We asked your opinion of the Carmel Valley wife and mother who was caught after being on the run for more than three decades.
The only thing criminal is that she is not free and that our tax payer money is being spent on arresting and incarcerating Susan. - Craig, Otay Mesa
I do not think she should get any time for escaping. I dont believe she should be in jail now. It should be taken into consideration that she has led a productive life keeping her nose clean. She has a family now and has not been in trouble with the law in many years. - Matthew, San Diego
I feel that if you escape from jail and are able to avoid capture for 32 years you should be acquitted of the previous charges and let on your way. Although she has done bad things in her past, she would have not made it 32 years on the run if she continued to break the law. In other words, she has clearly changed her ways and should not have to spend time in jail for that. - Cliff, Carmel Valley
I dont think that this women should go to jail. Sure she made a huge mistake but really she has it together now and has kids. 10 years is really too long!! Especially when she didn't make any other mistakes after escaping from jail. Call it dumb -- call it stupid -- but other people do worse things and what really happens to them?? So why take another spot in jail for something that has been in the past? - Maggie, San Diego
If she had been incarcerated for her whole sentence, the intended puirpose of jailing her would have been to rehabilitate her back into society. She achieved that very well on her own and should be pardoned!! To be locked up again for having had drugs in her teens would be ridiculous!! - John, San Marcos
This lady is an exemplary case of someone turning their life around and doing something positive. To sentence her back to prison seems like such a mistake. Not to mention adding more burden to the Michigan State taxpayers seems really ridiculous. Justice should be fair and the measure of common sense should be applied here. - Tony, North Park
Not much has been mentioned on what Mrs. Walsh's charges were specifically, but they were something to do with drugs. America's war on drugs is not working. Mrs. Walsh was only 19 when she committed her crime. One of our major concerns with drugs are the potential risks to society. In fact, without that we really have no interest in prosecuting personal choices to use drugs. It is obvious that Mrs. Walsh made a bad choice in her past, but there is a whole lot to say about taking her life and turning it around. We have heard about her as a person as responsible, loving, caring and of the upmost ethical character. The more shocking truth here seems to be the crime not fitting the time. She was only 19, I can't understand what she could have done as a 19-year-old girl to warrant 10-20 years in prison. What ever happened to rehabilitation? If a 19-year-old sexually assaults someone, I can see how there are some serious community concerns with future behavior but 19 and drug affiliation, it is almost a rite of passage (unfortunately) in our society. To sum it up, I feel that there should be a huge public outcry to effectuate her sentence as served due to overwhelming evidence that she has accomplished a total rehabilitation. Furthermore, there are children involved. Won't it be a great day when we think about them before politics just once? - Lisa, North Park
It's sad that she could serve jail time for something she did a long time ago but it doesn't erase her unpaid debt. Let her serve 5-10 years of community service so her family isn't torn apart. - Ralph, Chula Vista
I think it is outrageous. I think the lady should not serve any more than probation or less than 1 year prison time at most, if any at all. I hope she gets the charges dismissed for lack of severity. I don't think a charge for heroin possession for sale over 15 years ago is prison time for over 10 years. That is ridiculous. There are much more severe crimes that get less time. She has lived a crime free life and doesn't seem to be any danger to anyone. Living a decent life. I just think today crimes our not sufficiently appropriately punished. I am desperate a little for her excusion to some extent of her crime. I hope a lawyer can get her off on some technicality. I am curious. What is the punishment today for selling heroin. 10 years is not appropriate. I'm just upset with that. - Philip, Mission Valley
I think the girl was very young and caught up in the wrong the thing at the time. She became a model citizen. Charge her with escape and give her parole and let her go home to her children. There are worse crimes being committed. - Debbie, Ontario
I feel she has turned her life around. Thirty years of fear she would be found is enough punishment for her. There are so many other cases that the government could spend money on. This woman is not a threat and needs to be forgiven and we need to forget her past. - Jacey, Escondido
I would hope the authorities would take into account the citizen Susan has become; as there are much bigger issues to worry about and this is a waste of time and tax payer money. - Guy, Bonsall
The Governor should definitely pardon Susan for this, so she can move on with her life. She has proven her worth to society and her family needs her. The harsh sentence she receives initially demonstrated justice was not going to be served anyway. Forgive the crime and let her move on with her life. - Dennis, Escondido
I think that an extreme amount of community service would suffice for Susan LeFevere, aka Marie Walsh's sentence. Walsh doesn't seem to pose a threat to the community. Why should she face a longer sentence than most child molesters? - Haley, Ocean Beach
We have no problem giving amnesty to illegal aliens. I feel this women has paid for her crime for all the years she had to hide. She obviously has turned her life around. Make her pay a huge fine, community service and probation. - Lorelee, El Cajon
