for community members to take action, report crimes and help police arrest repeat offenders sooner.
“You have to report all crimes because we need to know where crimes are occurring so we can allocate more police resources to those areas. You can do it through CrimeStoppers anonymously,” he said.
Richardson’s bond was set at $60,000.
He will be in court Thursday, October 29.
