Prisoner baits his own trap

LOS ANGELES (Reuter) - A friend in need is a friend indeed, so when Wilfred Genus was sentenced to 15 days in jail he asked his friend, Albert Flowers, to serve the sentence for him, and Mr Flowers agreed. But Genus, aged 20, was caught when he visited the jail where Mr Flowers, 32, was incarcerated in his place. And since he had cocaine and a loaded pistol with him, he faces more than 10 years in prison.

'These are not rocket scientists,' said Gabe Ramirez, the Sheriff's Deputy, in announcing Genus' arrest. Mr Flowers, charged with 'impersonating another in order to serve a sentence', faces one year in jail.