450-Lbs. Montreal Prisoner Set Free After Being Deemed Too Fat For Jail

[24KT]

450-Lbs. Montreal Prisoner Set Free After Being Deemed Too Fat For Jail
Thursday November 13, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff



There's nothing that drives some law-and-order minded Canadians to anger quite like a prisoner being released from detention before he's paid his full debt to society. So you can only imagine the reaction after a convicted drug dealer was allowed to walk free in Montreal Tuesday.

It's not that the provincial parole board is convinced that Michel Lapointe is no longer a danger to society or even that he's decided to reform. The 37-year-old was let go literally because there wasn't a jail cell that could hold him.

Lapointe weighs 450 lbs. and could no longer fit in his surroundings. The convicted criminal wasn't able to sit on the chair in his cell, and his large frame protruded six inches on either side of every bed they could find. His legs couldn't fit under the prison dining table and there was no back support in whatever seating arrangement they tried to give him.

In the end, it was deemed he was simply too fat to stay in jail and that his health was at risk.

So the Quebec Parole Board set him free, informing him he didn't even have to go to a halfway house to finish his time. Instead, he was allowed to go home.

"You have been detained for more than 25 months and your prison conditions are difficult because of your health," a letter from the Board explains. Authorities tried to place him in two different halfway houses, but they couldn't accommodate his large frame, either.

Lapointe was arrested on drug trafficking and conspiracy charges in September 2006, was convicted and given a five-year sentence just last May.

His lawyer claims his client only weighed 300 lbs. when he was detained by police but greasy prison food caused him to balloon by nearly 150 lbs. He'd like to see the menu in Canadian prisons altered to more healthy alternatives.

Meanwhile, the newly released prisoner claims he's a changed man and wants to go straight. "I'm going to have a proper bed and finally have a chair I can sit in," he told the Journal de Montreal. "I want a normal life. I've done some stupid things and I've paid for them."

It's not clear if that 'normal life' will include a change in his diet or what might happen if Lapointe can't keep to his resolve and winds up back behind bars again.

[drkaje]

Bullets are cheap, Judi.

[24KT]

Bullets are cheap, Judi.

No death penalty in Canada, ...but there's always fast food. 

[drkaje]

No death penalty in Canada, ...but there's always fast food. 

Good thing he's Canadian. Now he can go on welfare and get free healthcare forever.

Ain't Socialism grand?

[24KT]

Good thing he's Canadian. Now he can go on welfare and get free healthcare forever.

Ain't Socialism grand?

 

[drkaje]

Better go make some money to support that fatass. Welfare isn't free ya know.

[danielson]

So hypothetically Onlyme could kill That Johhny Vegas guy with no repercussions?

[drkaje]

So hypothetically Onlyme could kill That Johhny Vegas guy with no repercussions?

Or eat him and poop out the evidence.

[24KT]

Better go make some money to support that fatass. Welfare isn't free ya know.

Nah, ...he's in Montreal. He'd have to get welfare from the Quebec provincial gov.
I'm in Ontario, so Ontario tax payers won't be paying for it.
In any event, welfare and or disability will probably be cheaper than keeping him in prison.

[drkaje]

Nah, ...he's in Montreal. He'd have to get welfare from the Quebec provincial gov.
I'm in Ontario, so Ontario tax payers won't be paying for it.
In any event, welfare and or disability will probably be cheaper than keeping him in prison.

A 45ACP will be cheaper than both.

[24KT]

A 45ACP will be cheaper than both.

What's a '45ACP'?

[drkaje]

What's a '45ACP'?

240 grains of justice, Judi.

A 45 caliber bullet.

[Hereford]

Violating the civil rights of the disabled is wrong, and obesity is a disability.

[24KT]

Violating the civil rights of the disabled is wrong, and obesity is a disability.

I think they were actually thinking more of the potential liability to them if he should die in custody. 

[drkaje]

Violating the civil rights of the disabled is wrong, and obesity is a disability.

Someone eats his/her self to death and the taxpayer ends up on the hook for it?

[Hereford]

I think they were actually thinking more of the potential liability to them if he should die in custody. 

Actually Jag this is what I got out of it too.

It kinda looks like he's blaming the jail for what he's done to hinmself, and getting away with it.

[24KT]

Someone eats his/her self to death and the taxpayer ends up on the hook for it?

When it's the tax payer controlling his diet and exercise...yep.
He gained a full 50% of his body weight due to an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise.
Those things were outside of his control. If he died in custody, you could bet the taxpayers would be on the hook. If you cannot ensure a man's safety when you confine him to custody, ...you can't hold him in custody

[drkaje]

When it's the tax payer controlling his diet and exercise...yep.
He gained a full 50% of his body weight due to an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise.
Those things were outside of his control. If he died in custody, you could bet the taxpayers would be on the hook. If you cannot ensure a man's safety when you confine him to custody, ...you can't hold him in custody

Bullshit! He's a fat, greedy, drug dealing pig. Your argument would sneak on making sense if all the other prisoners gained half their body weight. He's just greedy and overeats. He's responsible for going to jail, dietary decisions and life.

People are responsible for themselves.

[24KT]

Bullshit! He's a fat, greedy, drug dealing pig. Your argument would sneak on making sense if all the other prisoners gained half their body weight. He's just greedy and overeats. He's responsible for going to jail, dietary decisions and life.

People are responsible for themselves.

Greedy and overeats?
I know Canada ia a generous country, ...but I hardly think he's getting 2^nd servings for dinner.
He's not responsible for his dietary choices behind bars, ...he eats what they serve.

Ya he was 300lbs when he went in, ...but he could fit at the time. He's since ballooned to 450lbs, and there is neither a bed, nor cell able to fit him. Personally, I'd rather see him get out and die of a heartattack, than be kept in custody, die of a heart attack, and have tax payers have to settle a wrongful death suit that would surely come. He'll probably be on house arrest or something. What do you care anyway? ...he's Canadian. It's like you're developing a mean punitive & petty streak. You turning Republican on me? 

[danielson]

What do you care anyway? ...he's Canadian. It's like you're developing a mean punitive & petty streak. You turning Republican on me? 

 

[24KT]

Let me simplify that for the ignorant:

Fat French Canadians being released from prison before they die, ...don't affect Americans south of the border.

Stupid, Moronic Presidents in the USA make stupid moronic decisions that affect the entire planet.

[w8m8]

Greedy and overeats?

Over eats  yes.. Lazy too
Are there "no" ways to exercise in a jail cell .. ummm ??  Things can be done in a cell besides lie in the bed 24/7

 

He's not responsible for his dietary choices behind bars, ...he eats what they serve.

I think all prisoners have commisary .. they can buy all the food they can afford

Ya he was 300lbs when he went in, ...but he could fit at the time. He's since ballooned to 450lbs, and there is neither a bed, nor cell able to fit him. Personally, I'd rather see him get out and die of a heartattack, than be kept in custody, die of a heart attack, and have tax payers have to settle a wrongful death suit that would surely come. He'll probably be on house arrest or something. What do you care anyway? ...he's Canadian.

after you said that ...

It's like you're developing a mean punitive & petty streak.

I was thinkin'

pot meet kettle


juss sayin' 

[24KT]

Over eats  yes.. Lazy too
Are there "no" ways to exercise in a jail cell .. ummm ??  Things can be done in a cell besides lie in the bed 24/7

 
I think all prisoners have commisary .. they can buy all the food they can afford

after you said that ...

I was thinkin'

pot meet kettle


juss sayin' 

I guess that shows you how little I know about prison life. 

[w8m8]

I guess that shows you how little I know

let's not go there

[Deicide]

Dude is simply hardcore.