>From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Fussy >Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1999 01:56:02 -0800 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >Gee. Now he can go out and arrest grandmothers for using medical marijuana. > >Merry something-or-other. > >Enjoy, > >Peter > >----- > >Ex-deputy gets six months in jail for killing toddler ... Thrush could avoid >prison with prevention plan >By Brian Haynes >Times-News writer > >TWIN FALLS -- Former Twin Falls County sheriff's deputy Jesse Thrush sat >stone-faced Thursday while hearing his punishment, but he was all smiles >afterward, knowing he could avoid any prison time for shaking a 2-year-old >girl to death. > >Thrush, who violently shook and killed Hailey Williams Feb. 21, was given a >five- to 15-year prison sentence by District Judge Daniel Meehl, but the >23-year-old could serve as little as six months in the county jail before he >is set free. > >Under Meehl's sentence, Thrush will have to spend 180 days in jail. At the >end of that time Meehl will consider a psychological evaluation and a report >by Thrush explaining how he can prevent future baby-shaking deaths by >speaking to people about his case. > >If Meehl likes what he hears, Thrush would be placed on probation. If Meehl >doesn't like what he hears, Thrush would spend at least five years in >prison. > >After the hearing Thrush shook hands and smiled with some of his former >colleagues. He doesn't have to report to jail until Monday, so he'll get to >spend Christmas as a free man. > >The sentence left Hailey's family with mixed feelings. > >"We're disappointed, of course," said Pauline Anderson, Hailey's >great-grandmother. "That's an awful cheap price to pay." > >But she added, "If he can prevent it from happening again, we'll be >satisfied." > >Angela Williams, Hailey's mother and Thrush's former fiancé, said the >sentencing was like a roller coaster -- first hearing the prison sentence >and then hearing he might only serve six months. > >Hailey died at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise two days after >Thrush violently shook her and threw her on the bed of his Filer home. >Thrush first told police that Hailey fell off the bed, but he later told >Twin Falls police detectives that he had shaken the toddler because she was >fussy. > >Thrush was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, but he later >pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. > >Thrush's lawyer, Keith Roark, said the complex sentence reflected the >complex case, and it gave Thrush a chance to continue the life of public >service he started as a deputy and firefighter. > >"He is a very remarkable young man, and I think the judge's decision >reflects that," he said. > >In his sentence, Meehl outlined the factors for and against a long prison >sentence. > >"Mr. Thrush personally does not need any more deterrence," Meehl said. "He >will not kill again. He is too conscientious. Thus, a heavy sentence would >serve no purpose than to reinforce Hailey's value to us all. ... > >"Because of his unique abilities and remorse, the court sees Mr. Thrush as a >person capable of paying his huge debt to society not by suffering alone in >prison, but by helping to save the lives of other babies that are potential >future victims. ... > >"If the lives of other babies can be saved, if other families never have to >go through the grief that Hailey's family suffers, Hailey's death would be >given a meaning far greater than by having Mr. Thrush serve a long term in >prison and simply add suffering to suffering." > >For Hailey's mom the suffering is far from over. In Thrush's presentence >investigation Williams talked about an emptiness in her heart that would not >be filled until she met her "baby in my father's kingdom." > >With two other children to watch over, Williams said she's trying to move >on. > >"I'm glad it's over," she said. "I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing >and taking care of my kids." > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: