SENTENCE TOO LIGHT FOR FORMER DEPUTY

I find it incredible that a judge would not make the punishment fit the
crime, regardless of the guilty plea ["Former deputy is jailed," Jan. 5].

This man was in a trusted position within Stafford County when he committed
the offense, which included the theft of cocaine from the county evidence
room as well as a weapons felony.

Here is a man that we are supposed to trust with our lives, and he is
nothing more than a common criminal. He was charged with crimes that could
have meant up to 30 years in prison, but he was given a minor sentence of
six months.

This is ridiculous. This is exactly what is wrong with our justice system.
This does not send the proper message to other criminals or potential
criminals in our society. He should have been given a sentence consistent
with the crime, the same as any other person in the same situation.

Ellen S. Page

Spotsylvania