Even Judge Can't Figure Out Casey Anthony Probation Situation

Earlier this week, Casey Anthony temporarily avoided a hearing regarding the terms of her probation stemming from a Florida check fraud conviction.

Judge Belvin Perry said he'd need more time to consider the facts before ruling on whether Casey must return home to serve probation in that case.

"I'll be the first to admit this is not a very clear cut issue ... you’ve given me a lot to think about," Perry said, calling it "a legal maze" and "a mess".

Anthony who was acquitted last month in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, is believed to be in Ohio and didn't attend the hearing.

Her attorneys argue that she should not be required to return because of safety concerns, and because she served the probation behind bars.

It's as confusing as it sounds, if not more so.

On January 25, 2010, Anthony was given probation by Judge Stan Strickland after she'd pleaded guilty to charges she stole checks from a friend.

The confusion set in as Florida's Department of Corrections thought Anthony could serve the probation while in custody awaiting her murder trial.

Strickland said last week he wanted Anthony to serve the probation after the sentence, not during. Last week, Perry said he'd wanted the same.

However, Department of Corrections probation supervisor Susan Finigan testified that proper procedures were practiced in Anthony's case.

Finigan added that while it's not the usual arrangement to have someone in custody serving their probation, "It does happen on occasion."

The Department of Corrections therefore deemed that Anthony's probation was concluded on January 24, long before her murder acquittal.

Anthony’s legal team claimed their client’s life would be in grave danger if the state forces her to serve a year’s probation for check fraud.

"This thing is over and done,” her Florida-based lawyer, Jose Baez, said. “And for some reason things seem to keep coming up again."

Judge Perry did not say when he would announce his ruling.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/08/even-judge-cant-figure-out-casey-anthony-probation-situation/

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