Post by StressedOut on Apr 22, 2010 17:03:26 GMT -6
Centreville, Mich. — Anthony and Marsha Springer will have plenty of time behind bars to think about their daughter, Calista, and the mistakes that led to her death.
Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman on Friday sentenced 47-year-old Anthony Springer to 25-50 years Friday for torture and 10-15 years for child abuse.
Marsha Springer, 36, was sentenced 18-50 years for torture and 8-15 years for child abuse.
Sentences run concurrently for each.
A jury convicted the Springers on Feb. 23 after nine days of deliberation. The Springers were acquitted of felony murder.
Calista died in a house fire Feb. 27, 2008, and was found chained to her bed.
The courtroom was packed Friday. Folding chairs were brought in to accommodate the crowd.
There were no outbursts or shows of emotion.
For 45 minutes, pre-sentence evaluations prepared by Kristen Whitesell of the Department of Corrections were reviewed for accuracy by John Bush and Victor Bland, attorneys for the Springers, and Prosecutor John McDonough.
McDonough said the Springer case was one of the first in his career and will probably be the most difficult he will ever try. He said that people from all over the country have called his office to offer their support.
McDonough asked Stutesman for the maximum sentences allowable.
“This is a case of serial abuse,” he said. “Calista was chained for a number of years.”
Anthony Springer described his trial as extremely biased and blamed social service agencies, the schools, the community, the media, his church and his mother for his problems.
For 20 minutes, he raised questions about the Department of Human Services and the system in general.
“We were judged guilty from the day after the fire. End of story,” Springer said. “We have to live with our choice. That’s our punishment.”
Springer told how people scorned the couple after Calista’s death.
“People would spit on the side of the sidewalk when they saw us,” he said. “We went to the post office and we were told to leave. If we went to a restaurant or store, they refused to serve us. Once, when vandals damaged our vehicle and personal property, we called the police. When they came to check it, they said, ‘What do you expect?’ The congregation of the church we attended for five years even turned its back.”
Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman on Friday sentenced 47-year-old Anthony Springer to 25-50 years Friday for torture and 10-15 years for child abuse.
Marsha Springer, 36, was sentenced 18-50 years for torture and 8-15 years for child abuse.
Sentences run concurrently for each.
A jury convicted the Springers on Feb. 23 after nine days of deliberation. The Springers were acquitted of felony murder.
Calista died in a house fire Feb. 27, 2008, and was found chained to her bed.
The courtroom was packed Friday. Folding chairs were brought in to accommodate the crowd.
There were no outbursts or shows of emotion.
For 45 minutes, pre-sentence evaluations prepared by Kristen Whitesell of the Department of Corrections were reviewed for accuracy by John Bush and Victor Bland, attorneys for the Springers, and Prosecutor John McDonough.
McDonough said the Springer case was one of the first in his career and will probably be the most difficult he will ever try. He said that people from all over the country have called his office to offer their support.
McDonough asked Stutesman for the maximum sentences allowable.
“This is a case of serial abuse,” he said. “Calista was chained for a number of years.”
Anthony Springer described his trial as extremely biased and blamed social service agencies, the schools, the community, the media, his church and his mother for his problems.
For 20 minutes, he raised questions about the Department of Human Services and the system in general.
“We were judged guilty from the day after the fire. End of story,” Springer said. “We have to live with our choice. That’s our punishment.”
Springer told how people scorned the couple after Calista’s death.
“People would spit on the side of the sidewalk when they saw us,” he said. “We went to the post office and we were told to leave. If we went to a restaurant or store, they refused to serve us. Once, when vandals damaged our vehicle and personal property, we called the police. When they came to check it, they said, ‘What do you expect?’ The congregation of the church we attended for five years even turned its back.”
I am glad the parents got sentenced!