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.
I’m just surprised that the apology didn’t mention Jesus even once.
Brain farts and prayers
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.
What the fucking fuck?
Watch donald pardon them and give them a job doing ethics or bs. He wants outrage
Donnie just found his new education secretary.
That asshole would probably put them in as Secretary of Labor.
As long as this was a state affair, he can’t legally pardon them.
How did this get 20 upvotes, 0 downvotes, and not a single person pointing out that this conviction was at the state level, something the POTUS unambiguously lacks any power to pardon?
unambiguously lacks any power
Ten years ago, I would agree. Now we’re seeing the trump administration openly oppose federal judicial rulings and even telling the court they are “not showing respect” to the Executive. We’re seeing Musk say he will back a primary challenger for any elected official that doesn’t follow trump’s orders, with the most recent being musk offering to openly buy votes for $100 in support of his candidate. Any one of these ten year ago would have been unambiguously in violation of law and tradition and dealt with.
There is no “unambiguously lacks any power” anymore.
Many people are not fully aware of the extent of pardon powers.
Slavers should be shot
Burned.
Burned, then shot
You know the prisoners are basically slaves as well.
…and?
So there’s a lot of slavers out there. If this person actually believes what they’re saying, they are fully capable of taking action based on their beliefs right now.
This is great news for all. The parents rot in a cell and hopefully get shoved by other black prisoners once they find out what they did.
I hope the government put services in place to help rehabilitate and provide those children with the mental heath and support they’ll need.
I am shocked this went to trial in WV
They could have just worked for the prison system, then they’d get a regular paycheck to enforce slavery.
