Singleton Gets Jail Term for Theft
TAMPA, Fla. — Lawrence Singleton, who served eight years in prison for raping a teen-ager and chopping off her forearms, went back to jail Tuesday for 60 days after pleading no contest to stealing a $10 camera.
Singleton, who was chased out of several California towns after his release from prison in the highly publicized case, changed his plea from innocent to no contest on the misdemeanor petty theft charge. He continued to deny committing the theft and blamed the charge on an overzealous security guard.
“I don’t think I can get a fair trial,†said Singleton, 62. “I never have.â€
The security guard at a store in suburban Brandon spotted him allegedly taking a disposable camera from a display on April 8 and heading for the door with it tucked under his arm.
Singleton was convicted of raping 15-year-old runaway Mary Vincent, cutting off her forearms with an ax and leaving her for dead in a ditch along a Central California roadside in 1978.
Amid much public protest, Singleton was freed in 1987 after serving 8 years and 4 months of a 14-year sentence.
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