No bail policy causes so much suffering, so why don't we learn from our mistakes?

Caycie Stotler (Screenshot capture from Zoom court session on Wednesday)

DOVER - When local transient Caycie Stotler wasn't in jail this past year, he was doing a lot of things that should have kept him there.
Stotler, 33, who is listed on various arrest reports as either a Dover or Rochester transient, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to 12 felonies committed since September 2021, for which he received a two- to four-year sentence.
He was also terminated from drug court for two infractions, which carries a one- to three-year prison sentence, which will run consecutively.
Because Stotler can get six months suspended from the felony sentences if he completes a drug abuse course, he could be released in as little as two and a half years.
That's one and a half years for 12 felonies, which each carry a minimum three and a half year sentence. Instead, he's serving about six weeks for each of his crimes, which include three stolen vehicles - two in one night - being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon, burglary at a rest home and numerous credit and debit card thefts, the result of car break-ins.
But all the misery and mayhem didn't have to happen.
A flaccid, revolving-door bail system that puts the liberty of thieves above the safety of law-abiding citizens is squarely to blame.
Stotler's nine-month crime spree began on Sept. 20 when he broke into several cars at the Hampton Inn in Dover, a 10-minute walk from where he lived at the Willand Pond homeless camp.
In October 2021 Stotler carried out another nighttime vehicle break-in stealing a cellphone, $300 in cash and a .22 caliber revolver. He was spotted by police nearby wearing a purse and carrying a hatchet.
According to Strafford County jail personnel, Stotler stayed at the jail for several long stints before being freed on no bail each time. Records show he was incarcerated six times since last September including Sept. 24-Oct. 25, Nov. 5-Dec. 3, Feb. 13-17, May 1-5, May 8-9 and from June 17 till his sentencing on Wednesday.
But what is breathtaking is all the misery and damage done beginning with the September car break-in at the Hampton Inn in Dover, when he made off with several items that had been left in the car by a family who'd spent the night there en route to a vacation in Maine.
Stotler also regularly broke into cars at Key Buick, stealing dozens of credit and debit cards and other items.
One night, in particular, he stole two cars from Key Buick. Stotler also stole a vehicle from O'Reilly Auto Parts.
The revolving door finally ended after a June burglary at the Roberge Senior Housing in Rochester where he admitted to going into a supply closet and making off with several power tools including saws and a drill.
It's likely the only reason he pleaded guilty on Wednesday is that he knew he wasn't going to get bailed again.

But that doesn't do anything for the misery and havoc he created between September of last year and June, during which time nearly all the items he stole were used to fuel his drug habit.

Stotler is ordered to make restitution to several financial institutions including $1,792 to Chase Bank, $410 to Southern New Hampshire Services and various other amounts to Bank of America and Service Credit Union.
He also is prohibited from being within 500 feet of Key Buick or the Roberge Center.
Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi did not return a call on Friday seeking comment on this story.