CLEVELAND, Ohio (CNN) — A person can only die in prison once,” Judge Michael Russo told Ariel Castro Thursday in handing down a sentence of life in prison plus 1,000 years. The judge called the sentence “commensurate with the harm you’ve done.”
Russo, noting that Castro treated his victims as “slaves,” said consecutive sentences rendered in his case must be “imposed” to protect the public and “to punish you.”
“You don’t deserve to be out in our community,” he said. “You’re too dangerous.”
Judge Michael Russo finds that Ariel Castro fits the definition of a “violent sexual predator.” Castro tried to argue with the terminology, but Russo tells Castro he has already admitted to being one by “virtue of your plea.”
The court in Cuyahoga County is seizing the property of Ariel Castro and imposing a fine of $100,000 on him, in addition to his massive sentence.
