On December 17, 2013 Danny was sentenced to 16 years in state prison. 16 f**ng years!! You would think my son killed or attempted to kill someone. Danny...former honor student, president of the high school band, lead in high school play, member of the student government plus much more. Danny...loved by many. Danny...my son, caring brother to 5 and true friend.
To this day I do not understand why he was sentenced to sooo many years. What good will that do anyone? No one benefits from his being locked up. Just as important, it doesn't even help the victims. Danny's being locked up doesn't help them at all! He can't even pay a decent amount of restitution making $0.40/hr. What a joke! Yes, a joke. A bad joke. That's what it feels like. No, we're not laughing. We cry. My family and I cry. That's what we did on December 17, 2013. We cried and cried and cried. We couldn't believe the injustice. Why send a 19-year old to state prison for 16 years?
I was advised by Danny's lawyers not to say anything negative about the sentencing judge or the DA during the appeal process. It might backfire. I can't help but wonder, though...why? why? why? Why would a judge dismiss all Danny did during the past year to better himself. As the court instructed, Danny addressed his drug and alcohol issues by attending three rehab centers. For most of the year, Danny was away from home taking care of himself. He successfully completed the treatments. His counselors from each center wrote letters to the court stating Danny's progress.
The judge dismissed EVERYTHING Danny had done. He told Danny he didn't believe drugs and alcohol were the reason for Danny's crimes. He told Danny, he was a typical teenager who just likes to get drunk during the first year at college. He basically told Danny, you are scum and deserve to spend almost 20 years in jail.
It's been two months....I still can't get over it. Never will.
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