An editorial “Victims’ families deserve better” opines:
“Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright erred in his sentence of a Paradise man convicted in the death of a young Gap mother in a fiery three-car crash in Salisbury Township in November 2008 that also seriously injured two women…Wright apparently was not sufficiently moved by grief-stricken family members who testified prior to Lebus’ formal sentencing recently….Prosecutors say judges can goo outside the guidelines and impose stiffer sentences when circumstances warrant…..We’re hopeful that , upon reflection, Wright will conclude that Lebus deserves a more severe punishment than the one he[s now scheduled to receive.”
WATCHDOG: We are appalled that the New Era editors would so abuse the power of the press to intimidate a judge into setting aside State Sentencing Guidelines and administering an exceptional punishment.
Especially disturbing is their suggestion that “Wright apparently was not sufficiently moved,” an impugning of the judge’s humanity. Are the editors privy to whether or not the judge struggled to control his emotions in order to do his duty?
Furthermore, drunken driving is drunken driving. As deplorable as the outcome, it was not Ryan Lebus’ intention to kill and injure. In a sense, he did nothing more than other drivers who binge drink and then get behind the steering wheel, as irresponsible and criminal as that is.
Furthermore, the Sentencing Guidelines allow the judge considerable discretion, and five years and four months is no slap on the hand. (Had the accident not occurred, he may have only suffered a suspension of his license and probation.)
We ask ourselves, would we blame the New Era were the editors to criticize a judge for administering too harsh a sentence in a case? We think not. In the hypothetical situation, criticizing the judge for administering the guidelines would be a call for mercy. We are taught “Act justly and love mercy…” It is our moral imperative to defend justice and also, when merited, to encourage mercy.
Judges—not the editors of the New Era—should be allowed to judge how long someone should go to jail.
I could not have said it better.
It is really a shame for the victims and their families to have articles like this published. The DA is also at fault for telling the victims and their families that Lebus could have and should have received a longer sentence.
I understand it is their job, but we all know that politics are the reason they do it.
I was in the courtroom for the sentencing and Judge Wright did a very professional job. You could tell he really did feel for the victims and their families. He also understood that Lebus was a good upstanding citizen who made a horrible decision.
Lebus will serve a MINIMUM of 5 years 4 months before he even has a chance to get out. He could also serve up to 12 years. When he does get out he will loose his driving privileges for an additional 5 years. He will not be allowed to drive for over 10 years, possibly 17 years. That’s a long time.
The worst punishment he will receive is knowing that he took another person’s life. He will live with that the rest of his life. It will get harder and harder as he gets older. As we get older the more we realize just how precious life truly is.