Jaycee’s kidnappers sentenced

According to CBS News, Phillip got 431 years to life in prison and Nancy got 36 years to life. The San Francisco Chronicle has a good article about the case as well. Nancy will become eligible for parole in 2040, by which time she will be 84 years old. Phillip, on the other hand, ain’t never gettin’ out.

Jaycee read a statement saying she had “hated every second of every day for 18 years” and that the Garridos “stole my life and that of my family.” But she’s happy now and they don’t matter to her anymore. Go, Jaycee!

I’m so glad that the criminal process didn’t drag out forever like it did with Elizabeth Smart. Though it’s all relative. Jaycee was found in August of 2009 — almost two years ago. 22 months is hardly what I could call a quick resolution. Brian David Mitchell was mentally incompetent for a long time, then he had to go to trial, which is why it took so long for Elizabeth. But I don’t understand what took so long in this case. It’s not like there was ever any doubt as to the Garridos’ guilt.

More about Phillip and Nancy Garrido’s guilty pleas

Naturally, Jaycee is pleased. Her prepared statement is reported in the Sacramento Bee among other places: “I’m relieved that Phillip and Nancy Garrido have finally acknowledged their guilt and confessed to their crimes against me and my family.”

No duh!

From a statement from the DA’s office in the San Francisco Chronicle:

Defendant Phillip Garrido pled guilty to kidnapping (Count 1) and to all the sexual assault counts alleged in the Indictment (Counts 4 – 16), as well as to all priors and enhancements. He will be sentenced on June 2, 2011, with a maximum possible sentence of 431 years to life in prison. He has waived his right to appeal.

Defendant Nancy Garrido pled guilty to kidnapping (Count 1), to one count of rape by force, and to various enhancements, including the “One Strike” rape law. She will be sentenced on June 2, 2011 to the negotiated disposition of life in prison (25-to-life sentence pursuant to the “One Strike” rape law, plus 11 years, which is the maximum possible sentence for the kidnapping charges based upon the sentencing laws in 1991). She has waived her right to appeal. Nancy Garrido’s plea was offered contingent upon Phillip Garrido pleading guilty and waiving his right to appeal.

And of course we have the reactions of local residents from Jaycee’s former neighborhood (her pre-kidnapping neighborhood that is):

The man who now lives in Dugard’s former home said he is weary of handling interviews with the media since the Garridos were arrested in August of 2009. But David Watkins said he was satisfied with the guilty plea and relieved Dugard and her two children will not have to testify in court.

Some had mixed deeply mixed feelings about the Dugard’s decision, that will mean life in prison for Phillip Garrido and likely the same for Nancy Garrido.

“I’m happy she doesn’t have to take the stand and I’m glad those people are gonna be put away for life,” said Phillip Aquilina as he picked up his son at a baseball game.

But Aquilina said he would have preferred a harsher punishment.

You can’t really get any harsher than this, though. As the DA’s statement noted, the state of California doesn’t allow life without parole (LWOP) sentences for the Garridos’ crimes.

I also found plea forms for both Phillip and Nancy.

Jaycee Dugard’s kidnappers lose phone privileges

According to CBS News, Philip and Nancy Garrido, the kidnappers of Jaycee Dugard, are no longer allowed to talk to each other on the phone. They had previously been allowed to have monthly conversations, but the police say the Garridos have abused their privilege (NOT “privelege,” CBS News! bad editor!) and so the convos have been suspended, pending a court hearing to have them stopped permanently.