09-15-2011, 01:24 PM
not enough. may he die of unabated rectal cancer in a cell.
9/15/11 Det. Freep
John Skelton was sentenced this morning to 10 to 15 years in prison, above state guidelines in the case in the disappearance of his three sons.
The Morenci father accused in the disappearance of his young sons pleaded no contest to charges of unlawful imprisonment. The boys -- Andrew, Alexander and Tanner, ages 9, 7 and 5 -- went missing last fall in his custody and haven’t been seen since.
Skelton received credit for 289 days already served. His sentence on each of the charges will run concurrently.
Charges of kidnapping, punishable by up to life in prison, were dismissed under a plea agreement. Authorities have said they’re treating the case as a homicide investigation, and that investigation is continuing.
Lenawee County Circuit Judge Margaret M.S. Noe exceeded the sentencing guidelines, which were 43 to 86 months. She called the guidelines "grossly inadequate."
Noe said that for months, Skelton has refused to return his sons and has told many conflicting stories. Skelton has said his sons are with members of an organization and that he was trying to protect them from their mother, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case by authorities. Noe said Skelton also told police he wrapped each son in a blanket and gave each a stuffed animal before placing them in a van.
Noe said Skelton has said he wants to deprive the boys' mother, Tanya Zuvers, of memories of her sons.
"Their mother, their family, the schoolchildren, the community of Morenci will never lose their memory of these children," Noe said. "They will lose their memory of you."
Before his sentence was issued, Skelton told the court he loves his sons.
"I don't think there's been a day that I haven't cried at least once or twice," he said.
Zuvers also addressed the court, saying her sons' disappearance has been her worst nightmare realized.
"Not one minute of the day, for the past nine months, two weeks and six days have the boys been from my thoughts," she said, reading from a prepared statement. "I worry about them — are they safe, warm, being fed and, most importantly, being loved?
"My fear is that the answer to these questions are no because no one will ever be able to love those three precious boys like I do."
Lenawee County senior trial prosecuting attorney Douglas Hartung called Skelton a coward, referencing his media interviews.
"This is a man who courts the media like Charlie Sheen on a drunk bender," he said.
Hartung challenged Skelton.
"Are you man enough to tell the truth once and for all?" he asked. "You're nothing but a coward."
![[Image: bilde?Site=C4&Date=20110915&Category=NEW...0&Border=0]](http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20110915&Category=NEWS06&ArtNo=110915017&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0)
9/15/11 Det. Freep
John Skelton was sentenced this morning to 10 to 15 years in prison, above state guidelines in the case in the disappearance of his three sons.
The Morenci father accused in the disappearance of his young sons pleaded no contest to charges of unlawful imprisonment. The boys -- Andrew, Alexander and Tanner, ages 9, 7 and 5 -- went missing last fall in his custody and haven’t been seen since.
Skelton received credit for 289 days already served. His sentence on each of the charges will run concurrently.
Charges of kidnapping, punishable by up to life in prison, were dismissed under a plea agreement. Authorities have said they’re treating the case as a homicide investigation, and that investigation is continuing.
Lenawee County Circuit Judge Margaret M.S. Noe exceeded the sentencing guidelines, which were 43 to 86 months. She called the guidelines "grossly inadequate."
Noe said that for months, Skelton has refused to return his sons and has told many conflicting stories. Skelton has said his sons are with members of an organization and that he was trying to protect them from their mother, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case by authorities. Noe said Skelton also told police he wrapped each son in a blanket and gave each a stuffed animal before placing them in a van.
Noe said Skelton has said he wants to deprive the boys' mother, Tanya Zuvers, of memories of her sons.
"Their mother, their family, the schoolchildren, the community of Morenci will never lose their memory of these children," Noe said. "They will lose their memory of you."
Before his sentence was issued, Skelton told the court he loves his sons.
"I don't think there's been a day that I haven't cried at least once or twice," he said.
Zuvers also addressed the court, saying her sons' disappearance has been her worst nightmare realized.
"Not one minute of the day, for the past nine months, two weeks and six days have the boys been from my thoughts," she said, reading from a prepared statement. "I worry about them — are they safe, warm, being fed and, most importantly, being loved?
"My fear is that the answer to these questions are no because no one will ever be able to love those three precious boys like I do."
Lenawee County senior trial prosecuting attorney Douglas Hartung called Skelton a coward, referencing his media interviews.
"This is a man who courts the media like Charlie Sheen on a drunk bender," he said.
Hartung challenged Skelton.
"Are you man enough to tell the truth once and for all?" he asked. "You're nothing but a coward."