Jessie Davis Case: The Sentence

On Wednesday afternoon the jury in the murder of Jessie Davis returned its sentence recommendation for Bobby Cutts Jr. and Judge Charles E. Brown imposed it. The jury didn't recommend the death penalty; they did recommend maximum sentences on all charges and Judge Brown took it a step further and ruled those sentences be served consecutively which means Cutts won't be eligible for parole until he is eighty-seven years -- 57 years from now.

Before the judge pronounced sentence, Jessie's parents and siblings spoke of the pain of their loss. Bobby Cutts sat like a stone through their heart-breaking statements -- what a difference from from the sobbing man who begged for his life on Monday. You can listen to the statements by the Porter-Davis family members and and read more here.

Here's how his sentence will work:

1. 30 years for the aggravated murder charges in Baby Chloe's death.

2. 15 years for the Jessie Davis' murder.

3, 10 years for aggravated burglary.

4. 2 years for two counts of gross abuse of a corpse.

Total: fifty-seven years before he would be eligible for parole. Had the judge designated that the terms be served concurrently, Cutts would have been eligible for parole after thirty years.

Was it a fair verdict? I don't know. The jury's foreman said that we didn't see what they did. What I do know is that Bobby Cutts is going to have a long time to think about it. And, of course there will be an appeal but given the tight rein Judge Brown kept on procedures, I'm thinking that that could well be to no avail. Today Bobby Cutts in the state correctional facility up in Lorain.

I just hope and pray that all the families involved can find some peace.

Kay Dennison