Spelling out the ‘letter of the law’

Re “In ketchup-theft trial, court system gets the flavor of an O.C. original” and “Illegal immigration slows in California,” April 15

In The Times, I read about a jury trial for someone who stole a used bottle of ketchup presumed to be about half gone. The alleged purpose of the trial was “to follow the letter of the law.”

In the same day’s newspaper, it was reported that the number of illegal immigrants in California is estimated to be 2.7 million. These people, who came across the border illegally, cannot be touched unless they are caught breaking another law.

Is a half-bottle of ketchup more sacred than the sanctity of our borders? What other law can a person break, and once he has gotten away with it, be forgiven? I fail to see the logic in our application of “the letter of the law.”

Jean B. Rogers

Mission Viejo

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So the district attorney’s office spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to prosecute a local troublemaker who allegedly stole a half-bottle of ketchup from Chapman University.

To teach the man a lesson, now that he’s been convicted, the prosecutor is recommending probation.

Shame on the district attorney’s office. It’s no wonder county budgets are stressed when public servants misbehave like this.

Greg Bristol

Santa Barbara