A teen babysitter from Sussex who was accused of killing a family's dog while they were away has pleaded guilty to the crime. In a court appearance yesterday, Kielee Sonnemann accepted responsibility for her actions, resulting in her being sentenced to nine months in jail and two years on probation, as per FOX6 News. This sentence came even though she could have potentially faced up to five and a half years behind bars based on the charges.
According to a statement obtained by CBS 58, the family expressed their disappointment with the sentence, having hoped for a much stricter penalty. They indicated a lack of belief in the sincerity of Sonnemann's apologies, stating, "We’re very disappointed, and truthfully we were hoping for a longer sentence, at least a prison sentence." Shelly Ciardo, one of the dog's owners, went on to add, "We’re happy that she got something, better than nothing, because if she got nothing, obviously that would’ve hurt us a lot more."
Sonnemann was remorseful during her sentencing hearing, explaining her actions with regret. "It is a horrible thing that I have done. I don’t know why I did it and I’m very sorry," Sonnemann said, as reported by CBS 58. She further apologized to the family, acknowledging the traumatic experience they and their children endured.
However, the family questioned the authenticity of Sonnemann's tearful apology. "It wasn't believable," Shelly Ciardo told WISN. This sentiment was echoed by her husband, Justin Ciardo, who expressed the family's collective heartache and their intent to try to move forward, despite the outcome. He stated, "That's all we pretty much the only thing we can do is go forward."
