Prison Time Piles Up For "Predator" And "Con Artist" Shaun Kidd

Thursday, October 11, 2012
Shaun Kidd
Shaun Kidd

Federal Judge Curtis Collier on Thursday termed 38-year-old Shaun Steven Kidd a "predator" and a "con artist" and added another nine years to his accumulating prison time.

Kidd, who earlier pleaded guilty to forging the name of Federal Judge Sandy Mattice in an attempt to get out of state prison, will have to serve that sentence on top of an earlier five-year federal stint. He also has an eight-year state sentence.

Judge Collier said the voluble Kidd "made a great speech" when pleading for mercy, but he said he is "a fraudster" for whom "there is no treatment that is available."

The judge went down the line of some of his crimes, including entering the Orchard Knob School classroom of his teacher sister when he was 21 and stealing $2 and credit cards from her purse. He ran up over $1,300 in charges on the credit cards.

In another instance, he told a 16-year-old girl that "nosey neighbors get killed," the judge said.

He said Kidd convinced a female bank employee to embezzle over $76,000.

Kidd told the judge he was placed in a dumpster by his parents and was raised in foster homes. Saying he was unloved, he said, "I just wanted a family."

He said, "I steal stuff. I take credit cards. But I don't rob people. I don't sell dope or beat up people. I'm not a gang member."

He spoke of working in the local funeral home business, including a tie-in with the Rev. Eugene Overstreet, who worked undercover with federal agents in the probe of Sheriff Billy Long.

He said he wanted to get back out to help his 87-year-old mother and to spend time with his 16-year-old daughter in Cleveland, Ohio.

Judge Collier said most of Kidd's talk "was about yourself" and not his many victims.

The sentencing guideline range for Kidd was 41-51 months, but Judge Collier set it at 108 months - just under the 120-month maximum. He said it was necessary to deter Kidd from further crime.

Prior to the three recent lengthy prison terms, Kidd's previous longest sentence in state court was six months.  

 


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