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http://www.wesh.com/r/25396198/detail.html
<span style="font-weight: bold">War Vet Charged With Theft Over Tattered US Flag
Orange County Vet Says He's Ready For Jail, Will Not Accept Plea
</span>
GOLDENROD, Fla. -- An Orange County war veteran will head to court next week after he said his good intentions were turned into criminal charges.
The State Attorney's Office said Karl Baldner, a U.S. Army veteran, will face theft charges after he removed an American flag from a local building more than a year ago.
Baldner said he took the ripped and damaged flag from a business establishment and left a note that said, “Please have respect for the American flag and don't display our flag in such a condition. It disgraces our nation.”
Police reports, however, said that according to the business owner, Baldner stormed in and demanded in a threatening fashion that he remove the flag.
A detective said he called Baldner using the number he wrote on the note.
“(Baldner) advised me he took the flag from the victim's property because he was offended by it. (Baldner) took the flag to the Veterans Affairs and had it burned,” the investigator said in his report.
The Sheriff's Office and the state attorney tried to offer Baldner a pretrial diversion program, but the business owner insisted that the case move on.
Baldner said he never met the business owner, noting that he would not accept a plea and he would go to jail for the flag if needed.
“I'm a very patriotic man, and I can't go any further than that,” Baldner said.
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http://www.wesh.com/r/25396198/detail.html
<span style="font-weight: bold">War Vet Charged With Theft Over Tattered US Flag
Orange County Vet Says He's Ready For Jail, Will Not Accept Plea
</span>
GOLDENROD, Fla. -- An Orange County war veteran will head to court next week after he said his good intentions were turned into criminal charges.
The State Attorney's Office said Karl Baldner, a U.S. Army veteran, will face theft charges after he removed an American flag from a local building more than a year ago.
Baldner said he took the ripped and damaged flag from a business establishment and left a note that said, “Please have respect for the American flag and don't display our flag in such a condition. It disgraces our nation.”
Police reports, however, said that according to the business owner, Baldner stormed in and demanded in a threatening fashion that he remove the flag.
A detective said he called Baldner using the number he wrote on the note.
“(Baldner) advised me he took the flag from the victim's property because he was offended by it. (Baldner) took the flag to the Veterans Affairs and had it burned,” the investigator said in his report.
The Sheriff's Office and the state attorney tried to offer Baldner a pretrial diversion program, but the business owner insisted that the case move on.
Baldner said he never met the business owner, noting that he would not accept a plea and he would go to jail for the flag if needed.
“I'm a very patriotic man, and I can't go any further than that,” Baldner said.
