Jared Fogle Is Sentenced to Prison — But Still a Victim in His Own Mind

Last updated on: November 19, 2015 at 12:35 pm by Kate O'Hare

Jared Fogle Is Sentenced to Prison — But Still a Victim in His Own Mind 2015-11-19T12:35:12-08:00 Kate O'Hare

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On the surface, Jared Fogle looked like a winner.

Through a diet that consisted largely of Subway sandwiches, he lost 245 pounds, became a national pitchman for the food chain, married two women and had two children.

But under it all, he was always a sick man — not as much in his body as in his mind and soul.

After pleading guilty on child pornography and sex charges involving minors, Fogle was sentenced on Thursday, Nov. 19, to 15-1/2 years in federal prison.

From Reuters:

Fogle, who became famous after losing weight on a diet that included sandwiches from the fast-food chain, agreed in August to a deal with prosecutors under which he would plead guilty to charges of child pornography and traveling for illicit paid sex with minors.

Fogle agreed in court on Thursday to avoid pornography, get sexual disorder treatment and will be a registered sex offender. U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt also sentenced him to a lifetime of supervision and a $175,000 fine.

Pratt went beyond what either side wanted: prosecutors had sought a 12-1/2 year sentence, while Fogle’s attorneys had asked for five years.

“The defendant was obsessed with child pornography and sex with minors,” Pratt said. Fogle was remanded to the custody of a U.S. Marshall, and Pratt recommend he go to a federal prison in Littleton, Colorado.

Of course, his lawyers tried to plead a case about how Fogle was a victim of his obsessions — first of food, then of alcohol, pornography and sex with minors (along with extramarital affairs).

Also from Reuters:

Fogle cried during his statement before sentencing, saying his wife and children would never get over this.

“You gave your wife $7 million, she’ll be okay,” Pratt responded. Fogle’s wife filed for divorce, according to media reports.

Fogle said he now acknowledges that the minors involved had been gravely harmed.

Ya think?

We are now so deep in this mire of psychological “understanding” that we have forgotten simple concepts of right and wrong. Whatever Fogle’s issues, it’s hard to imagine this grown man didn’t know that possessing pornographic pictures of children was wrong, that paying to have sex with underage teens was wrong, that cheating on his wife was wrong, that doing irreparable harm to her and his children was wrong.

He knew, but gratifying his own desires took precedence over all of it. And isn’t that always the way with these predators? What they want matters far more than any harm they cause. Whatever lies they may tell themselves and others, in the end, other people exist as objects to be used to pleasure themselves.

Immaturity, narcissism and selfishness — the unholy trinity of the Church of Me.

Fogle’s mental maladies are between him and his therapist, his spiritual sickness is between him and his spiritual adviser, but what he did is between him and society — and that’s what matters to the rest of us. Unless you’re too mentally ill or disabled to know what you’re doing is wrong, then you should pay the price for your crimes against society, and no “issues” should interfere with that happening.

Of course, get treatment in prison so you don’t re-offend (if it works), but rehabilitation is no substitute for sure and swift punishment — the fear of which, in a world where God is your pal and never your judge, is sometimes the only deterrent.

I will say a prayer for Fogle — after I thank God that he’s going to prison, and say one first for his children, his wife and the young people he “gravely harmed.”

And, in case you were wondering, I think any priest (or teacher, coach , scouting leader, pastor, live-in boyfriend, Hollywood celebrity or anyone else, because they’re everywhere) who molested or is molesting children, and anyone who covers up for them, should be in jail, too.

As for any of you out there with pornography on your computer (underage children or not), or who are cheating on your spouse, or consorting with prostitutes, look in the mirror.

There’s some piece of Jared Fogle in that reflection.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Don’t miss a thing: head over to my other home at CatholicVote and like my Facebook page.

Previous Post

November 18, 2015

'Fargo's' Noah Hawley to Adapt Vonnegut's Science/Religion Satire 'Cat's Cradle' for FX

Next Post

November 19, 2015 History and Chant With the Norbertines of St. Michael's Abbey

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books breaking news digital media Faith practice food interview jane the virgin media movies music NFL Pope Francis Showbiz 101 social media sports technology television Uncategorized video

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz