Long, cold night for donation thief

A Salvation Army worker who was ordered by a judge in Painesville to spend a night homeless for stealing a holiday kettle containing about $250 returned to court with red eyes and red cheeks.

Nathen Smith, 28, who was fitted with a GPS device to track his moves, spent the previous night ducking in and out of government buildings for warmth. Smith also spent time in a park but did not go under a bridge where many of Painesville’s homeless sleep, probation supervisor David Washlock said.

Smith, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft, still must serve three days in jail, do eight hours of community service, get a general equivalency diploma and find a job, the judge said.