Disgraced former attorney out of jail

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A disgraced former prosecutor was sentenced to 15 days in jail, but was set free just hours later.

Some say she got off to easily for trying to cover her tracks.  Former prosecutor Anne Adams was sent to jail and released all in the same day.  In the courtroom, Anne Adams feared for her life in jail.

Some people have no sympathy for a woman they say knew what she was doing when she drove drunk and tried to cover it up.  "I'm not here to take vengeance on you today or to beat you up," said Michael Griffith, Acting Supreme Court Justice.

For the first time in her life, Anne Adams found herself in the same position as some of her previous clients - standing in front of a Judge, waiting to be sentenced on a DWI charge.

Her defense attorney asked the Judge for leniency because of her damaged reputation, the loss of her teaching job and the fact that she will never be able to practice law in the state again.

"I'm not sure if it's more like a greek tragedy, shakespearan play or a john grisham novel," said James Harrington, Adams' Attorney.

Adams received a 15 day jail sentence.

Bridget Trudell who lost her father five years ago to a drunk driver that was defended by Adams.  "It made me sick," she said when she found out Adams was released from jail after spending less than six hours there.

"Anne Adams was saying she couldn't sit in jail because she feared for her life. Well, she shouldn't fear for her life. She knew what she was doing," Trudell said.

"It's understandable that some people might be upset about that but the reality is that it's common place and routine. every individual has an absolute right to an appeal," said Terry Connors, News 4's legal analyst.

"It's just not right," Trudell said.

Erie County DA Frank Sedita has a similar thought, "There has to be some punishment some public punishment for actions such as this."

Adams was released early from jail because an appellate judge granted her a stay of sentencing.

Her defense attorney plans to appeal her 15 day sentence.

Legal experts tell us that most people who get a DWI for the first time do not go to jail.