Will Casey Anthony's check fraud charges drive her out of hiding to serve one year probation?
On Friday, August 12, Casey Anthony was ordered by Judge Belvin Perry to return to Orlando to serve one year of probation in her check fraud conviction.
Casey must report no later than August 26, at noon, according to the judge's order.
Under the terms of the probation order, Anthony will have to report to a probation officer every month and can not change her residency without permission from the probation officer.
Casey is prohibited from getting drunk or using drugs. This also prohibits Casey from frequenting business establishments that serve alcohol. Casey is required to find a job and may not associate with known criminals. Anthony must submit to reasonable searches in her home and at her job by her probation officer.
Anthony must also pay a probation fee upon each visit to her probation officer, as well as restitution costs incurred from the check fraud charges.
Guess we now know why Casey left BELLA VITA MANSION and her next stop: Orange County Probation. Looks like the Acquitted Squatters RV Tour is on hold for now.....
Judge Perry Orders for Probation Casey Anthony
To enlarge: click on view in full screen
Judge Stan Strickland had sentenced Anthony in January 2010 to one year of probation after she pleaded guilty to stealing checks from a friend. He said Anthony should serve the probation upon her release, but those instructions never made it to a written order. Corrections officials interpreted the sentence to mean Anthony could serve the probation while she was in jail awaiting her murder trial.
Strickland clarified in an order last week that Anthony needs to start serving probation now that she is out of jail. Strickland later recused himself and turned the case over to Perry, who presided over the murder trial that ended last month with Anthony's acquittal in her daughter's death.
Legal analyst Bill Sheaffer believes the order will survive higher court tests if Casey fights it.
"Perry has a strong record of standing up to appeal," said Sheaffer.
Perry said he would authorize the Department of Corrections to make an exception and keep Anthony's address private during her probation. The judge also discounted the double jeopardy argument, saying Anthony was unable to meet the goals of a probationary sentence since she was in jail.
"It is clear the court stated the defendant's probation was to start once she was released from jail," Perry said in his order.
Allowing Anthony to serve probation while in jail "would take a lawfully imposed sentence and make it a mockery of justice," Perry added. "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."
Anthony has been out of the public eye since she was acquitted in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. The jury's decision angered many people online and elsewhere, and threats were made against Anthony's life.
Three of Anthony's attorneys didn't return phone calls and emails Friday afternoon.
Upon contact for comment, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said the agency just received the order and is reviewing it.
source: wftv
Posts
