Posted on 03/02/2004 3:58:08 AM PST by summer
Judge gives man 10 years for supplying drugs to woman who died
By CHRIS W. COLBY, cwcolby@naplesnews.com March 2, 2004
With a sob, clutching a religious book, Brenda Zook said outside a courtroom Monday she accepts the apology of the man who gave a fatal amount of drugs to her daughter.
Jennifer Robinson was 19 when she died from an overdose of a combination of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, Valium, cocaine and heroin.
For that death, Marc Liebig, 24, of Port Royal, said Monday he was sorry. He said it to the judge, and then he looked back at the gallery where members of Robinson's family and the family of another woman who had been found dead in his house were sitting, and said he was sorry.
Then he received his sentence for giving drugs to Robinson — 10 years and one month in prison.
The sentence was a foregone conclusion under a plea agreement reached four months ago in U.S. District Court in Fort Myers.
But it was upsetting for those affected by the case to have to face Liebig. Outside the courtroom, Zook held a book, The Song of Solomon from the Old Testament, and spoke of forgiveness.
"What Marc took from me, I'll never get back in this lifetime. I don't hate him for it because it'll eat me up. I have to forgive him. I don't feel that forgiveness inside me. But I am making the decision to forgive him," Zook said.
Both young women were found dead in Liebig's bed in his parents' Galleon Drive home after a night of drug use, police reports say.
Robinson's was the first death, on July 8, 2002.
Sara Gambaccini's death was the second. The 24-year-old died April 5, 2003, just a few weeks after state prosecutors announced they would not charge Liebig with Robinson's death. They said they couldn't prove he gave the drugs to Robinson.
But he remained under investigation after Gambaccini's death, but was not charged in connection with her death. He was charged with numerous drug possession felonies in Collier County Circuit Court. In May 2003, officials at the U.S. Attorney's Office indicted Liebig on three felony drug charges.
Under an agreement with federal prosecutors, Liebig pleaded guilty Nov. 4 to two counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin and Xanax, and one count of giving Xanax to Robinson.
Liebig agreed to a sentence of between 10 and 13 years in prison. Orlando Judge Anne C. Conway, tapped to handle the case, imposed just over the minimum sentence, plus three years of probation. She waived the $1 million fine allowable under federal sentencing statutes.
George Tragos, Liebig's attorney in the federal case, said Liebig isn't a U.S. citizen and will be deported back to Germany after he serves his sentence.
About a dozen family members and supporters filed into the back two rows of wooden benches on one side of the fifth-floor courtroom. On the other side sat Robinson's mother and aunt, Beverly Hooper, and Gambaccini's twin sister Corynne and two friends. Corynne Gambaccini declined to comment after the hearing ended.
Elke Liebig, the defendant's mother, addressed the court by reading a prepared statement. She was mostly incomprehensible through her thick German accent and constant tears.
"It's terrible. It's one of the worst things that can happen," Elke Liebig said of her son's drug addiction.
Then Liebig spoke, reading from a folded, lined piece of yellow paper that contained a few sentences approved by Tragos before the hearing began. Liebig had to be careful to not incriminate himself because his state charges remain pending, and the prosecutor assigned to those cases, Rich Montecalvo, was sitting in the courtroom and watching.
Liebig apologized to the families of Robinson and Gambaccini, whom he described as dear friends. He said their deaths have been a nightmare on which he has reflected since he was arrested and held without bond almost a year ago.
Liebig said all three were leading reckless lifestyles.
"It just as easily could have been my lifeless body there," Liebig said.
The plea agreement meant Liebig avoided a possible life sentence without parole if he'd gone to trial and been convicted.
It also appears he'll avoid more prison time in the state cases. Tragos told Judge Conway that Liebig's attorneys are negotiating with Montecalvo to reach a plea agreement that would result in a 10-year prison sentence to all those charges. It would be served at the same time as the time in the federal case.
Jerry Berry, Liebig's attorney in the state cases, refused to confirm that. The state cases are set for trial March 29.
"I never discuss publicly any ongoing discussions with the State Attorney's Office about pending cases," Berry said.
In the state and federal cases, Liebig will have to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentences. He was also sentenced to complete drug rehabilitation in prison. Elke Liebig told the judge she hopes he can kick his addiction.
Robinson's family laments that she never had that same chance.
"She was a sweet and humble person. She was brought up in the church," Hooper said. "She just fell in with the wrong people."
Geesh, this guy, a non-citizen, who will be deported back to Germany, got the deal of a lifetime. Two women dead in his bed, and he may only serve ten years instead of life in prison without parole.
Oh, and the judge waived the million dollar fine. BTW, the house his foreign parents own on Galleon Drive probably costs several times more than a mere million, as those home frequently start at $10 million.
But, no fine at all! No need to worry about life in prison as punishment for two dead women! What a deal!!!
No. Also, what about laws that make bartenders liable if the bartender serves more drinks to a patron who appears drunk? The bartender is focing it, but, I think those laws claim there IS some responsibility on the part of the bartender.
Conservatives believe in personal responsibility. Only one person makes the choice to do drugs or drive drunk. That person is solely responsible for the consequences. However if the bartender knowingly lets someone drive off (hard to prove), then good samaritan laws would, or should, usually convict him anyway for not stepping in.
Agreed.
Look, alcohol is a drug. No different than others. It can be lethal. I knew a fellow in the Army that died at a party in the barracks from drinking too much. A liquor store can sell you vodka by the gallon if you want. It's then up to you what dose you decide to take once you get that vodka home.
They can get the guy on some illegal drug possession for sure. But heroin addicts (or any hard drug user for that matter) know they are courting death every time they use them. Those young ladies knew that this was one possible outcome.
That's why I said, their deaths were at least 50% self-inflicted. (perhaps 100% depending upon all the relevent details)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.