(Image Source: USA Today)
BY STEVEN HSIEH
You're watching multisource U.S. news analysis from Newsy.
Casey Anthony is going back to jail.
But just until next Wednesday.
That’s the decision Judge Belvin Perry handed down at Anthony’s sentencing hearing Thursday.
The maximum sentence Anthony could have received was 4 years in prison – one for each count of lying to the police. Judge Perry did max-out her sentence-- but between time served and credit for good behavior-- Anthony’s punishment turned into a six-day stay in the slammer.
It took a few hours to figure out the math-- and during the wait, legal analysts made their predictions...
“We’re guessing February of next year.”
“She’s going to do her time – it may be as little as three months – and she’ll be done.”
“I don’t think she’s going to jail much past August or September. (CNN)
The defense did put up one last fight – arguing Anthony’s lies all occurred in the same conversation and should be counted as one. But – no dice. A legal analyst tells Fox News why.
“The judge did what conventional wisdom would suggest that he would do, which was to find each lie a separate occurrence. The defense rightfully made the argument, as they had to, and which was a very good argument, that this was the same course of conduct that emanated from the same intention. And as a result of that, you cannot look at that independently. You have to look at it as a whole. That would have for sure got her released today.”
Another legal analyst tells MSNBC Judge Perry made his opinion clear with the sentencing.
Jansing: “Any surprise with what the judge did today?”
Filan: “None at all. He threw the book at her. He maxed her out. And that’s not hard to imagine as something he’d do. He was careful, though, not to give her the impression that he was sentencing her for a crime that was not convicted. What he said was the jury has spoken loud and clear on counts 1, 2 and 3. And the jury has spoken loud and clear on counts 4, 5, 6 and 7.”
As for other options? Attorney David Benowitz tells MSNBC why probation wouldn’t work.
Benowitz: “Probation in Florida, which would have been an option for this judge is notoriously difficult. And particularly for someone like Ms. Anthony…"
Todd: “You’re assuming she couldn’t survive probation.”
Benowitz: “There’s no way she could survive probation.”
Todd: “She has a history of committing small, petty crimes.”
Benowitz: “That’s right.”
Casey Anthony has already served 997 days -- almost three years -- behind bars.
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