This guy is going to have a long time to think about and repent for stealing $7. He will be able thousands of 16-hour stop theft classes while he spends 16 years behind bars.

All of this for stealing $7. As reported in www.wavy.com.

How can that happen you ask? Of course there was more involved than the simple theft of seven bucks.

The culprit, one Joseph Sonny Barber, pistol-whipped a teen and robbed him of $7.

The 22-year-old barber was sentenced to 24 years in prison with 11 years suspended for assaulting and robbing a teenager in November 2011.

Also, this was not barber’s first run-in with the law. During the time of the assault, Barber was on court-ordered good behavior from a July 2010 sentencing for burglary, petit larceny and destruction of property. Because the 2011 assault happened during a 3-year suspended sentence for Barber, the judge added those years on to his current prison term, totaling 16 years.

In the incident, Barber covering his face with a bandana and hat demanded the teen empty his pockets. He then pistol-whipped the juvenile and stole the $7.

The victim was not about to let barber beg off with his $7 so easily. When the victim caught up with Barber he managed to strike Barber with a rock, causing him to bleed. At that point, the victim ran to a friend's house and called 911.

What a stupid, stupid act. An act that undoubtedly will ruin Barber’s life. Perhaps if he had taken a 16-hour online theft class in middle school and high school he might not have become the criminal he is today.