[TheConservator]

I just watched a sentencing yesterday. The guy was a career criminal, his ninth felony conviction (but no crimes of violence). He was convicted of forgery (trying to pass a stolen check). He was given two years.

These parents apparently made one stupid mistake. They do not appear to be career criminals. Just the embarassment and the cost of dealing with the criminal conviction would be enough to deter most normal people from ever doing anything remotely like this again. They do not appear to pose any kind of continuing threat. But they get 8 years?

No way. They deserved about 30 days in jail, and maybe about 2 years worth of community service with an anti drug/alcohol component. But the lengthy consecutive sentences the judge imposed will not do either them, or society, any good.

[Jaded]

Agreed. I think the sentence is excessive.

My question is what was the sentence for the "underage children" who were drinking? Do they get a pass because they are high school children and didn't know any better. Heck some of them probably knew the dead girl. Obviously that didn't have any impact on them.

[WL-law]

These parents apparently made one stupid mistake. They do not appear to be career criminals. Just the embarassment and the cost of dealing with the criminal conviction would be enough to deter most normal people from ever doing anything remotely like this again. They do not appear to pose any kind of continuing threat. But they get 8 years?

No way. They deserved about 30 days in jail, and maybe about 2 years worth of community service with an anti drug/alcohol component. But the lengthy consecutive sentences the judge imposed will not do either them, or society, any good.

As a member of the Virginia Bar, I wholeheartedly agree.