Despite his situation, Joe Donovan accepted responsibility for his actions. He certainly has paid for them. The harshness of Joe Donovan’s sentence is evident.
Joe has also expressed true remorse for his actions, without reservations. He continues to express sincere empathy for the terrible loss experienced by the Raustein family and the pain he helped to cause.
The dramatic inequity between the sentences of McHugh and Joe Donovan is clear.
The murder of Yngve Raustein was crime in which the culpability of one person far exceeded others.
But Joe Donovan has remains behind bars since 1992 while Yngve Raustein’s killer walked free. Velez, another “accomplice,” served less than ten years.
The disparity between Donovan’s and McHugh’s sentence, as well as Joe’s limited participation in the offense, gives rise to a question: Does continued incarceration of Joe Donovan serve anybody’s best interests?
Nearly two decades in prison satisfies the appropriate charges for his role in Raustein’s tragic death. The great expense the state faces for further imprisonment and the loss of any useful role Joe could play in the world.
Contact your state Rep and State Senator:
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