Campus reacts to Simmons’ life sentence

JMU alumnus Brent Simmons was given a life sentence without the chance of parole after numerous witnesses testified regarding his character and the life of his two victims. The jury convicted him last Monday on one count of interstate stalking and two counts of using a firearm in a murder.

Opinions regarding the case and the sentencing vary around JMU.

Senior Arun Shroff said the murders were "cold-blooded" but he was undecided on the sentencing.

"I can understand how the death penalty would be the worse sentence," Shroff said. "But I also think that getting a life sentence would set an example to other criminals."

He said because of the gangs and violence in jails, it probably would be worse for Simmons to have a life sentence.

Junior Brian Coy said that he has been reading about the case but it hasn’t really affected him.

"I don’t know if it touches me any more than any other murder," Coy said. "It doesn’t provoke my interest any more or any less."

Coy added that he has faith in our legal system for putting a murderer in prison.

Senior Ricardo Pineres does not support the death penalty and said it "is not a cruel enough punishment because he should have to sit in a cell and think about the murders."

Pineres said he is a staunch opponent of the death penalty, and he is glad Simmons was given a life sentence instead.

Senior Evan Bolick said, "Even though we think that we are in a safe and intelligent community, a case like this shows you that anything can happen."

He said that he has followed the case because he was "hoping that justice would be met for someone who has committed such an atrocious act."

"But it wasn’t," Bolick said.

"When you are callous enough to premeditate the killing of two other people then the only thing you probably would regret is getting caught and dying yourself," Bolick said.

Junior Erin Magnuson said, "I think he should have been given the death penalty — a life for a life."