A week after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense and with input from the Department of Corrections, Judge Belvin Perry has ruled that Casey Anthony must return to Orlando on or before August 26th to begin serving one year of probation for her check fraud case. Her probation will begin as soon as she reports. In support of his order, Judge Perry wrote, “It is clear the court stated the defendant’s probation was to start once she was released from jail.” He continued, “To permit the Defendant, whose counsel was well aware that the probation was to begin upon the Defendant’s release from jail, to avoid serving probation now, would take a lawfully imposed sentence and make it a mockery of justice. This would allow a defendant to take advantage of a scrivener’s error and be rewarded. This is not the message the courts want to send to the public or defendants.”
Judge Perry did make an exception to Anthony’s probation. He authorized the Department of Corrections to keep her address private while she is on probation. In support of this he wrote, “This Court is very mindful that it is a high probability that there are many that would like to see physical harm visited upon the Defendant.”
The complete order may be seen here: Order denying defense’s motion to quash, vacate and set aside court’s order of probation.
Will the defense appeal this ruling or will Casey Anthony report as directed? Stay tuned…
