Sentence For Punching Dog Vs. Sentence For Fatal Punch
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Why would a man who punched and knocked out a dog’s tooth have to spend more time in jail than a man whose punch was responsible for another person’s death?
In two separate court rooms Monday, two men were sentenced.
Brent Goode punched a man in the head outside a Columbus bar. The man fell down and died and Goode will have to spend another 31 days in jail after spending 29 days already—for a total of 60 days behind bars.
In another courtroom, in Delaware County, Jeffrey Metz was sentenced for punching a deputy’s K-9 dog.
The dog lost a tooth and Metz was sentenced to 180 days in jail—three times the amount of Goode’s sentence.
Is a dog’s tooth worth more than a man’s life?
“One of the things that we have to concede is that we sometimes have schizophrenia in our sentencing policies,“ said Dan Kobil, a Capital University law professor.
Kobil said a lot more goes into sentencing than just the crime, including intent and criminal record. Plus, the quality of the defendant’s attorney is also a factor.
“It’s not surprising that the dumbest criminals in the chain are going to have the poorest outcomes,“ Kobil said.
Something else to keep in mind: What was the situation?
Was the outcome of the crime not what the guilty person intended and could it happen to a normal person in a normal situation?
“If you have somebody who has just reacted in a jostling situation at a bar, thrown a punch and then been horrified by the outcome, that’s certainly far less culpable than someone in a calculated way tries to injure another person, or a dog,“ Kobil said.
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Reader Reactions
In a bar fight people fight all the time and sometimes bad things happen note to self dont run your mouth when you are drunk. the kid didnt knowingly try to kill the kid. The bad guy knowingly tried to assault/get away from the police. A police dog is considered an officer so when you knowingly assault an officer it is a felony. Learn the law and its not confusing there are four mind states and that is considered in sentencing. The news only reports what will make you watch it ot what will put you too sleep. It all comes back to do nothing wrong and you have nothing to worry about. Romans 13:1-4 The authorities that exist have been established by God. consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against whaGod has instituted, and those who rebel will bring judgement against theirselves. Then do what is right and he will commend you… But if you do wrong,be afraid for he does not bear a sword for nothing. He is God’s servant an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrong doer….
I know this K-9 unit and his handler personally and no matter what is published they are both good officers and I will stand behind them.
Although I was not there personally but from what I understand Thor was sent in because Metz refused to respond to officers demands to get out of the car. The tasing and pepper spray came after the K-9 was repeatedly punched.
He may normally be a good person, but when an officer tells you to do something you do it.
IT WAS BECAUSE DELAWARE SHERRIFS AND POLICE ARE AS CROCKED AS THEY COME AND HARASS PEOPLE. THEY THINK THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. EACH STORY WAS DIFFERENT WHEN THEY TESTIFEID ON MY FATHER. HE IS A GOOD PERSON AND DID NOT DESERVE THIS
MY FATHER WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF TO A BUNCH OF HIPPED UP OFFICERS WHO THINK THE RUN THE WORLD. AND HE WAS FIRST ATTACKED BY “THOR” THEN TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR,TAZED 2 TIMES AND THEN PEPPER SPRAYED THANK YOU. ALL FOR NO REASON
MY NAME IS SARA METZ, I AM JEFF METZ’S DAUGHTER. I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THANKS TO EVERY ONE WHO THINKS HE WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF AND F. OFF TO EVERY ONE WHO DOES NOT BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM ANYMORE. I CAN STRAIGHTEN OUT THE FACTS
Metz is lucky that he was able to even get sentenced! Thor is a large Shepherd and has a lot of power behind him. Knowing this dog personally Metz is lucky he didn’t get his throat ripped out!
LD - hope Thor is doing alright!
Arfy-kun—
I cannot comment for the punching death, but Metz was in a high-speed chase topping 90mph, officers broke out his window, attempted to remove him from the vehicle, and he was tased and pepper sprayed before Thor was sent into the vehicle.
Where is the rest of the “reporting” for this story?
Let’s have the details of these two incidents if we’re to draw any comparison or contrast whatsoever.
Your TV commercials boast how you have investigative skills, how you talk to “both sides” and present all of the story. So let’s see it!
—Nate
From what I understand most animals used by the police force are also considered officers, so hitting a police dog is considered assaulting a police officer.
One common thread in reader comments on news stories, Most people inject uninformed opinion. I am amazed at the stupidity of most who comment.
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