Jones admits she lied

[Glenn]

A jail sentence seems absurd. We have better uses of the penal system than for Jones. That's a bigger argument, I know. Hasn't she been punished enough? Certainly she doesn't need to be removed from the streets to prevent her from duplicating the crime.

Anyway, the entire experience leaves me disheartened as the greatest of athletes will always be mistrusted - at least for me.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Could it be the jail sentence had as much to do with the check fraud scheme? I doubt that one was a victimless crime.

A lengthy house arrest would probably be just as effective and save taxpayers some money.

 

[PurpleHaze]

A jail sentence seems absurd. We have better uses of the penal system than for Jones. That's a bigger argument, I know. Hasn't she been punished enough? Certainly she doesn't need to be removed from the streets to prevent her from duplicating the crime.

Anyway, the entire experience leaves me disheartened as the greatest of athletes will always be mistrusted - at least for me.

Obviously, when Jones first admitted her despicable crime we proceeded to debate infinitum just how bad it was. If you read the article, it appears she COULD have gotten over 5 years in prison on check fraud alone.

 

[Alacron]

Some interesting points:

Karas sentenced Jones to six months on the steroids case and two months on the check fraud case but said the sentences could be served at the same time. He imposed no fine, he said, because Jones can't afford to pay one.
...
He said Jones damaged two federal investigations with lies that came years apart, so "I don't think the criminal conduct can be written off as a momentary lapse of judgment or a one-time mistake, but instead a repetition of an attempt to break the law."

The check-fraud scheme was a major crime and the wide use of steroids "affects the integrity of athletic competition," he said. If Jones had told the truth from the start, he said, it would have been a great help to the ongoing BALCO investigation.

Later Friday, the judge sentenced Jones' former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, to 5 years and 3 months in prison for his role in the check-fraud scam. Riddick also was given three years' probation and must pay back $375,000.

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7663770?MSNHPHMA

 

[VF21]

Of everyone who has been involved with steroids I think I feel the worst about Marion Jones.

 

[AleksandarN]

The problem that I have comparing Bonds and Jones cases is that Viktor Conter flat out said that Jones took steroids and he flat out said Bonds didn't. Go figure...

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Elise10]

The only reason why I don't feel as sorry for Marion Jones as other people lies in one word: CHOICE

People that decide to better themselves by illegal means deserve the consequences that they get for their actions. As I recall she threw her ex-husband under the bus for the (now) very lie that she's admitted now.

With that said I think six months is a little too excessive.

This case as well as sentencing happened within 10 minutes(I just went to this very same courthouse Tuesday for Jury Duty) of where I live and I can tell you that Karas can be fair at times but I think he should have went probation.