Casey Anthony Sentenced to Four Years in Jail, But Will be Released Next Week

Jul 7, 2011, 11:28 by R.E. Christian

Casey Anthony, cleared of killing her daughter but convicted of lying to police, will be released from Florida's Orange County Jail July 13, officials said.

Chief Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Anthony Thursday for lying to police, giving her four one-year sentences in jail and credit for time she served since 2008.

Considering how much time she's already spent in jail, court officials determined she will be released from the Orange County Jail next week, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Perry's sentence also included a $1,000 fine for each of the four counts of lying to police.

The jury Tuesday found Anthony not guilty of murder, aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. It found the mother guilty of four counts of making false statements to law enforcement officials.

Anthony's defense argued that the four instances when she gave false statements during the missing-persons investigation of her toddler were made during one interview, so double jeopardy would attach.

Prosecutors said the false statements were made in separate interviews conducted on one day, were intended to mislead law enforcement officials and did not violate double jeopardy provisions.

Perry determined the statements were "four separate and distinct lies" that caused law enforcement officials to expend "a great deal of time, energy and manpower looking for young Caylee Marie Anthony."

"Just as the jury spoke loud and clear on counts one, two and three � they also spoke loud and clear on the remaining counts," Perry said.

Anthony declined to make any statement before sentence was imposed.

She reserved her right to appeal within 30 days of Thursday's sentencing.

One juror said the not guilty verdict did not mean she thought the mother didn't kill her child.

"I did not say she was innocent," Jennifer Ford of Clearwater told ABC News Wednesday. "I just said there was not enough evidence.

"If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be," she said.

"I'm still confused," Ford said. "I have no idea what happened to that child."

Ford told ABC News the jury was emotionally shattered by its own verdict.

"We were crying, and not just the women," she said. "It was emotional, and we weren't ready. We wanted to do it with integrity and not contribute to the sensationalism of the trial."

Source: UPI