Judge Shows How Checkbook Justice Works

Daniel Coombs, arrested for breaking into a church, decided to throw himself on the mercy of the court. The judge was so merciful that he bought Coombs a meal and even paid for the window he broke.

Coombs, 22, of Brunswick, was found sleeping on the floor of the nursery of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church early Thursday.

Police said Coombs had broken a pane of glass in a window to get in, and then helped himself to food in the church refrigerator before falling asleep.

Coombs pleaded guilty to charges of criminal mischief and trespassing. He told Judge Clifford O’Rourke that he had lost his job, had been thrown out of the place where he had been living and was battling a problem with alcohol.

O’Rourke gave Coombs a suspended 30-day sentence and ordered him to undergo counseling for alcoholism. He then reached into his pocket and gave Coombs money for a meal, and wrote a personal check to the church to pay for the broken window.

“He threw himself on the mercy of the court and the judge was merciful,” Deputy Police Chief Richard Mears said. “For a judge to make this kind of compassionate action is unusual and noteworthy.”