In a case that has stirred significant controversy, Celeste Burgess, a 19-year-old from Norfolk, Nebraska, has pleaded guilty to the illicit removal and concealment of her 29-week-old unborn child’s body. Following the harrowing revelation of the events surrounding this case, public sentiment has been predominantly marked by outrage and condemnation.
Burgess’ plea deal, which results in a 90-day sentence, has stirred intense debate. Critics argue that such a lenient sentence trivializes the gravity of the crime, given that the illegal act involved the termination of a viable unborn child and subsequent concealment of the evidence.
Those coming to Burgess’ defense are being questioned. The defense that it was a desperate act of two cornered individuals is met with skepticism. Many contend that the circumstances do not absolve the accused of the horrific act, nor justify the light sentence.
At the time of the incident, Nebraska law prohibited abortions after 20 weeks. The new law, effective later, allows exceptions only if the mother’s life is at risk. Hence, the actions of Burgess and her mother clearly flout these laws.
If found guilty, Jessica Burgess, Celeste’s mother who allegedly procured the abortion drugs and participated in the crime, could face up to eight years in prison. This disparity in potential sentences further underscores the concern about the appropriateness of the 90-day sentence for Celeste.
