Because he supposedly absconded with 2,500 linear feet of copper piping, Louis Riley was found guilty of "grand larceny in the second degree," and "criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree," and was sentenced to 4 1/2 to 9 years in prison.
Riley later requested that he be resentenced because he thought the jury's verdict went against the weight of the evidence. And because the jury's valuation of the stolen property included the labor costs associated with the piping's re-installation, the Appellate Division, First Department, ended up siding with the guy.
Since it thought labor costs shouldn't have been considered, and the value of the stolen property was only about $250, the AD1 reduced the conviction to "petit larceny" and "criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree," and gave Riley credit for time served.
That was no pipe dream.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: People v. Riley