Kids play football...and the ball goes "out of bounds" once too often...

Into the yard of an old lady. She then decides it's time to deal with the problem...with nasty consequences. This Associated Press story tells what happened to one woman who decided to do something about a particular "stray" football: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/ODD_FOOTBALL_CHARGE?SITE=WCNC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT (Fair Use claimed.) .

What happened? It seems that the neighboring kids have been a bit careless and don't watch to make sure their ball remains on THEIR "playing field" ( in their yard). An 89-year-old woman in Blue Ash, Ohio--Edna Jester-- who has ended up "receiving" the ball over and over again decided that the next time her yard ended up on the "50-yard line" she will "take possession" of the wayward pigskin.

The ball did come back to her. She took it from the kids. The kids then cried "foul" to their parents. One daddy decided that they needed to call in a "referee"...

Police say one child's father complained that Jester kept the youngsters' ball after it landed in her yard. Police Capt. James Schaffer says there has been an ongoing dispute in the neighborhood over kids' balls landing in the woman's yard.

The cops "sacked" her, putting her under arrest for misdemeanor petty theft.

It's not over yet: Her case may well end up in a result that fits better with another sport...you could call it a potential stay in the "Penalty Box": She has a court date next month on charges of petty theft that can result in six months in jail AND a fine up to $1,000.

Yes, it's that serious for her. Under OH law, the charge is misdemeanor petty theft, ORC § 2913.02: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2913.02 (applicable portion quoted) :

(A) No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services, shall knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or services in any of the following ways:

(1) Without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;

(2) Beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;

(3) By deception;

(4) By threat;

(5) By intimidation.

(B)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of theft.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division or division (B)(3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8 ) of this section, a violation of this section is petty theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

ORC Chapter 2929.24 states the penalty for a misdemeanor:

(A) Except as provided in section 2929.22 or 2929.23 of the Revised Code and unless another term is required or authorized pursuant to law, if the sentencing court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor elects or is required to impose a jail term on the offender pursuant to this chapter, the court shall impose a definite jail term that shall be one of the following:

(1) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than one hundred eighty days;

ORC 2929.28 states the penalty:

(A) In addition to imposing court costs pursuant to section 2947.23 of the Revised Code, the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor, including a minor misdemeanor, may sentence the offender to any financial sanction or combination of financial sanctions authorized under this section. If the court in its discretion imposes one or more financial sanctions, the financial sanctions that may be imposed pursuant to this section include, but are not limited to, the following: ...

(2) A fine of the type described in divisions (A)(2)(a) and (b) of this section payable to the appropriate entity as required by law:

(a) A fine in the following amount:

(i) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than one thousand dollars;

Geez, how much could that football be worth? Is it gold-plated?? A first-degree misdemeanor is as severe as a misdemeanor gets and the kids were NOT doing what they should...repeatedly. Simply arguing with the neighbors should not rise to this level.

Something is not right here.