Joe ExoticIt is not going to be free anytime soon.
In his murder-for hire case, the former Oklahoma Zookeeper was sentenced Friday to 21-years in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Scott Palk decided the new punishment at an Friday morning hearing in Oklahoma City federal Court.
His original sentence was 22 Years.
Joe Exotic informed the judge Friday that any time in prison would mean death because of his health issues, including prostate cancer.
“Please don’t make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free,”He said it in tears.
The judge first sentenced him in 2020 after he was convicted of hiring hit men to kill his chief critic, Carole Baskin, and of crimes involving his animals. He claims he is innocent.
A federal appeals court last year ordered a resentencing because of a judicial mistake in determining the appropriate sentencing guidelines for his actions.
More:Joe Exotic, star of “Tiger King”, will be resentenced January 28th in federal court, judge rules
Jurors at his 2019 trial were told he targeted Baskin because she was actively seeking to collect court judgments against him of more than $1 million for trademark infringement and other civil violations.
According to testimony, he was also angry at her for accusing him of exploiting tiger cubs for his zoo profit and on traveling shows. Baskin, who runs an animal sanctuary in Florida has tried to stop him since years.
Baskin spoke Friday at the resentencing. She also provided a victim impact statement.
“I believe his (Joe Exotic’s) conduct from the time of his original sentencing until today demonstrates why he is an even greater threat to me and to my family now than he was at the time of that sentencing,” Baskin wrote. “For the safety of myself and those around me I urge the Court to give this offensive conduct strong weight in considering his new sentence.”
John Phillips is his current attorney and regularly updates social media on the case. The Florida attorney ends most updates with “#freejoeexotic.”
The attorney is currently obtaining statements from witnesses to the government and is ready to file a motion for new trial.
A key witness, Allen Glover, said in a sworn statement that he committed perjury during the trial. Glover stated that he lied when telling Joe Exotic that he paid $3,000 to Baskin.
After Netflix’s release, Joe Exotic was known around the world as Joe Exotic. “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” right as the pandemic began, forcing millions to stay at home with little else to do.
The documentary focused on his life and the case of his murder-for hire. It was a hit. In November, a sequel was launched but was not widely appreciated.
Joe Exotic was born Joseph Allen Schreibvogel in Kansas in 1963. He is now 58. His marital status has influenced the name he uses. Phillips, his attorney, refers to him as Joseph Maldonado in legal filings.
