Donte Stallworth a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns has recently been convicted of DUI manslaughter in the state of Florida.  This type of offense usually carries a 10-15 year prison sentence, as well as permanent drivers license revocation along with other restrictions and conditions set by the judge upon release from prison.  Stallworth received a 30 day jail term, 2 years of house arrest, 8 years of probation, and community service.  He also settled a civil suit with the family of the victim for an undisclosed amount. This is ridiculous, he should at least be serving 2-3 years in prison along with all of the other sanctions the judge imposed against him. I can't believe this judgement.  You can get 30 days for DUI manslaughter the same as a low level misdemeanor if convicted.

To put Stallworth's sentencing in to perspective, let's look at ongoing case of of Plaxico Burress currently a high profile free agent  wide receiver in the NFL.  Who's case is in New York City.  He shot himself in the leg while in a night club.  He with the assistance of another teammate tried to cover up what happened, but weren't able to.  Burress has admitted wrong doing and has since been trying come to an acceptable plea with the district attorney so that  jail time would be avoided, so he could play possibly this year in the NFL.  Burress has conceded to doing a year in jail since the district attorney said jail time will be included in any plea deal.  Yet the district attorney wants at least two years in prison.  Which would almost certainly put an end to Plaxico's playing days.  

Now take both cases, both men have made unbelievably egregious mistakes in judgement.  They both should have to answer for what they've done. How is it though that Plaxico's crime in the eyes of the law is worse than Stallworth's.  Plaxico shot himself, didn't injure anyone else, while Stallworth killed a human being.  Not only did he take a man's life, he took a man away from his family and friends.  I'm not in any way excusing what Plaxico has done, when you get caught breaking the law you get punished for it.  This inexplicable difference in how the law has been carried out from these two cases is disheartening.  

This is absolute lunacy to me.  Where is the public outcry and feeling of anger of what has happened as there was in the Mike Vick case?  Is the society more concerned with the inhumane treatment of dogs than the loss of a human life?  Maybe we as a society are so desensitized to human loss of life to realize the tragedy that has just happened.  Vick got 21 months in a federal prison along with, losing over 100 million dollars in contracts and endorsements, and is currently suspended by the NFL.  Plaxico is going to lose several million the same way, as no team will sign him with his pending charges. Burress will probably serve a prison sentence of over a year.  While Stallworth is suspended by the NFL and will lose money, but it'll be from the comforts of his own home.

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