Man gets 20 years for baby's death...

[Moses25]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday for the death of his nine-month-old daughter, whom he left in a sweltering car at the racetrack while he bet on horses.

Antonio Balta, 28, of Elmont, N.Y., pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in February for the 2004 death of his daughter Veronika at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.

Balta allegedly told police he left Veronika strapped in her car seat most of the day while he watched races. He left a window cracked less than two centimetres. He said he checked on her periodically, but left her alone for 45 minutes before his final check when she was not breathing.

Prosecutors said Veronica's body temperature reached 42 degrees C in the 51-degree car.

How's that for criminal negligence causing death?

 

[Limeoutsider]

thats all he got?

 

[Mitchell]

I would have given this guy life in jail, no parole, to have him suffer for the rest of his life, or the death penalty. What the hell is 20 years? With time off for good behavior, he can be out in 12 years. What a cruel beast. As much at fault is the stupid judge who only gave him 20 years.

Mitch

 

[JoBelle]

Don't worry...something will happen, and he'll be out at the track soon enough. that's how it goes. 🙄

 

[Limeoutsider]

I read somewhere a long time ago that the other prisoners will get to him...I cant remember exactly...something about how they think doing anything to a child is the most henious thing possible...but I have a relative whose a guard at a state prison, and from what I hear, he most likely wont make it...

 

[BigJim]

Don't worry...something will happen, and he'll be out at the track soon enough. that's how it goes. 🙄

Sadly, this may well be true. Personally I have no sympathy for the arsehole. He throughly deserved his sentence.

How's that for criminal negligence causing death?

Is this the specific crime he was found guilty of? I can't think of a more extreme example of it, if it is.

 

[natural tickler]

Ya, he won't make it, yanno, like an accident in the ole prison shower....😡

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Don't worry...something will happen, and he'll be out at the track soon enough. that's how it goes. 🙄

I must sadly agree. It pains me just thinking about it...

 

[Wicker Man]

He Killed...He Should Be Killed

To me this is no different than the Scott/Laci Peterson trial. Scott brutally murdered his wife and was sentenced to die so this piece of garbage who leaves an infant in a burning hot car without ventilation should be put to death. There has to be consistency in justice I think. 20 years? We can only pray he suffers hungry man Jeffery Dahmers prison fate...a nice broomstick through the skull, or was it a crowbar TO the skull? I heard 2 different stories. I like the broomstick better!

 

[MrMacphisto]

Normally, I'm against the death penalty.... but I have nothing against the death penalty being administered to an inmate by a fellow inmate. It's like when a drug dealer kills another drug dealer -- where's the problem?

 

[BigJim]

I think it's a sad day when we regard justice as being the prison equivalent of vigalante action. I've used the occasional example myself (usually in regard of preferring imprisonment to the death penalty) of someone being locked up for X-amount of years with Benny the bunghole-buster, but it was usually a euphemism. By and large, if part of "justice" is throwing a convict to the mob because they regard him as a nonce, then we've well and truly lost the plot as a race and might as well throw away the courts, the police and prisons altogether, because what we've created outside in our world and inside our own heads is far worse than anything we could make inside.

As to his sentence, 20 years seems appropriate to me and I find it rather disturbing that so many people are baying for his blood. A more moronic, dumb, selfish and downright wanker-ish case of criminal negligence it's harder to imagine, but this man is not a murderer. He's someone who allowed something to happen because he couldn't be bothered to take care of a vulnerable infant properly. Yes I agree that warrants an incredibly stiff sentence, but I think the calls for his death, dismemberment, repeated buggery with a heated metal spike and disembowellment speak greater volumes about the mentality of the members of society demanding it, than they do of the crime he actually committed.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

i'm going to have to agree with you Jim. There is also a huge difference between intentionally killing a child, and leaving a child in a car where they die. I doubt very much that the adult was even thinking of that possibility at the time. Frankly, this is just sad all ways around. A child has died, and a man who could very well have been a great human being, made a costly mistake. In a case like this, there ae no winners.

 

[Wicker Man]

Preposterous Arguments Regarding Child Murder

Yknow I purposely stay out of "hot topics" like this for fear of pissing off some good people on this site but when it comes to a child I SAY NO!!!! Im sorry when you have an infant that is practically helpless you are responsible for that infants very life! This aint a golden retriever puppy were talking about with "criminal negligence" this is an infant, this mans child who he murdered so he can catch the daily double. It doesnt matter how you do it...stabbing, shooting, drowning or yes leaving in an unventilated car he should be put to death immediately and painfully. Children should be at the very forefront of the laws protection. If this man drowned this child bathing him in a bathtub should he still be excused with a pitiful 20 year sentence? And GREAT HUMAN BEING???? Great human beings dont make unconscionable mistakes like leaving your baby in the equlivalent of a toaster oven so he can bet on Seabiscuit! And no "everyone makes mistakes" replies either please, if so then open up the prison and let Joel Steinburg out, he made a mistake in beating his stepchild Lisa to death! Oh wait a second...he IS out! When do you want it to end?

 

[BigJim]

I doubt I'd ever be considered a "good person", but don't worry about pissing ME off

Yknow I purposely stay out of "hot topics" like this for fear of pissing off some good people on this site but when it comes to a child I SAY NO!!!! Im sorry when you have an infant that is practically helpless you are responsible for that infants very life! This aint a golden retriever puppy were talking about with "criminal negligence" this is an infant, this mans child who he murdered so he can catch the daily double. It doesnt matter how you do it...stabbing, shooting, drowning or yes leaving in an unventilated car he should be put to death immediately and painfully. Children should be at the very forefront of the laws protection. If this man drowned this child bathing him in a bathtub should he still be excused with a pitiful 20 year sentence? And GREAT HUMAN BEING???? Great human beings dont make unconscionable mistakes like leaving your baby in the equlivalent of a toaster oven so he can bet on Seabiscuit! And no "everyone makes mistakes" replies either please, if so then open up the prison and let Joel Steinburg out, he made a mistake in beating his stepchild Lisa to death! Oh wait a second...he IS out! When do you want it to end?

The title of your post really shows a mind that perceives in black and white only WM.

It will never end. Nor sadly, will "lumping 'em all in the same basket syndrome" ever end. Comparing a man who is very likely a drunken, moronic, negligent idiot who cares more about a horse race than a child's wellbeing to a monster who willfully battered a minor to death (I've not personally heard of Steinburg), shows a serious case of an inability to judge anything remotely comparatively.

Likewise, comparing someone who tempers justice and righteous punishment with perspective and understanding to someone who smokes dope, calls everyone "man" regardless of sex and thinks prison is an evil thing, doesn't make sense. No-one is suggesting this cretin get off without a blemish, but you'd think so if you only listened to the comments of the more "vigorous". You'd also think everyone who thought otherwise was the bane of all society and wouldn't the world just get on so much finer if all the peace-loving hippies would kindly catch something swiftly fatal and leave earth to those who are more in touch with their baser emotional reactions.


The willingness of some to hand out death with the rations, even to those who don't seem to deserve anything else, really makes me fear for the future of our world sometimes.

 

[natural tickler]

Well, I would get deep, but people know how I feel, so I won't divulge. However, it seems to me that there is no system, and I highly doubt we can ever make one that works. It seems to me that the system doesn't deter crime, it embraces it. The sentences is never long enough, the criminal finds a way out thru loopholes, and the system put no value of the deceased. It only cares about the rights of the criminal. Don't you guys realize the law favors the criminal?? To me, any sentence of time in prison for murder is a slap on the wrist, and you people know it. But that's okay, because you only care about the deceased for about a minute, then go about your business. Its not right, but hey, I'm in the minority, right??

I wonder, just how much is enough until someone gives a damn??

 

[BigJim]

To me, any sentence of time in prison for murder is a slap on the wrist, and you people know it. But that's okay, because you only care about the deceased for about a minute, then go about your business. Its not right, but hey, I'm in the minority, right??

No, you're not. Most people here, myself included, feel bitter at a system that doesn't do justice to festering little sons of bitches who make life a misery for decent folks. It's not that the system really favours the criminal, it's that it exists to propogate it's own existence and keep society in general in order whilst not giving a flying tapdance about about things it's always banging on about like justice, fairness and keeping decent people safe from evil shits. It's not a unique thing; there are loads of things in this world that burble on about wonderful concepts whilst actually ignoring them and serving only themselves and those who run them. The Constitution, the Magna Carta, the justice system...

Just because other people aren't as bent on taking an eye for an eye as you are doesn't mean they don't care about victims of crime. I also don't see that you're in the minority. I can think of at least five eloquent-ish debators around here who would agree with you any day of the week.

I wonder, just how much is enough until someone gives a damn??

No you don't, you wonder how long it will be before everyone is as extreme-minded as you are. To your mind, unless someone is in favour of anaethstetic-less castration, execution by cobra bite and public stoning between innings at the World Series they're a hippy peacenik who's too airy-headed to deal with real life.

Rest assured Enn-Tee, there are plenty who are as pissed off as you about judges who havn't got a frigging clue. How many numpty bastards in wigs have sentenced rapists to about three years with the words "in all other respects you seem a very nice young man"? Bloody dozens! It's a frustration that most lawfully minded people have. It's just that others don't agree that extreme sanctions make the world or country any better.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

just like gandalf says Jim, :Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends.

😉

 

[Wicker Man]

Natural Tickler you said what I wanted to say even better than I said it. The system sucks and criminals embrace it because they get off easy or get off 100% OJ Simpson anyone? However I find myself getting frustrated and yes angry at reading some of these posts but these are the people who when I posted my "Losing A Friend" thread took time out of their schedule to reply with GREAT advice and sensitivity. I dont want to make enemies of those very people by expressing my opinions on this matter...theyre too strong and the people who post matters which I strongly disagree with are good people and entitled to their opinion. I will say this however to Myriads or the moderators that in my humble opinion this topic should be put in the politics and religion forum because the opinions while havent yet have the potential to become quite heated. Besides we all know im right anyway! 😉

 

[MrMacphisto]

I agree that the system sucks, but then again, I agree with Jim that the common extremist view on crime and punishment is symbolic of a lack of justice in our society. The difference between me and Jim is that I put no faith in humanity OR government -- murders will continue, and the system will continue to suck, but the ruling class is just as idiotic as the average human is. We cannot expect a justice system to truly be just; we can only hope that it accomplishes the task of removing criminals for a long enough time from free society that it might just discourage potential murderers from following through with their motives.

Essentially, it's better that we have our current system than not having it. Idealism on either side of the political fence is exactly that: nothing more than ideas. Reality dictates that ideals are never met, and so, one is resigned to pragmatism and cynicism. Mr. Baby-Frier is going to spend a long time in jail, and I could care less if he gets the Dahmer treatment. He didn't intentionally kill the kid, but his fuckup still ended a life. When the consequences of your negligent actions lead to a death, then it seems only fitting that the negligence of the system possibly leads to your own demise. It's not justice, but it is rather humorous....

 

[BigJim]

However I find myself getting frustrated and yes angry at reading some of these posts but these are the people who when I posted my "Losing A Friend" thread took time out of their schedule to reply with GREAT advice and sensitivity. I dont want to make enemies of those very people by expressing my opinions on this matter...theyre too strong and the people who post matters which I strongly disagree with are good people and entitled to their opinion.

We come to a good point: we disagree but we also value each other. The "Golden Rule" of the forum is that you can attack an opinion and the reasoning it's based on, but not the person behind it.

Acceptable: Your opinion is a bunch of horseshit because you didn't consider... and you forgot...

Unacceptable: You are a pile of horseshit because your opinion is fucking stupid!

In the end we all share a lot of common ground on this and many other heated subjects. We'd be total tossers to throw that away because we don't agree on maybe ten of fifteen per cent of the discussion. Speaking personally Wicker, I can probably guess the wording of your unspoken opinions and I doubt they'd offend me. I've had blazing rows on here with people I've been best mates with in other threads.

 

[BigJim]

The difference between me and Jim is that I put no faith in humanity OR government

Then you're in for a nice surprise. 😉

 

[BigJim]

just like gandalf says Jim, :Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends.

😉

Indeed. And that was not before Frodo said,
"Look out behind you Gandalf!" To which Gandald replied,
"I wouldn't fall for that old AAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[MrMacphisto]

Then you're in for a nice surprise. 😉

LOL... 😀

 

[Wicker Man]

Thanks Jim but no thanks. In my opinion people dont want to hear opinions that differ in any way from theirs. If I truly voiced my opinions my "Have You Ever Lost A Friend" thread would have gotten responses like "surprised it didnt happen sooner!" You see Jim you live in the UK so you dont live Bushs reality (already im asking for trouble saying that!). In Bushs reality the only thing people want to do is beat you down,steal your rights and expect you to respond with what follows this here dash-🙂 .

 

[BigJim]

Thanks Jim but no thanks. In my opinion people dont want to hear opinions that differ in any way from theirs. If I truly voiced my opinions my "Have You Ever Lost A Friend" thread would have gotten responses like "surprised it didnt happen sooner!" You see Jim you live in the UK so you dont live Bushs reality (already im asking for trouble saying that!). In Bushs reality the only thing people want to do is beat you down,steal your rights and expect you to respond with what follows this here dash-🙂 .

We all live in that reality mate. With three thousand miles of Sundering Sea between the US and the UK I could shut the rest of the world out and concentrate only on what pleased me (well, not really - Tony Blergh has already joined us at the arse), but that would waste a life. That being so, I put myself in this reality and many others each and every day. Not fighting with the most natural weapons that want to come to hand is difficult and sometimes straining to the point of tears, but I don't believe using the weapons of the "enemy" would change the world for the better. Fighting fire with fire turns a back yard blaze into a forest-levelling inferno with the result that there's nothing left for the winner to enjoy afterwards. That's the reason why I don't go for extreme solutions and a lot of people mistake me for a liberal or a coward because of it.


P.S. I'm the most opinionated son of a bitch you'll ever meet and I love to hear opinions from right across the board. 🙂