Former Biden administration official Samuel Brinton, 35, who formerly worked in the U.S. Department of Energy, will participate in an adult diversion program that includes a mental health evaluation.
Brinton was let go after getting busted for stealing luggage from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
According to the Daily Mail, Brinton appeared in court Monday and faced up to five years of prison time.
However, Brinton agreed to participate in the program, which also requires him to write an apology letter to the victim, return any stolen property, and complete community service.
Sam Brinton, Biden’s ex Nuclear Waste Disposal deputy, is set to undergo a ‘Mental Health Evaluation’ in Minnesota after being convicted of stealing a woman’s suitcase and given a 180 day suspended prison sentence.
The non-binary man who uses they/them pronouns will also be… pic.twitter.com/ruKH1Ud55w
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 19, 2023
Ex-Biden official Sam Brinton to undergo mental health evaluation in luggage theft case https://t.co/sKELZSindp pic.twitter.com/3u4bcVsdYR
— New York Post (@nypost) April 19, 2023
Daily Mail shared these details:
The non-binary former Energy Department official who was caught on camera stealing luggage from Minneapolis airport agreed to undergo a mental health evaluation – as he avoids jail time in Las Vegas for a similar crime.
Samuel Brinton, 35, who uses they/them pronouns agreed during a remote hearing in Hennepin County on Monday to participate in a adult diversion program after he was charged for stealing a woman’s suitcase in September containing $2,325 of items from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
As a part of the program, Brinton – who was responsible for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste – will be required to write an apology to the victim, return the stolen items and participate in three days of community service.
Brinton is expected to report to the program later this month, which could see them avoid jail time of up to five years and/or a $10,000 fine.
Brinton plead ‘no contest’ to a similar crime in Las Vegas and was given a 180-day suspended sentence.
The Las Vegas court ordered he pay the victim $3,670.
Non-binary ex Biden official Sam Brinton was still being paid his salary, paid by American taxpayers, after he was hit with felony charges for stealing suitcases of two women.
After being placed on leave at the Department of Energy last year he still received his regular salary… pic.twitter.com/0rxSK5ObbN
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 19, 2023
FOX 9 added:
Brinton plead no contest last week to stealing luggage from the Las Vegas airport in July 2022. Brinton was given a 180-day suspended sentence and ordered to pay $3,670 in restitution. Las Vegas authorities had not identified Brinton as their suspect until they learned about the Minnesota episode.
In the Minnesota case, Airport Police observed Brinton at baggage carousel 7 around 2:45 p.m. on September 16 as they removed a navy blue hard-sided roller bag. Police watched as Brinton removed the baggage tag and put the tag in their handbag.
Police were able to track Brinton’s movement throughout the airport and learned they were staying at the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront hotel.
When Airport Police confronted Brinton and asked them if Brinton took anything that did not belong to them, Brinton replied, “Not that I know of.”
But two hours later, Brinton called Airport Police and apologized for not being “completely honest.” Brinton had placed the clothes in the bag, worth an estimated $2,325 in the drawers of the hotel room.
Brinton was the Biden Administration’s point person for nuclear waste disposal. In December, the Department of Energy confirmed that Brinton was no longer an employee.
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