John Ray Lomack, a 55-year-old long-time Seattle resident, has recently come under scrutiny for a string of unlawful activities. Lomack, whose legal troubles date back to the 1980s, made headlines when he was caught on camera robbing a downtown Seattle Target store, attempting to escape with a stolen 70-inch TV valued at over $600.
Repeated Offenses
According to Target employees, Lomack had been stealing from their store multiple times since October. Reports indicate he shoplifted from this Target store an astonishing 22 times before finally getting apprehended while attempting to make off with the stolen television. Surveillance footage captured Lomack placing the oversized TV box in a shopping cart and casually wheeling it out of the store without making any effort to pay for it. Since starting his shoplifting spree in October, he has managed to steal over $6,000 worth of merchandise from this particular Target location alone.
The Arrest
In the video, security personnel confronted Lomack, trying to prevent his exit through the revolving door. However, he managed to evade their efforts and left through an alternative exit. He continued down the street, dragging the TV behind him until Seattle police intervened, ordering him to release the stolen property. Lomack vehemently denied the theft, asserting that he had purchased the TV but was unable to produce a receipt. A physical altercation ensued when the police tried to arrest him, ultimately resulting in Lomack’s arrest on burglary charges. The TV had been discounted to $600 from its regular price of $750.
Legal Proceedings
Lomack is believed to be homeless, a factor that played a significant role in his appearance before Judge Kuljinder Dhillon, known for his leniency towards homeless defendants. In December, Judge Dhillon had released Lomack without bail for another burglary offense, and now he finds himself in a similar situation. Despite the King County prosecutor advocating for a $5,000 bond due to Lomack’s extensive criminal history, with 32 previous arrests and cases dating back to 1985, a different judge, Melinda Young, released the homeless suspect without bail once again. Young cited Lomack’s medical unavailability due to a COVID-19 exposure, requiring him to remain in quarantine.
Judicial Leniency
Judge Young, much like Judge Dhillon, has a reputation for showing leniency towards homeless offenders. This decision has sparked outrage among conservatives who believe that judges should keep suspected offenders in custody, especially those with an extensive criminal history like Lomack’s.
