Casey Anthony wore her favorite color, purple, to this morning’s sentencing hearing before Judge Perry. The only counts to be sentenced were four first degree misdemeanor counts of providing false information to a police officer on which she had been found guilty by a jury on Tuesday, the same jury that exonerated her of first degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, and aggravated child abuse. Later this morning, it was determined that she would remain in jail until next Wednesday, July 13, and then she would be a free woman. A further recalculation by the Department of Corrections later in the day moved the release date to July 17.
I believe that Casey thought she would walk today. She wore a lightweight purple sweater whose sleeves extended to her knuckles and had her hair brushed out, flowing over her shoulders. She was smiling and all perky and such.
The judge heard a motion from Cheney Mason requesting that the four counts be combined into one count, arguing that the four sessions with the cops in which Casey lied were actually all part of the same session. Judge Perry ruled against it, because different things were discussed at each of the sessions and the County incurred expense at each of them, including the one in which Ms. Anthony led them on a wild goose chase to University Studios to show them where she “worked” — and then told them she didn’t work there. All of the lies were designed to delude the police about the status and location of Caylee Anthony.
Perry proceeded to impose sentence. He sentenced Ms. Anthony to four consecutive sentences of one year, one for each count, plus a $1,000 fine for each count. Court costs and prosecution costs will be added to the fine when calculated. Ms. Anthony would receive credit for time served, minus the time for theft and check charges, plus good behavior credit. Judge Perry said a rough calculation suggested that she would be out in July or August. She has the right of appeal. When asked by Perry if she would appeal, her mouthpiece, Cheney Mason, spoke up, saying that whether she did would be determined later. Perry advised them that the time limit to file an appeal is 30 days. That’s all she wrote.
Casey’s look soured when the sentence was imposed. She actually thought she was going to get out today! Artificially Sweetened said that the judge didn’t want her to get out today because all the protesters were out there ready to rock and roll. Perhaps that’s true, as they ambushed Judge Perry when he left for lunch later, claiming that he let a murderer go free and that he could have given her a longer sentence. (No, he couldn’t. The sentence he meted out was the maximum provided by law for a first degree misdemeanor. [FS 775.082 and FS 775.083 ]. Those idiots who were protesting need to do their damn homework.) In any event, Ms. Anthony wouldn’t have gone out the front door — she would have had to go back down to the jail for processing, a detail of which few of the protesting idiots were probably aware. That point is moot, anyway, as she will have to serve more time.
Newborn media celebrity defense counsel José Baez felt that whenever Casey gets out, she will need protection, as there are lots of people who feel that she got away with murder.
When the sentence was finally calculated, Ms. Anthony was informed that she would be processed out on July 13. She’ll be at the 33rd Street Jail until then. When she is given her walking papers, she will walk out the front gate with no special security preparations on the part of Orange County. What she and José arrange is private business.
George and Cindy Anthony walked into the sentencing hearing hand-in-hand. At least for public consumption, they seem to have resolved the dichotomy that was apparent on verdict day.
The Anthonys are anxious to get their daughter back. Whether she will go to their house is another story. The crazies would know where she is, which is not good for her health. She needs to find a hideout for a while. Maybe she should dye her hair and put on a Groucho nose, mustache, glasses, and eyebrow disguise.
Ms. Anthony has been subpoenaed to appear at a deposition in a civil defamation suit filed against her by Zenaida Gonzalez, the inspiration for Zanny the Nanny, at the law offices of Morgan & Morgan. I’m wishing John Morgan and Keith Mitnik great success in going after her future earnings from this tragedy. Already, the IRS is after her for taxes on $200,000 ABC/Disney paid for video rights a couple of years ago while Casey was incarcerated. I could just see an ABC Family TV production about this or something on the Disney Channel. Yeah, right. The State would also like to recover some or all of its over $500,000 investigation and prosecution costs from Ms. Anthony. Judge Perry has set a date of August 28 for a meeting with counsel for both sides about that issue. As well, Texas Equisearch is seeking to recover $112,000.
Steve Hirsch of Vivid Entertainment, one of the premier porno producers, had made an offer to Ms. Anthony to appear in XXX videos for Vivid, but he later withdrew the offer. Even porn sleazeballs know that Casey is poison.
As this case gravitates toward the back of the newspapers and the 11:35 “oh, by the way” section of the 11:00 news, we’ll try to keep you abreast of developments here.
Lizzie says
I am curious about where Casey will go on the 13th, nosey person that I am. Does George really want her back after what she accused him of –especially if it is not true? Casey would still rule the roost, be obnoxious and rude to her parents while still expecting them to pay for everything. I don’t believe Casey has ever held down a real job for very long. She will need some funds until all the offers come in. Lee seems to have disappeared into oblivion. Who knows if George and Cindy can rebuild their life.
As for revealing the name of the jurors, I feel that should be up to the individual juror who might be able to garner a few green backs from self disclosing.
I must say I was very impressed with Jeff Ashton as he made the talk show rounds. He is a very ethical and professional person who still believes in the system. As for Cheney Mason — major A– H— in my books.
Still can’t believe that Jose pulled it off as he was so disorganized with the off the wall accusations at the beginning. He is a folk hero now!
And the beat goes on…………………………………….
PS I will be away from TV and computer next Monday to Thursday so I am counting on you Ben to keep me up to date re: her release.
The Nittany Turkey says
I’m not certain that Casey will need any startup capital when she walks out onto 33rd Street. She has that $200,000 ABC committed to her for the video rights more than a year ago, although the government is ready to file a levy for $70,000 or that in estimated taxes. Nevertheless, she’s got some money.
The Orlando Sentinel and perhaps other media outlets will probably sue the State for the jurors’ names if they are not released. They won’t have to. Judge Perry said today that he would release the juror’s names only after a “cooling off period”, which he did not specifically denumerate, but which is thought to be about 10 days.
We agree on Ashton and Mason. On Baez, he matured dramatically through the trial, from a cocky courtroom dilettante to a polished professional. His graciousness with his opponents in the end should have caused Mason some embarrassment, if Mason were capable of being embarrassed.
I shall be sure to be writing next Wednesday, so I’ll certainly cover her release and anything known about her whereabouts unless tomorrow’s MRI reveals that I need FESS for my sphenoid sinusitis and the surgery winds up scheduled for that date. Dumbass way of letting you know about that, but I’m just sayin’.
—TNT