George Zimmerman Got Lucky: Florida Mom Receives 20 Year Prison Sentence for Firing Warning Shots at Abusive Husband

by Patrick H. Moore

In a sentencing that occurred on May 11, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida, Marissa Alexander — the mother of an 11-year-old girl — received a 20-year-prison sentence for firing warning shots against her allegedly abusive husband. Although the outcome was very different, this case, with some important differences, would appear to mirror the more recent George Zimmerman second-degree-murder trial.

Ms. Alexander apparently made the fatal mistake of rejecting a plea deal for a three year prison sentence. Her belief was that she had not done anything wrong and that Florida’s controversial ”Stand Your Ground” law should apply to her because she was defending herself against her abusive husband when she fired the warning shots inside her home in August of 2010. Ms. Alexander has stated repeatedly that she fired the shots to scare off her husband who was about to administer a brutal beating. The record shows that the defendant had already taken out a protective order against her husband.

Even though she has never been in trouble with the law before, under Florida’s mandatory minimum sentencing requirements, Ms. Alexander could not receive a lesser sentence. Circuit Court James Judge Daniel stated in court that the law did not allow for extenuating or mitigating circumstances to reduce the sentence below the 20-year minimum.

Ms. Alexander was recently denied a new trial after appealing to the judge to reconsider her case based on the “Stand Your Ground” law which states that a victim of a crime does not have to attempt to run for safety and can immediately retaliate in self-defense when threatened with bodily harm.

Ms. Alexander’s attorney said that she was clearly defending herself and should not have to spend the next two decades behind bars.

Ms. Alexander stated that she did not believe she had done anything wrong.

Most heartbreaking of all, perhaps, was a statement made to news reporters by Ms. Alexander’s 11-year-old daughter who stated:

“I really was crying in there. I didn’t want to cry in court, but I just really feel hurt. I don’t think this should have been happening.”

Unsurprisingly, Ms. Alexander’s case has drawn support from domestic abuse advocates. It has also been compared to the case of neighborhood watch commander George Zimmerman, who initially claimed a “Stand Your Ground” defense in his fatal shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin before choosing to go to trial on a self-defense claim.

An organization called “Stand Your Ground Marissa Alexander,” has issued a statement on its website:

Marissa Alexander has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Marissa is the victim here. Her husband beat her while she was pregnant. After yet another beating, Alexander fired a warning shot which traveled through a wall and into the ceiling. That shot saved her life. Prosecutor Angela Corey did not take into account that Marissa Alexander: Had a court injunction against her crazed husband, Had Given Birth 9 Days Earlier, Was trained to use a weapon and earned a concealed weapons permit.

Ms Alexander herself has provided the following statement from prison:

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank each and every one of you for writing me, praying for me or even thinking of me in your heart and are continuing to do so.  For the most part, I’m hanging in there, as well as one could in this environment.  Prison is definitely NOT what’s happening.  It’s dreadful here, but hey, it’s suppose to be, it is after all captivity.  My good days out weigh my bad days only because God is my source of strength.  Please know that you all inspire me thru your communication and please know that the prayers that you offer up on my behalf are being answered.  I’m so very blessed to have some of the most extraordinary people and organizations who are committed to supporting and encouraging me in every way.

I will continue to believe in our justice system.  I choose to do so because I have complete trust in God, and we are still a nation that has this fundamental belief embedded in our core, displayed in our courtrooms and written on our money, and more hopefully in our hearts.

Truly I couldn’t begin to express to you how much I appreciate your wonderful letters of encouragement.  Please know that I do not take your time and kindness for granted.  Your heart-felt concern I am most grateful for.

With all sincerity & respect,

Marissa Alexander

Angela Corey, the state attorney who oversaw the case against Alexander, said that justice was indeed served and that Alexander was angry and reckless, not fearful, on the night of the shooting. Just because no one was harmed in the incident doesn’t make the shooting any less a punishable crime, Corey said.

“I feel like when someone fires a loaded gun inside of a home with two children standing in the direction where the bullet was fired, we have to have tough laws that say you don’t do that,” Corey told HuffPost. “Justice, with the laws of the state of Florida, was served. But I don’t believe her supporters will ever believe that.”

I would agree with Angela Corey that Marissa Alexander’s many supporters will never believe that justice has been served in this matter. It is curious to note that had Ms. Alexander accepted the plea deal she was offered, she would have only served a 3-year prison term. On the other hand, by going to trial and losing, she is stuck with the mandatory 20-year deal. This is why — in the Federal system where I do most of my work — many Federal defendants are very wary of going to trial, even if they think they are innocent. If you go to trial and lose, you will very likely be looking at a very long sentence.

Click here to view related George Zimmerman trial posts:

George Zimmerman Escaped Conviction Based on Florida Self-Defense Law

George Zimmerman Trial: Prosecution Hits Hard in Dramatic Closing Argument

George Zimmerman Defense Team Turns Up the Heat

Trayvon Martin’s Father Stands by His Son in Life and Death: Denies Stating That the Screams Were Not His Son’s

George Zimmerman Was Transformed by Shooting and Killing Trayvon Martin

George Zimmerman’s Defense Team Grills Trayvon Martin’s Mother

George Zimmerman Trial: Dangerous Game for Zimmerman to Take the Witness Stand

George “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Zimmerman Had a History of Violence

Why the Case Against George Zimmerman Is Strong Enough for a Conviction

George Zimmerman Unlikely to Be Convicted of 2nd-Degree Murder

George Zimmerman Trial: John Good’s Testimony Is “Good News” for Zimmerman