Summary
A West Virginia couple, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz, received prison sentences of 215 and 160 years, respectively, for forcing their five adopted Black children into slave labor.
Authorities discovered the abuse after a welfare check revealed children locked in a shed without water or sanitation.
The couple, charged with human trafficking, child neglect, and forced labor, targeted the children because of their race.
The court ordered them to pay $280,000 in restitution each.
“I just want the court to know that I have made mistakes I am very sorry for that and I love my children and I have never, ever, done anything to my … children to harm them intentionally,”
So what, you just accidentally locked them in a shed and forced them into slave labor? What the fuck is this apology.
I wonder if they have biological children and meant them.
Source: haven’t read the article.
Edit: read the article. Still don’t know.
Even though by the time the hearing commences, the judge has already usually decided on the sentence, every competent criminal defence lawyer will advise their client to grovel and beg for mercy at the sentencing for two reasons:
- Acting recalcitrant could upset the judge and result in a heavier sentence than the judge originally planned because they feel a need to make an example of the defendant.
- Not being apologetic damages your future chances of parole when the parole board looks at the tape or record of the sentencing.
Ah, yes, the parole they might receive when the parole board reviews their case in [checks watch] 80-100 years.
There’s also the possibility of appeals to get the sentence reduced. And the defendant’s family can apply for pardons. Pardons and commutations are usually associated with political grift in the US (and this is a well-deserved reputation), but they can also be applied for and governors occasionally grant them to prisoners who demonstrate they’re reformed even when they’re not otherwise eligible for parole.
Grovelling before the judge and acting like you accept you are guilty for sixty minutes costs nothing on the part of the defendant anyway.
I understand. I was mainly just making a joke.
Pro-Tip for any actual monsters hiding in human skin: deflection of all wrongdoing is not a great apology.
“You brought these kids to West Virginia, a place as I know as almost heaven and put them in hell. The court will now put you in yours. May God have mercy on your souls, because this court will not."
Circuit Court Judge MaryClaire Akers
That’s kinda fire actually
Reminder that West Virginia exists exclusively because of slavery. Especially that part of Appalachia was a HUGE haven for self emancipated people and free black people alike, because if you get deep enough into the mountains, you basically cease to exist as a legal entity unless people want to put a significant amount of effort into reaching you and the same amount in extricating you.
Good. In the USA, slavery isn’t ok for private citizens. Only prisons are allowed to engage in blatant actual slavery.
When they change illegal immigration to be a felony, all those people in the deportation camps can legally be put right back in use!
It takes a cartoonish level of cruelty that your verdict sounds like a made up rage bait article that tries way too hard.
Fuck you. I hope they get the same treatment as kiddy fiddlers in prison.
I may have laughed when I read this line from the judge, “You brought these kids to West Virginia, a place as I know as almost heaven and put them in hell,” Either she has a lot of pride for West Virginia or the cartoonist part was present during the trial as well.
Trump pardons incoming
State not federal.
Do rules matter now?
While I get what you mean, they were arrested, detained, charged, and convicted by the state. They will be in a state prison. Unless Trump is going to send the military to raid the prison, I don’t see the state changing its mind.
it is funny that nobody finds this funny.
Sounds like they’re heading for a pardon and a cabinet position soon
