No-show adds year to sentence.Byline: Bill Bishop The Register-Guard Ten weeks of freedom cost career burglar Michael William Duska an extra 13 months in prison Monday. Duska, 44, had a deal with the prosecutor - 34 months in prison for two burglaries. But the deal fell through after Duska was released from the Lane County Jail because of overcrowding overcrowding overcrowding of animal accommodation. Many countries now publish codes of practice which define what the appropriate volumetric allowances should be for each species of animal when they are housed indoors. Breaches of these codes is overcrowding. and didn't show up for sentencing in February. A Eugene police officer stopped Duska last week to warn him about riding a bicycle without a light after dark. But Duska ran and was caught. "My problem is I make a lot of bad decisions because I get strung out on drugs," Duska told Lane County Circuit Judge Lyle Velure ve·lure n. Obsolete Velvet or a velvetlike fabric. [Alteration of French velours; see velour.] . Duska's criminal record runs back to at least 1983, when he drove the getaway car getaway car n the thieves' getaway car → el coche en que huyeron los ladrones getaway car n → voiture prévue pour prendre la fuite in a deadly Florida burglary, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. court records. He served 12 1/2 years in prison. In Lane County, Duska was caught in July in a 3 a.m. home burglary after he and his accomplice accomplice: see accessory. backed the getaway car into a ditch at the scene. Duska told police he was helping his accomplice, a juvenile, move from the residence. The juvenile, however, confessed to the burglary, Deputy Lane County District Attorney Karl Matthews said in court. Duska signed an agreement to gain release from jail but failed to show up in court to face the burglary charge. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , he and another juvenile burglarized two sheds in broad daylight on Christmas Day at a home near Junction City Junction City, city (1990 pop. 20,604), seat of Geary co., NE Kans., at the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers; inc. 1859. The rail, trade, and processing center of an agricultural and dairy area, it grew as the supply point for nearby Fort Riley, . In that case, the homeowner confronted the pair at gunpoint after they had jacked up his pickup truck to steal two tires and wheels. Duska laughed at the man and sarcastically asked if he really would shoot someone over a couple of tires, Matthews said. The two drove away in Duska's pickup, but Lane County sheriff's deputies caught up with them later that day. Duska made a deal for a 34-month sentence, but jail overcrowding brought his release one day before his scheduled sentencing - prompting Velure to complain to jail officials. On Monday, Velure said he was "absolutely flabbergasted flab·ber·gast tr.v. flab·ber·gast·ed, flab·ber·gast·ing, flab·ber·gasts To cause to be overcome with astonishment; astound. See Synonyms at surprise. [Origin unknown. " that Duska would be released while facing a certain prison term. Jail officials explained at the time that they had the choice of releasing Duska or someone more dangerous. They noted that the jail has 340 beds, not counting 119 idled by budget cuts. On Monday, Matthews asked for, and got, a 47-month prison sentence. Duska said he didn't mind that his earlier deal had fallen through, and that he was sorry for the inconvenience. "I apologize to the court for not showing up," Duska said. "I make a lot of bad decisions." |
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