Tim Donaghy's sentence, too light or too much?

Question

NBA scandal: Corrupt ref gets 15-month sentence

NEW YORK (AP)—Disgraced ex-NBA official Tim Donaghy admitted that he’d brought shame on his profession Tuesday as a federal judge sentenced him to 15 months behind bars for a gambling scandal that still has the league on the defensive.

U.S. District Judge Carol Amon sentenced Donaghy to prison time plus three years of supervised release, saying he’d let the sport down by taking thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games— including ones he refereed.

“The NBA, the players and the fans relied on him to perform his job in an honest manner,” Amon said. Donaghy listened with his arms folded but showed no emotion.

He told the judge that “I’ve brought shame on myself, my family and the profession.”

Answer 1

i think it's perfect for the situation. 15 months inprisonment's gonna be tough for a guy like him, but I think he'll have learned his lesson.

Answer 2

12 moths would have been better, I think.  He's a gambling addict...if you've ever known an addict, well...he's got issues.  It's not like he hurt anyone.  Probation even would have been okay.  I just think prison should be for people who need to be kept away from others.  I don't think that's the case with Donaghy.  I think the humiliation and pain he's dealing with personally is likely enough punishment for the guy.  I think we all should have more compassion...not just for him...but as a rule.

Answer 3

i only read your headline question but i feel like it was too harsh. i mean lets be real everyone with a brain knows this stuff is probably relatively common, he just happened to get caught. & besides i realize its a crime & i accept that but if i had to rank big crimes to little crimes. such as murder, rape, theft, etc....this crime to me is not in that same ballpark, its just not that serious, punishable yes, but from what i have heard & know of the case i think it was too harsh.

Answer 4

too light, the judicial system is messed up.....Every body get's sentaced completly differnt, I know a guy that murdered somebody and only got 3 years

Answer 5

i agree with the person above me he deserves more time

Answer 6

too light man. shouldve given him at least 6-8 years. lots of people lots the interest to the NBA worrying about gambling among referees. what he did was a big blow to the future of the NBA.

Answer 7

too much he only need 12 months

Answer 8

He got lucky. He could have and should have gotten at least 24 months.

Answer 9

Tough call, but I think it's fair. It's not like he killed or raped someone. What he did was steal future earning from the NBA due to the damage to the reputation of the NBA. It's a huge company, and I could be wrong, but I don't think it's a publicly traded corporation, so it's not like there are any shareholders involved to be robbed..

Don't get me wrong, what he did was horrible, but in this case, I think the crime fits the punishment. I would suggest that the ref pay monetary damages to the NBA, but there is no way he would EVER get enough money in his lifetime to be able to dole out the money..