Back in April of 2016, Chad Thomas Arnone, a senior agriculture major from Kansas City, Missouri, assaulted his girlfriend at the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house on Missouri State's campus. Arnone "repeatedly punched and kicked the woman in the head, face and upper chest." The unnamed female victim was found in Arnone's room in the fraternity house with "large quantities of blood on her face, clothing, and hands."

The couple had been on and off for four years, and the woman was reportedly there to discuss matters of their relationship. Along with that, however, Arnone, according to the woman and the Springfield Police, had been making suicidal threats such as cutting himself with scissors and jumping from a window, which prompted the woman to call the authorities in the first place. Following that phone call is when Arnone had gotten violent with his former girlfriend. According to her report, Arnone had attacked her for calling him into the police, whereas Arnone's report states that he "had made suicidal statements and "wrestled" with his ex-girlfriend over her cellphone when she tried to call 911," and denied kicking or hitting her despite physical evidence.

So what does this past horrible incident that happened on our own campus have to do with us today?

This past Friday, June 16th, 2017, Judge David Jones sentenced Arnone with a felony charge of domestic assault and a misdemeanor of resisting arrest. Arnone will serve 75-day sentences — known as "shock time" — for each crime. "Shock probation," is "the policy by which a judge orders a convicted offender to prison for a short time, then suspends the remainder of the sentence in favor of probation. It is hoped that the initial experience of prison will provide an effective deterrent from recidivism (reoffend)." Arnone's charges' time will be served at the same time, resulting in just 75 days' time.

So what does this mean?

It means Arnone was let off easy.

The police reports and other articles covering this event do not specify which degree this felony was committed (first, second, or third degree), although it does specify the word "felony," which means it's at least second or first degree, as third-degree is a misdemeanor. No information regarding any reason for Arnone to not in his right mind, thus not acting recklessly, was stated in any reports or articles either, thus eliminating second degree, which specifies "recklessly" injuring.

Thus, according to Missouri's Domestic Assault laws, "If the offender actually causes serious physical injury to the victim in the course of committing this crime or has a prior conviction for this crime or its equivalent in Missouri or any other jurisdiction, it is a Class A felony punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison. If the crime does not result in serious physical injury to the victim, it is a Class B felony which is punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison."

Regardless of if the injuries Arnone's former girlfriend were deemed to be "serious physical injury" — although the aforementioned injuries, along with hair and blood being matted into the carpet, seem to show the injuries were pretty serious — according to Missouri's own laws, he should be spending a minimum of five years in prison.

Yet he only is spending 75 days in the Greene County Jail, followed by a five-year supervised probation — a gross failure in the justice system. Whether it's because it's his first offense (despite it being a felony) or because he's "just a kid," the fact that in just 75 days, basically until the beginning of September, he will be out of jail for savagely beating a woman and back out walking amongst us is terrifying.

According to members of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, Arnone was suspended from their chapter when the incident occurred. As of this time, there has yet to be any statement from Missouri State University regarding either the return or dismissal of Arnone from the University.