<p>Young Tony Farmer, a prep basketball phenom from Ohio, apparently fainted in court when the judge imposed a 3-year prison sentence upon the player for abducting and assaulting his former girlfriend. Tough cookies.</p>
<p>The poor dear is devasted that his promising (and guaranteed brief, if he’s that good) collegiate career is probably kaput. He should have thought about that when he terrified his victim. I’ll shed no tears for him, not when there are scores of kids from his demographic circumstances whom have the motivation for college, but aren’t able to easily overcome some barriers to educational achievment.</p>
<p>Alas, now there will likely be a parade of folks coming forward to demand leniency and a second chance.</p>
<p>I was talking to a nephew that asked a lot of questions about how LE catches hackers - he apparently hangs out in this kind of community. I mentioned that it would be good to avoid doing things that are illegal as this sort of thing can follow you around forever. My son was surprised that he would be into that sort of thing.</p>
<p>Kids do really stupid things at that age. Some of them get caught doing it. I’m pretty sure that those kids know perfectly well that they aren’t supposed to do these stupid things.</p>
<p>In the case of Mr. Farmer, jail is probably the first thing that got his attention.</p>
<p>This is sad on so many levels. I wouldn’t be surprised if the sentence gets reduced to a year when the judge reviews it in a few weeks. I agree that he should be sentenced to jail. 3 years seems a little long to me. He probably blew his future, but Mike Vick has come back, so maybe there is hope.</p>
<p>At the end of “Friday Night Lights” (the book) is a story about a Texas HS athlete who pulled a string of armed robberies. He was cocky in court, so convinced he was going to get off, that he scheduled a party that night to announce what school he was going to play college football for.</p>
<p>Similar ending–instead he was convicted and hauled away to await sentencing. I remember the judge saying something like “I understand you are quite an athlete–that carries no weight in this court.”</p>
<p>What was so sad was the ten-years-later follow-up to Friday Night Lights si.com did. With the exception of the kid who went to play ball at Harvard (became an attorney, I believe), none of the principals in that story had done much with their lives.</p>
<p>IF he wises up and accepts the fate he will likely not serve that long and have a chance to play somewhere–some schools are very open to reformed criminals and this case was more personal than street type crime.</p>
<p>The sad part is what happened to his girlfriend; I have no sympathy for him. Why anyone would want their team / school / city represented by someone like this is beyond me.</p>
<p>Here’s a link to a small portion of the video showing him going after his ex girlfriend. She looks absolutely terrified. I seriously doubt this was the first time he abused her. He belongs in jail. I have no sympathy for him.</p>
<p>The sad part is that this young man might have had a good future if he had good adult models as a child.<br>
Unfortunately if he thinks its ok to ambush, kick, hit, drag and abuse another human being (former girlfriend or stranger, it doesn’t matter), he deserves to serve the time just like a less talented person.</p>
<p>He deserves the heavy sentence. I seriously doubt it was the first time he abused her. Her defense of him is fairly normal for someone in an abusive relationship (I have known several abuse victims who continued to make excuses for their abusers). As the judge said, he only has himself to blame. I have not one iota of sympathy for him.</p>
<p>Thank goodness for surveillance video. Too often, abusers get away with their crimes because attack survivors are intimidated into silence or mistakenly identify with their abusers. When violence like this is on tape, the system works a lot better.</p>
<p>The ex-gf’s instant defensive crouch when she catches sight of him on the video…it makes my blood run cold.</p>
<p>swimcatsmom, I had the same reaction. He is an abuser, and she is unfortunately a typical victim. He had a future, and she might think she still had a future with him - abuse and all. She was right, in that he needs help. But he obviously doesn’t understand the gravity of what he did, which suggests that any help he gets won’t be particularly effective.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want him on my team, not just because of the thought of him representing my team, but because he obviously can’t follow directions. He violated a no contact order, and told he he should have done more. It was stupid to violate a court order, and even more stupid to send those particular messages. That court order was as much for his own protection as hers. If he could follow it, what makes anyone think he would follow instructions from his coaches?</p>
<p>*The ex-gf’s instant defensive crouch when she catches sight of him on the video…it makes my blood run cold. *</p>
<p>Ditto. Also, I believe this kid violated the no-contact order that the court had ordered when he was arrested. This did not place him in good stead with the court.</p>
<p>Ack! Just saw the violation of the no-contact order included threats against the victim.</p>
<p>I watched the video and it is sickening. She is, literally, half his size. And terrified. I hope she gets some help. Judging from his reaction to the sentence, the look of disbelief on his face, he thought he was above the law. </p>
<p>I’ll bet this kid has been getting away with all kinds of shenanigans his whole life because of his athletic prowess. No limits set by parents or coaches, no expectations other than athletic performance, etc. Happens all the time. I say tough beans. You laid your hands (feet) on another human being. Serve your time and learn your lesson well.</p>
<p>Just watched the video of the attack and the judge’s TV interview. It’s appalling to hear that some people have more sympathy for this sociopath than the victim. His supporters actually shed tears in the courtroom. Huh?</p>
<p>As for the delusional victim, she needs to move; to relocate to another area because there’s chance that this predator will seek retribution once he is released from prison.</p>