Casey Anthony, the Florida woman acquitted of murder charges in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter, was sentenced Thursday for lying to law enforcement.
Chief Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Anthony to four years in jail, one year for each of the four counts of providing false information to law enforcement she was found guilty of. She will receive credit for time served, which could mean Anthony may walk within a few months or even weeks. Anthony has served time since she was first arrested in 2008. In addition, she has to pay a fine of $1,000 for each of the counts.
The charges seemed minuscule compared to what they stemmed from. Earlier this week, a jury has acquitted Casey Anthony of more serious charges in connection with the death of her daughter.
Anthony was found not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child. She faced the death penalty, had she been convicted of the top charge against her.
Instead, she may be out of jail by late July or early August.
The trial began in May following the death of Casey’s daughter, Caylee, who went missing in July 2008. Caylee’s remains were discovered the following December but ultimately the cause of death was never determined.
Casey was immediately considered a main suspect and eventually charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and lying to law enforcement.
Throughout the trial, Casey’s defense argued that the toddler accidentally drowned in the family swimming pool and wasn’t murdered by Casey. The prosecution painted a different picture, one that made Casey out to be promiscuous, a liar and a killer.
