Unshelved by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum
comic strip overdue media

Friday, April 28, 2006

Griff was sentenced today

for 20 years. He'll be eligible for parole in 16, making him about 60 when he gets out. When he does get out (assuming he survives prison), he'll have to register as a sex offender and keep his address up to date or risk three years of automatic prison again. The sad thing is, I don't think he still understands how wrong he is--yet he really does deserve this sentence. The judge had leaned towards leniency until reading his psych profile and the letters from those who knew him, none of whom wrote in actual support of him. I think that surprised him. I saw one of the letters, which outlined the pattern Griff had used before. The victim's mother wrote a letter as well, including an assertion that the he tried to lure the victim's brother too. All this added up to the sentence given. All Griff could say was that he was sorry he let people down, not that he was sorry for what he did or taking any responsibility for harming a child. I don't think he's reacting like an adult, but more like an adolescent or child being caught for being bad.

Sad. But good and just.

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