Shaun Fawster, Maine Homeless Man, Gets 'Theft Of Services' For Charging Cellphones

BANGOR, Maine — Police have brought charges against a homeless man in Maine who helped himself to an outdoor electrical outlet to charge a pair of cellphones.

A Bangor police officer checking downtown businesses discovered 23-year-old Shaun Fawster charging his cellphones in an outlet hidden behind some flowers.

Fawster was charged last weekend with theft of services, as well as carrying a concealed weapon after the officer found a folding knife tucked underneath his shirt.

The Bangor Daily News says Fawster was later released from jail. It's unknown if he has an attorney.

Flickr photo by scriptingnews.

Comments

[Scottsman]

12:16 PM on 07/21/2011

Hay Maine cops , send me the bill for the power he used. Jerks

[TruelyFedUp]

02:47 PM on 07/04/2011

Dang, they won't let me repost the portion on using land held by the federal government which holds 30% of the land mass of the United States equal to many of the major countries in Europe including UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Poland, New Zealand, Ireland, Bahrain, Hong Kong and a few other small countries... We surely have sufficient arable land to appoint as free land bases for American citizens who need the help.

[TruelyFedUp]

02:42 PM on 07/04/2011

Continued; What we must do is create self-sustaining eco-villages which are free to any American in need. We provide the resources and ask those participating to build the buildings, create organic gardens, small farming, and maintain these things while governing themselves. Housing can be shared and minimal as would be the common buildings such as kitchens, cafeterias, laundries, library, business center, health care center, schools, etc. This will eliminate the need for continuous social supplementation by an already struggling middle class through taxation and would give dignity to those without the jobs and the means to provide for themselves.

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

03:26 AM on 07/23/2011

Hey, you just reinvented the Shakers. You should read up on the Oneida Colony. Such villages have been reinvented many times over the last 200 years, they usually survive for a generation or two at most. They do a good job while they last though.

My idea is not quite as idealistic: I think the Federal Government should turn all Bureau of Land Management lands and National Forests over to the States in which they are located. This would give the Western States ownership of their own territory. The Feds own 87% of the State of Arizona. Doesn't leave them much space for a tax base does it? Giving the States more resources would give them more income and more opportunities to take care of their own people.

[TruelyFedUp]

04:22 PM on 07/25/2011

I agree, and if taxes ONLY came from land use and all the land, water and air were considered the common wealth of the entire population there would be no homelessness, joblessness would not be a desperate situation. People should always own a share of those resources as a birthright. It should not be a priviledge of the wealthy. Land hoarding should be banned. Land speculation should be banned. There is no valid reason for Ted Turner to own over 2 million acres of land while another American is living under a bridge or is in jail because he has no right to live anywhere in America - the land of the Not So Free.

[ByAndForThePeople]

05:26 PM on 07/03/2011

Undoubtedly, if Fawster had been a middle-aged white dude in slacks and a sport coat carrying a concealed pistol, the cop would have asked politely if he could assist in getting the phone charged.

[Koeiseun]

08:38 PM on 07/02/2011

Simply pathetic...

[debberae]

02:44 PM on 07/02/2011

The outlet was uncovered. Unless there was signage posted like "Do Not Trescharge" I'm not sure this was a legal arrest other than the charge for carrying eating utensils.

[OMGchristian]

11:25 PM on 07/01/2011

Wow...do the cops in Bangor, Maine really have nothing more productive to do with their time?? Sad... :(

[First Blast]

07:00 PM on 07/01/2011

They love to humiliate the most vulnerable.

[The Jesus]

06:54 PM on 07/01/2011

"Uknown if he has an attorney" I am sure he must have team of lawyers just like DSK.

[Dave Harrison]

06:51 PM on 07/01/2011

Someone send me a link and I will donate $10 to the guy to earn a meager living by doing what he can to feed and clothe himself.

[SpitfireMK9]

06:30 PM on 07/01/2011

15 years ago I spent 6 months in Mr Fawster's position. You keep your head down and you get by without asking too much of anyone. I'd have done the same thing if it meant I wouldn't have to inconvenience anyone by asking for help. It's the little things you can do for yourself when you're homeless which allow you to hold your head up a little higher. I wish him all the best and a speedy return to the life he once knew.

[floridem]

07:29 PM on 07/01/2011

Thanks for your personal story. It gives real context and understanding for the one above.

[Alex Luck]

08:32 PM on 07/01/2011

I KNEW fanning you was going to be a good idea! Nice one.

[euromarkusx]

06:30 PM on 07/01/2011

Barney Fife strikes again

[srheard]

06:29 PM on 07/01/2011

A country is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. Book'm Danno!

[George7Costanza]

06:13 PM on 07/01/2011

Why is this news

[Aj Beamish]

06:40 PM on 07/01/2011

Why did people like Seinfeld?

[LLeGrande]

06:13 PM on 07/01/2011

How much can it cost to charge a cell phone? One penney? It certainly doesn't rise to the charge of 'theft of service'.

But, then, that's was the police and justice system are set up to do - harass and control poor people.

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

03:18 AM on 07/23/2011

I had a curious discussion with a nice man from New Zealand last year. He actually believed that the police existed in order to help people. Isn't that odd? I told him that the police were agents of the state and that their actual purpose was to protect the state from the people and he stared at me as if I had 2 heads. Then I remembered he came from Middle Earth, so I cut him some slack.