In 2014, a 16-year-old Marquis Dixon arranged to meet someone on craigslist to buy a pair of shoes. When the seller arrived, Dixon robbed him at gunpoint.

Under New York state law at the time, 16 and 17-year-olds who used a firearm while committing a crime were ineligible to be prosecuted as juveniles. Dixon was sentenced to nine years in prison as an adult.

An entire protest movement was launched around Dixon called “Raise The Age.” They claimed that Dixon was serving nine years for “stealing shoes.” Scores of media articles repeated the same claim that Dixon was serving nine years simply for “stealing shoes.” Democrat politicians claimed that Dixon just made a youthful indiscretion. Dixon’s own mother and grandmother were actively involved in the campaign. Protesters held signs saying “#ReleaseMarquis.”

In late 2016, Dixon got his case before the New York State Supreme Court. They threw out his nine-year adult sentence. They resentenced him to three years with a chance for parole after one year. Dixon was immediately paroled. One month later he was arrested for violating his parole.

Then in April of 2017, New York passed the “Raise the Age Act.” Governor Cuomo signed it on April 10th, giving 16 and 17-year-old crime offenders more leniency across the board. Critics called it the “Dindu Nuffin Act.”

Four days later Dixon was arrested for trying to pass a counterfeit twenty dollar bill. The second time he had been arrested since his big break. Politicians who had supported the “Raise the Age Act” once again characterized Dixon’s new crime as a youthful indiscretion.

Now, a month a half later, Dixon has been arrested again. This time for threatening to kill his own mother with a steak knife. This marks the third time Dixon has been arrested since he was paroled about eight months ago. It is the fourth time he has been arrested overall.