"Ultimately she did the right thing"

From Mark Morris: A Jackson County judge sentenced an 18-year-old Atchison, Kan., woman to probation today for her role in an unsuccessful plot to steal a woman’s unborn baby.

The sentence came after the victim of the aborted kidnapping and murder scheme asked for leniency.

Alisa Betts and Lauren M. Gash were charged last year after they kidnapped a pregnant Clinton, Mo., woman, took her to a Blue Springs motel room and prepared to cut out her unborn baby. At the last minute, however, Betts changed her mind and called police, who arrived and arrested her and Gash.

At Betts’ sentencing hearing, the victim, Amanda Culley, said that without Betts’ change of heart, she would have been left to die after they stole her unborn child. “If it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be here today,” Culley said.

Betts’ lawyer, Ruth Petsch, pressed the case for probation, noting that Betts’ has worked to finish her education in jail and ultimately proved that she deserved mercy.

“She said, ‘“I’m not going to let that woman die,’” Petsch said. “I’m not going to let her lose her baby . . . Ultimately she did the right thing.”

Comments

[Biggin]

Probation? Imagine that!

[Searching]

What was going through her head in the first place to even go along with the plan?

[Big Dog]

She should have gotten time. It was the intent of the crime and the fact that she kidnapped her and held her hostage. Betts didn't save her life, that's an oxy moron if i ever heard one. She was going to take a 2 lives neither of which wouldn't be in that position if she hadn't committed the crime in the first place.

[Searching]

I think she should have gotten jail time, but since she actually stopped it from happening... shouldnt that count for something?

This is a tough one. She did save the woman's life. But if she hadn't gone along with the plan to begin with, would it have happened at all? Or possibly another person could have been recruited who might not have had a change of heart?

The decision she ultimately made had a HUGE impact. I say she learned her lesson. After all, when was the last time you heard of a criminal calling the police during execution of kidnapping and premeditated murder? I see no difference between this and someone who received immunity for testifying for the state after the fact. She was still convicted a felony

[Big Dog]

She want be convicted of a felony unless she doesn't complete her probation. Probation is a suspended sentence that is reduced when the requirements are met...