Making an Example out of SomoneMike Rappaport

Here are the relevant facts:

[A] couple pleaded guilty to nine counts of contributing to thedelinquency of a minor in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court [after serving beer to 16 year olds, where no additional harm resulted], andthe prosecutor had recommended they get a 90-day sentence. However, thejudge was furious about the recent death of one of Ryan’s classmates atthe local high school from an alcohol-related crash. He decided to makean example of them and sentenced them both to eight years [which apparently leads to serving 27 months each].

It seems to me that “making an example out of someone” is very much contrary to the notion of the rule of law.  It suddenly changes the penalties (ex post facto) for an offense because  of some event which was probably not predictable. 

Put differently, the judge’s reaction seems to be rooted in passion rather than reason, and has no place in the law.