Man faces up to 18 months for killing GF's goldfish

[Fandango 1,439]

Doesn't the punishment include the fact that broke into her apartment? Especially since a first class felony for trespassing was dropped. 18 months sounds extreme for a fish, but I'm thinking the plea agreement got him a misdemeanor instead of a felony, but he's still gonna do time.

Well the fact of the matter is, he is technically innocent of all charges other than 'animal cruelty'

sounds to me like the DA wasn't really doing his job.

[Peikko 1,575]

As I read it, 18 months/$5000 is the maximum sentence for what he was charged with, he hasn't been sentenced so arguing about whether it's too much is a bit moot at this point, no?

[almaty 19]

A man, a fish a disposal and a guilty plea

By Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News

February 15, 2007

An Aurora man arrested after putting his ex-girlfriend's Betta fish down her disposal while she watched pleaded guilty today to a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.

Uriah Williams, 23, entered his plea in an appearance before Denver District Court Judge Shelley Gilman. He is to be sentenced April 12, following preparation of a pre-sentencing evaluation.

Williams could be sentenced to up to 18 months in jail and could be fined as much as $5,000. WIlliams was arrested after breaking into the woman's Denver apartment just after midnight Dec. 8, taking her Betta fish named "Blue," and putting it in the disposal, which he then turned on.

Several other charges against Williams, including a class-five felony of first-degree criminal trespass, were dismissed in the plea agreement.

Source

i worked for the court system and did the pre- sentencing investigation..this is a classic case of a plea...dropped the other charges for a plea of the lesser charges...the defendant will take whatever sentence the plea was worked out or in some cases the judge can still make the sentencing ...happens everyday in every state in the union...nothing to see here folks but a typical spin of a story for the media

Edited February 16, 2007 by almaty

[Alex+R 0]

A man, a fish a disposal and a guilty plea

By Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News

February 15, 2007

An Aurora man arrested after putting his ex-girlfriend's Betta fish down her disposal while she watched pleaded guilty today to a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.

Uriah Williams, 23, entered his plea in an appearance before Denver District Court Judge Shelley Gilman. He is to be sentenced April 12, following preparation of a pre-sentencing evaluation.

Williams could be sentenced to up to 18 months in jail and could be fined as much as $5,000. WIlliams was arrested after breaking into the woman's Denver apartment just after midnight Dec. 8, taking her Betta fish named "Blue," and putting it in the disposal, which he then turned on.

Several other charges against Williams, including a class-five felony of first-degree criminal trespass, were dismissed in the plea agreement.

Source

i worked for the court system and did the pre- sentencing investigation..this is a classic case of a plea...dropped the other charges for a plea of the lesser charges...the defendant will take whatever sentence the plea was worked out or in some cases the judge can still make the sentencing ...happens everyday in every state in the union...nothing to see here folks but a typical spin of a story for the media

Aaaahhh... thanks for the inside scoop.

[bucknekkid 0]

18 months..he will be eating more than a beta fish....

I guess he may be eating some trouser trout...

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't think he is going to jail just for killing the fish....

WIlliams was arrested after breaking into the woman's Denver apartment just after midnight Dec. 8, taking her Betta fish named "Blue," and putting it in the disposal, which he then turned on.

breaking and entering is a crime..is it not??

*note to self: always read all the posts before posting

Edited February 16, 2007 by MarilynP

[Fandango 1,439]

I don't think he is going to jail just for killing the fish....

WIlliams was arrested after breaking into the woman's Denver apartment just after midnight Dec. 8, taking her Betta fish named "Blue," and putting it in the disposal, which he then turned on.

breaking and entering is a crime..is it not??

*note to self: always read all the posts before posting

yep...of which he's no longer charged.

of course this is only speculation, and it is the worst case scenario for him...but if it were to come true, then I'd be annoyed that our tax dollars are going to a fish murderer

Edited February 16, 2007 by LisaD

[Caladan 19]

Doesn't the punishment include the fact that broke into her apartment? Especially since a first class felony for trespassing was dropped. 18 months sounds extreme for a fish, but I'm thinking the plea agreement got him a misdemeanor instead of a felony, but he's still gonna do time.

It's also worth noting that from the article, it doesn't sound like he's been sentenced, and if the charge is "animal cruelty", that probably includes quite a large range of abusive crimes, for which a maximum is 18 months.

Just like if you get charged with assault for poking someone in the nose, they can print a nice headline that says "MAN COULD GET X YEARS FOR NOSE POKE", but the court distinguishes between punching and poking someone in the sentencing phase. Or, to steal one from the I-601 waiver section: "MAN COULD GET TEN YEARS FOR VANDALIZING A TRAFFIC CONE"; real sentence equalled $50. Most misdemeanors have ranges and maxima, so I'd bet this guy doesn't see any jail time, and probably pays a fine.

[eric&gen 0]

What in the wild world of sports would cause a man to kill a poor little goldfish. Was the fish swimming to loud making splashing sounds? Was it flapping its gills lol.