I have no mercy in my heart for a thief. Most of all one that would take advantage of an elderly victim. Its a sad reflection of the times that thievery is so accepted and glossed over.
I used to work retail security part time and to this day can tell when someone is thieving at a retail store by the way they set up their cart, with the items they set up with, and by their body language.
We dont know why this Judge gave the guy so much time. Its likely he was a repeat offender, had a prior prison record, and did something to tick off the Judge like ducked on the court. I'm ex-USAF myself and anyone that flies airplanes for his country only to get robbed of his coin collection certainly angers me. When it comes to prisons and jail offenders my motto is "build the walls higher". An offender who robs an honest man who worked hard to build a coin collection deserves to rot in prison as far as I'm concerned.
Ive gotten burglary offenders, armed robbery offenders, home invaders, some heavy time but never 60 years. I once got an 18yo 60 years for a shoot out I had with him, 18yo and it was already strike three with him. His 3rd felony conviction at 18 yo.