# Star HS basketball star recruit collapses in despair when he is sentenced to 3 years in prison **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350 "2012-08-23T04:05:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/41 "2012-08-24T02:39:39Z")
Not particular uncommon in domestic abuse cases. “Oh, but he said he’s sorry! He promises he’ll change!” Hell, my ex-wife said such things too. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/42 "2012-08-24T02:47:33Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Not particular uncommon in domestic abuse cases. > > “Oh, but he said he’s sorry! He promises he’ll change!” > > Hell, my ex-wife said such things too. If you were a victim of domestic abuse, although I sympathize with you and agree that we should do everything we can to prevent it, I suggest you may not be the most unbiased voice in this argument. I think he was given a harsher sentence than what was deserved. I don’t think this is all just a big misunderstanding and they should just let him walk away because he’s good at basketball. He made a very serious mistake, but not 3 years of prison worth. It’s a punishment way out of proportion to what is typical in America, even considering that prison sentences here are way out of proportion to the rest of the world. It’s a sentence that completely ruins any chance for a reasonably productive future, for a first time offense for a crime of passion that did not result in substantial bodily harm. I don’t understand why the judge would make that decision. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/43 "2012-08-24T03:01:14Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > If you were a victim of domestic abuse, although I sympathize with you and agree that we should do everything we can to prevent it, I suggest you may not be the most unbiased voice in this argument. If you’re seriously having trouble understanding why the judge imposed the sentence she did, please consider that sentencing a domestic abuser to jail time might _possibly_ be the judge’s efforts to discourage domestic violence. If the judge is serious about domestic violence, how on earth could she justify giving this kid a slap on the wrist? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/44 "2012-08-24T03:11:48Z")
> [@Fionn](#): > > If you’re seriously having trouble understanding why the judge imposed the sentence she did, please consider that sentencing a domestic abuser to jail time might _possibly_ be the judge’s efforts to discourage domestic violence. If the judge is serious about domestic violence, how on earth could she justify giving this kid a slap on the wrist? Who advocated a slap on the wrist? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/45 "2012-08-24T03:13:08Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Three years in prison seems harsh to me, and it wasn’t close to the maximum he could have gotten. I watched the video, and even though it’s every bit as disturbing as you say, I can’t help but ask myself whether putting him in prison for 3 years and destroying his future will make the world a little better, or a little worse. I am sure he would appreciate you sending a few hundred dollars to his correctional institution that he can use to buy snacks and other little luxuries to help make his personal world a little better… ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/46 "2012-08-24T03:20:18Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I am sure he would appreciate you sending a few hundred dollars to his correctional institution that he can use to buy snacks and other little luxuries to help make his personal world a little better… What a helpful response! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/47 "2012-08-24T03:35:25Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > He made a very serious mistake, but not 3 years of prison worth. How the fuck does someone “mistakenly” beat his girlfriend? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/48 "2012-08-24T03:41:39Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > How the fuck does someone “mistakenly” beat his girlfriend? Anyone who beats their girlfriend has made a mistake. Do you think it’s NOT a mistake for a man to beat his girlfriend? What you just did is to try to make it seem like I said something I didn’t say. I never said he mistakenly beat his girlfriend. I said he made a mistake, by committing a terrible crime. If you want to debate me, debate the argument I make, not the argument you wish I made. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/49 "2012-08-24T03:58:01Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > . I never said he mistakenly beat his girlfriend. I said he made a mistake, by committing a terrible crime. . A terrible crime deserves some time. If I read the article right, not only did he attack the girl, he ignored some sort of court order to avoid any contact with her after his arrest for the initial attack. If he did THAT (barring perhaps some I’m so sorrrryyyy texts) then too bad…so sad. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/50 "2012-08-24T04:04:47Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Anyone who beats their girlfriend has made a mistake. Do you think it’s NOT a mistake for a man to beat his girlfriend? No, I think it’s a deliberate act of violence, and should be punished as one. Pulling out of traffic too quickly and running over someone is a mistake. Leaving the coffee maker plugged in overnight and burning down the neighborhood is a mistake. Repeatedly kicking your girlfriend in the head, then sending her threatening emails, isn’t a mistake, it’s a sign of a dangerously violent individual who needs to be removed from society before he kills or cripples someone. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/51 "2012-08-24T04:09:22Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > The only bit of sympathy I have for him is that it’s likely he was told he would only get probation so this probably came out of the blue…like his fist to that poor girl. I doubt he was told that , although I’m sure he believed it. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/52 "2012-08-24T04:16:26Z")
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. One has to hope that this man serves as an example and others will learn not to be abusive. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/53 "2012-08-24T04:18:07Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > No, I think it’s a deliberate act of violence, and should be punished as one. Pulling out of traffic too quickly and running over someone is a mistake. Leaving the coffee maker plugged in overnight and burning down the neighborhood is a mistake. Repeatedly kicking your girlfriend in the head, then sending her threatening emails, isn’t a mistake, it’s a sign of a dangerously violent individual who needs to be removed from society before he kills or cripples someone. There are lots of signs for psychopathy. Hell, wetting the bed is a sign of psychopathy. Luckily, we have a court system that is supposed to punish people in proportion to the actual crimes they commit. He’s getting a sentence stricter than most forcible rape convictions. He got a harsher sentence than many child pornographers or arsonists get. He deserves to be punished, but three years is just too much. That’s all I’m saying. You want to punish him for crimes you’re sure he’ll commit later, “before he kills or cripples someone.” But that’s not how it works, and thankfully so. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/54 "2012-08-24T04:20:01Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. > > One has to hope that this man serves as an example and others will learn not to be abusive. Is there a hypothetical sentence which you would have considered to be too harsh? 5 years? 20? 100? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/55 "2012-08-24T04:20:30Z")
Did he ignore a court order to stay away from her after the attack? (the article is rather vague on the details of that. I could be misreading it). If he did that? Well, fuck him. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/56 "2012-08-24T04:24:08Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > He deserves to be punished, but three years is just too much. Not according to the lawmakers and judges. There is a magic formula for not going to jail for 3 years. It involves not hitting, kicking or threatening other people. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/57 "2012-08-24T04:31:42Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Is there a hypothetical sentence which you would have considered to be too harsh? 5 years? 20? 100? No. The legal system probably got it right. Gives the guy time to reflect and rebuild and rededicate himself to the future he wanted to pursue. Hopefully in a less violent way. He’ll be on probation for five years. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/58 "2012-08-24T04:36:47Z")
I read a lot of the local crime stories in the newspaper, and something I see time and time again when a defendant ends up getting a sentence “tougher than the norm” for their crime is they do something explicitly against the orders of the court. There was a case recently where a young mother accidentally killed her baby due to negligence while she was fucked up drunk out of her mind on alcohol and coke. While there was a lot of outcry, she was involved in drug rehab and other things leading up to the trial and all the news articles were saying she was going to get a few years probation. Well, right after her probationary order she is immediately out getting drunk and doing drugs and does something even dumber like posts about it on Facebook. Not drinking was part of the stipulations of her probation, and probation is always up to the judge’s discretion. She was brought back to court within a day and sent to prison for several years. Part of it is probably hubris, judges are important powerful people. Most criminal statutes are written with significant sentencing latitude. In general most states actually trend towards light sentences whenever a judge has latitude, not because judges are soft on crime but because judges can make individual decisions and also there is usually some degree of political pressure from on high not to drive up state costs by incarcerating tons of people. But I think another part of it is a judge looks at someone on the cusp of being given a second chance, doing something blatantly stupid like violating a protective order and suddenly this person doesn’t look like someone who is ready to take advantage of that second chance. They start to look more like a dumb ass criminal that needs to be in prison for awhile. So it’s probably a mix of a judge’s innate hubris (they don’t like anyone who flaunts court orders of any kind) and the reality that they probably see people dumb enough to openly violate court orders while trying to work out a sweetheart sentencing deal as precisely the type of person who doesn’t deserve a sweetheart sentencing deal. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/59 "2012-08-24T04:37:08Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > - I couldn’t help but to think that him being black influenced the judge Based on no evidence whatsoever you’re willing to make a defamatory comment like that? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350/60 "2012-08-24T04:49:41Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Based on no evidence whatsoever you’re willing to make a defamatory comment like that? Of course she does; Afterall, she claims to be an “inner-city” teacher struggling every day to Make A Difference to the hard-scrabble kids trying to make it on the infamous mean streets of Denver… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-hs-basketball-star-recruit-collapses-in-despair-when-he-is-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/632350.md?page=4)