Just give convicted felons a zillion years:
Nowadays when a person reaches 100 years old we take notice, and if they live to see one-hundred with a relative degree of health we are truly impressed.
I’ve long ago quit trying to make sense of our judicial system. There is no rhyme or reason to be found there.
Even so when I see a headline that reads, “Sexual predator ordered to serve 195 years in prison,” I can’t help but be dumbfounded yet again.
Upon reading the article in question, I learned that James Perry, 34, is already serving a 180-year federal sentence on child-pornography charges. That takes him to a grand total of 375 years, and Mr. Perry still faces sexual assault charges in Illinois. Twenty-six additional charges were dismissed.
The article continued by stating Mr. Perry, “cried and rocked in his chair.” “I don’t have any excuse,” he said, “I wish I knew why.” One of his victims graciously offered forgiveness. “Thank you,” he said between sobs, “I’m sorry.” Reading between lines that translates, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
I know most of us want to scrape this type of individual off the soul of society like one scrapes dog feces off the soul of his shoe. In less disgusting words – life without parole – but when the court hands down ridiculous hyperbolic sentences, they look foolish. Why not just say a zillion years?
PRINTED IN THE TOLEDO BLADE: November 23, 2004