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Guy gets no jail time after admitting to stomping a homeless man

A former BC football player today admitted to stomping a homeless man into unconsciousness in January and promptly got a suspended sentence that will keep him out of jail if he stays clean for the next five years, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Craig Parsons, 23, of West Newton pleaded guilty to various assault and battery charges and witness intimidation in Suffolk Superior Court today. Judge Carol Ball sentenced Parsons to a jail sentence of 2 1/2 years - but then suspended that for five years.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office had asked for three to five years in state prison. Parsons's alleged fellow stomper, Anthony Varrichione, 24, of Medway, himself a former football player at Marist College, continues to await trial in the case.

Prosecutors say the victim was panhandling on Allston Street around 2 a.m. on Jan. 26:

After a verbal altercation in which the victim was told to go away, Parsons and [Varrichione] approached him and began punching and kicking him. Parsons also allegedly knocked the victim’s head into the sidewalk.

A female passerby who witnessed a portion of the attack interceded by running to the victim’s aid, shielding him from the assailants until they left, and then holding his head to ensure he could breathe. Other witnesses called 911 and the victim was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in critical condition. He survived, but now suffers from lingering effects of the beating that he described in an impact statement for the court.

“It happened on a Sunday and I woke up in the hospital on Wednesday,” wrote the man, who is no longer homeless. “When I go out, I’m scared of people. I don’t want to go out. I’m scared. I have memory loss. I can’t read. My balance is off. I am always tired. I keep missing doctor’s appointments because I forget what day it is.”

Following the beating, prosecutors say, Parsons ordered a witness he knew not to cooperate with the police investigation or to identify him to authorities.

"This was a case of repugnant violence,” DA Dan Conley said. "We stand by our recommendation that state prison was the most appropriate punishment for an utterly senseless attack on a man who posed no threat to the defendant."

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Comments

I hope there is a civil suit pending.

How did this jerk get away with a suspended sentence?

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Unfortunately you can't sue someone for something he doesn't have. Even wealthy college kids typically don't have much in their own names.

I'm usually the first to defend the judges, but this is indefensible. So long as we're imprisoning people for drug offenses, there's no way to justify letting any violent criminal go free, especially for a crime like this.

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But you can sue and get a judgement and for the next 20 years as the students start making more money the guy can start collecting...

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maybe in 20 years they'll have become successful businessmen and ask for a pardon *sarcasm*

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The judges here (to put it politely) don't impress me.

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Wow: I thought only college football players in Florida got away acts of violence.

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A disgustingly light sentence - I'm sure his lawyers pleaded that "his life is already ruined" and all that.

However, if he's out of jail, he can work. If he can work, he can support the victim with his earnings. I hope there is a civil suit to help the victim get help with his ruined life and ongoing injuries.

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In order for a civil suit to move forward wouldn't the homeless panhandler have to retain a lawyer? That's not provided by the state in a civil suit right? I'm assuming Greater Boston Legal Services or some other sort of entity that provides legal services for the indigent (assuming he is) would be the people to go to. Or if people are so moved we could chip in and get him a lawyer to sue that moron's ass so hard he'll be selling it to Cybah for some spare change.

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... please re-consider and edit.

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...yes, it's tacky. But given Cybah's take on the issue further below, I thought what the hell, some Christmas spice for your holiday shopping. I'm assuming he doesn't take much that I post particularly seriously. He's a big boy, he can take it - and dish it. Personally I find it hard to see anyone as attractive once they reveal that they're douchebags -- male or female.

If the post is tacky, I'll take my punishment -- unlike the douchebags in this story.

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I'm male.. I'm a horny guy. I also like men.. I don't see the issue :) I wanted to see what they looked like, and I was correct. Handsome men, but grade A douche bags

Trust me in my lifetime I've met a ton of their type... hot guys, shit for personalities. Which is why I no longer chase after the "bro" college jock types anymore.. The sex is hot but the aftermath is not.. ugh (more issues than People Magazine usually!)

(ya TMI)

PS - No offense taken at all John W. Yes I am a big girl, and yes I wear big girl panties :)

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Personal injury lawyers don't charge up front - they take a percentage of the settlement.

You don't have to pay a retainer, because they know that someone who is down and out due to the negligence or maliciousness of another can't front the money, and they would lose an opportunity for a good case.

If this is a good case, I would lay odds that such a lawyer would broker such an arrangement - they only get paid if they win.

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Personal injury lawyers don't charge up front - they take a percentage of the settlement.

You believe those ads, huh? You're just what they're looking for. They won't touch a case with a ten foot dung fork unless they're pretty sure it'll make them money.

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And this is the sort of case where they would be seeing those $$. The guy did plead guilty!

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What's the judges excuse for letting this jackass go free? That will teach him a lesson !!

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Which is to say, not at all.

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We don't answer to you.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/08/09/mass-high-court-what-judges-...

"In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Judicial Court created an absolute 'judicial deliberative privilege' for the first time in Massachusetts. It will allow judges to keep their notes secret and to refuse to answer questions about how they ­arrived at their decisions."

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WOof they are both woofy. Darn. Goes to show you that you can be good looking, and still be a grade a douchebag.

http://www.goredfoxes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27700&ATCLID=205289445

http://www.bceagles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/parsons_cj00.html

(Sorry folks.. I know it's bad thing.. but just had to see if they were hot football players.. and yes they were!)

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Way to objectify men.

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You're welcome! Thanks for playing!

I strive for excellence and I have.

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Would it kill you to smile?

Way to objectify men.

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last person I expected to stick up for me ;)

It was all in good fun.. These guys are buttheads anyways.

And bosguy22.. I really hope that 22 isn't for your age. Because aren't you a bit young to be so... negative?

Remember this the next time a large breasted girl walks by bouncing her boobies at you and you stop and stare and give yourself whiplash as you look......... objectification is unisex, works for both genders!

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You know it's not personal, Cybah. I just can't resist the (you should pardon the expression) low-hanging fruit.

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As long as they are big like plums and hang down low.. I don't mind *licks lips*

OINK.

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Your derogatory comment regarding female anatomy was completely unnecessary in this context. Have a little respect. And no, I won't lighten up.

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Seriously. You need to take a chill pill. So angry and bitter for someone under 25.

Uncalled for in this context? What? Don't like being called out on something most guys do? Sucks when a man does it to another guy, right ? I guess it's okay when men do it women but it's not okay when it's done to another guy. Get real. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. And don't try to tell me that you don't because you do. You're human.

And respect? For who? Honey, my respect for these two Grade A douche bags went out the door the minute they beat down a homeless guy. Ya my respect stopped a long time ago.

And for the sheer fact, and its pretty obvious, I don't care about them or your comments. Go try it on someone who gives a crap.

So lighten up Francis, I think it's time for loosen up those panties you have wrapped up in a bunch so tight.

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You could stand to take a deep breath yourself, cybah. Overreaction? Maybe, but you're pissing gasoline on that fire, and you don't have to. If you don't leave it alone, that's purely your choice.

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Cybah telling people to lighten up. Priceless. This is the same clown who asked Adam to cancel his account because he was mocked for missing blatant sarcasm.

Hey Cybah, you're alright. /sarcasm

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If I am telling someone to lighten up, maybe they should :)

And I knew that me asking to have my account deleted would be thrown in my face eventually. Touche! and Point taken. But that card has been used now, can't be used again.

Third.. ever hear of the phrase "pick your battles"? Yeah I live by that. Which is why you'll notice I'll totally drop off mid argument and wont reply anymore. Because I just don't feel like fighting anymore, so I walk away. I ONLY replied above (and today to you) because I am fukkin bored and yesterday I was stuck in traffic on a bus going north. So yeah, if I am bored I comment, if I am busy I usually lurk.

But I still stand by everything I said.. bosguy22 needs to lighten up a little bit.

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You're a naughty boy, Cybah, and if I had my druthers I'd tie 'em to a post and let you have at them. ;)

In all seriousness, WTF! How could 2 beefy footballin' dudes beat a homeless man senseless and live with themselves? What can we do for this poor man? Money? Things? A place at the table this Christmas? Adam, if this man reaches out and you can vet him, give him my e-mail address and I'll make sure he's taken care of this holiday season.

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Where did Xaverian go wrong?? Were they elected to the Hall of Fame?

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Wow, a rich football-playing white-boy from Newton comes within seconds of an unprovoked murder and doesn't get into trouble. Witness intimidation too. Thank god the student was white, so we can say it was a totally random lapse of thought that will never definitely happen again and he can continue with his communications degree. Probably never even missed football practice.
BC continuing to be a shining moral beacon and setting a great example for future investment fraud cases.

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As a BC alum and a current social worker, who thrived in BC's climate of community service and ethos of "men and women for others," I am disappointed and disgusted by this news. However, I can't say I'm surprised. Parsons, in his position of privilege, getting the punishment he deserves for his vicious display of cruelty and hatred? That would be too just for our legal system.

He probably celebrated when he heard the sentence. Meanwhile, his victim has to live with the trauma of the attack for the rest of his life.

My only consolation is that people like the woman who came to the victim's aid exist, to balance out the inhumanity of C.J. Parsons and his ilk.

Hoping this news sparks the outrage it merits.

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there were no reports of mitigating circumstances by the defendants (efforts to make amends, apologies, etc...) so why are they getting off scot free? It makes no sense. Social class will get you better treatment.

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6'6 football player beating and almost killing a defenseless and most likely mentally unfit stranger on the streets, then also after the fact telling someone not to testify.

Man, thank god this kid is white so we don't have to shoot him!

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I could see Hollywood recruiting this guy to be the next Marky Mark.

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Different 'justice' for the beautiful people indeed. Disgusting!

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Since playing football apparently grants you immunity from everything, I guess the Aaron Hernandez trial is tgoing to be short and anticlimactic.

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Aaron Hernandez isn't white so he will actually have to go to jail.

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Hernandez is white Hispanic.

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And you know what the first poster meant. But since you insist on splitting hairs, how about: Hernandez is not a non-Hispanic white, therefore ...

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Because there is no evidence he murdered Lloyd.

Hopefully the state has a better case in the double homicide in the South End, because the way it stands now, no way he gets convicted on the North Attleboro murder.

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I'm familiar with her, and think she should retire a.s.a.p.
Good for Dan Conley for pushing this prosecution and arguing for prison time.

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Not in the verdict, but that the player didn't beat the crap out of a judge's kid so that these pussies on the bench could finally learn a lesson in victim impact.

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I know the Judge, she is an excellent jurist. I just hope that there is something that we don't know that would justify what certainly is an unjust result.

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Most people don't realize this, but people of all races usually get a big break like this on their first serious crime (within reason). Drug offenses usually get more breaks.

It would be interesting to see some sort of breakdown on the data though.

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I think they usually take into account such things as serious bodily injury, as in life-changing brain damage. So I think this is actually a rare case of exceptional leniency, given the totality of the circumstances. This wasn't just a little fisticuffs among friends, or some drunken kid taking one wild swing at a bouncer or something. It was almost a homicide, from the sound of it. Plus some witness intimidation thrown in- normally an aggravating factor.

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I've seen similar first time crimes get similar sentences, regardless of their race or intent.

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Any linkable examples come to mind? The only one I can think of is Jarrod Remy. But I'll take your word for it, Pete, as I know you probably have hung around courthouses far more than I have.

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And Remy was obviously a little more serious, no one would get away with a murder like that.

This was also some sort of dispute that turned into am assault, which also weighs into the decision of the jury.

Assaults like this also don't have mandatory sentences like many gun or drug distribution crimes do, which makes this more frustrating.

But judges also look at jail time as a process for really keeping dangerous people who will likely reoffend off the street. These two might be lower risk to offend again, and they do assault anyone else, they will go to prison for a few years. That is how most people go to prison for the first time, bupy violating their probation.

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Where he smashed a dude with a bottle, messing him up pretty good if I recall correctly. Not the last, fatal assault.

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Except that in the short term it looks like he won't spend any time in jail.

Your description reminded me of the Billy Tibbetts story. Stayed out of jail for the statutory, but the A&B just left things piling on.

A bit of restorative justice would have been nice, like time at Pine Street or whatnot.

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The only way this could have been a lighter sentence is if the judge wrote the ruling in yellow ink.

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WBZ gets a quote from his lawyer, who says Parsons is quite apologetic:

“He's paid a price already and he’ll pay a price in the future,” Doolin said. “It's one unfortunate night in the life of an individual that has been spent very well other than that.”

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What about the price to pay and all the unfortunate nights to come in the life of his permanently disabled victim? If it was up to me, these perps would spend the rest of their lives helping this guy.

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You don't just suddenly wake up some morning and decide "Today is the day I'm going to beat the tar out of someone and leave them permanently disabled." This kid has a serious personality defect. It is exactly this slap-on-the-wrist which allows thugs like this to think they're entitled to behave any way they so choose. We'll see him again, and hopefully the girlfriend/wife/random stranger in question survives the incident.

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“He's paid a price already and he’ll pay a price in the future,” Doolin said. “It's one unfortunate night in the life of an individual that has been spent very well other than that.”

What price has he paid? Regret? Stress? That's a price HE purchased through his actions. I don't get to kill a man but then cut off my right arm and say "see, I'll never shoot again! I've paid a price already! I'll be paying it in the future without a right arm too!". Society isn't restored what he took from it because he's regretful.

And the rest of his life he's been pious and just? Great, I don't want to punish him for all of that. Now, let's get back to the time he nearly beat a man to death for being poor.

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I think we found Don Saklad's hyper-aggro Bizarro World twin

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this kid's father holds some influential position in state government or in some prestigious law firm. Something is wrong here. Somebody got to someone, I'm guessing.

BC is very well connected in both state politics and law in the Boston area. And from what I witnesses as a graduate student at BC, the defendant's behavior doesn't surprise me in the least. I never saw such a bunch of privileged Neanderthals. I only tell people I graduated from there if I absolutely have to tell someone.

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She's been recovering from tennis elbow?

Her son sprained his knee playing soccer?

Just spitballin' here...

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Free treatment for life in return for my son's freedom.

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felony conviction and a 2.5 year sentence hanging on him, probably a shitload of restitution and probation fees and a civil suit coming.

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Heinous these crimes are when they happen and how suddenly they are not... in a courtroom.
Don't realy get it but hey what do I know.

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didn't get to spend any time in jail? That's beyond disgusting, imho. The homeless guy's assailant needs to spend some time in the clink, and to be forced to pay restitution to the homeless guy that he permanently injured, in some way or other.

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Can Conley appeal this idiotically inadequate sentence?

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is pretty much the defendant's in a situation like this. The Commonwealth can appeal an error of law (as with that gun suppression decision reversed yesterday), but not the use of discretion (as with bail or sentencing).

The defendant can appeal everything, though.

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A travesty of justice.

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