Scott A. Masters, 41, is accused of shoplifting the pastry and pushing a store worker who tried to stop him. The worker was unhurt. But with that shove, his shoplifting turned into a strong-arm robbery. Masters, who appeared in court Friday, is stunned. The prosecutor shows no signs of backing down. In fact, because Masters has a prior record, he could get a sentence of 30 years to life.

I'm not a lawyer, which I guess for many people means that I have no business commenting on legal matters, but I can't help but observe that the courts are essentially a stage on which a stream of social dramas are played out to affirm a mythology.

Society is just.

The wicked will be punished

The reality, in my opinion at least, is something far different, but I don't discount the value of such social drama. Deterrence is a proven strategy for keeping social order, yet for it to succeed, the perception of "fairness" has to be there, and a man going away for 30 years plus for donut heist and a shove just doesn't meet the standard.