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Casey Anthony To Be Freed July 17; Deals Await?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Tri-State area, like much of the nation, is still gripped by the verdict in the Florida trial of Casey Anthony.

On Thursday, Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Casey Anthony to four years for lying to investigators in death of her daughter Caylee. But because Anthony has already spent nearly three years in jail, Perry said she will get credit for time served and good behavior. Authorities confirmed Thursday night that Anthony will be released from jail on July 17.

Anthony, 26, was acquitted of first-degree murder charges on Tuesday. She had been accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter and was convicted on the four misdemeanor charges of lying to police.

At her sentencing, Anthony's defense attorneys asked the judge to consider treating all four false statement verdicts as one. They argued that since they all pertain to the same time, place and circumstance of the matter, they should be treated as one conviction. Anything else amounted to double jeopardy, defense attorneys argued, since all four convictions are based on statements made during one continuous statement to authorities.

WCBS 880's Marla Diamond: Some Say Casey Anthony Is A Threat To Society

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Prosecutors however argued they are separate acts and do not violate double jeopardy.

After reviewing the four counts for which Anthony was convicted and reviewing previous cases, the judge decided that there was no double jeopardy in the case.

The judge said each count of providing false information was different. In July 2008, she lied to investigators about working at Universal Studios, she lied about leaving her daughter with a non-existent nanny named "Zanny," she lied about telling friends of Caylee's disappearance and she lied about talking to her daughter on the phone.

"As a result of those four, separate and distinct lies, law enforcement extended a great deal of time and manpower looking for Caylee Marie Anthony," he said. "Just as the jury spoke loud and clear on counts one, two and three by their verdict, they also spoke loud and clear as to the remaining counts."

LINK: CBS News' Andrew Cohen - Why Casey Anthony Made Prime Time

Experts say when Anthony walks out of prison she could make millions in a bidding war.

1010 WINS' Mona Rivera on Possible Book, Movie & TV Deals

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"Whether it's for the book, whether it's for her story, people are going to be knocking on her door," Alyssa Nightingale, president of Nightingale Public Relations, told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.

Nightingale points out that Anthony's sentence doesn't bar her from making book, movie or TV deals. She said while people may hate Anthony they will pay to hear her story.

"Anything that Casey Anthony says at this moment, from her own words, is going to be a hit," Nightingale said.

She suggests Anthony get a public relations agent, bodyguard and redefine who she is.

"If she makes the wrong move, or she makes the wrong decision, it could affect her financial future," Nightingale said.

Anthony's case isn't the only high-profile one that has been in the news lately. New Yorkers have been closely watching the case of former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn with great interest.

The case against Strauss-Kahn is reportedly on the verge of collapse.

CBSNewYork wants to know: what is your reaction to the verdict in the Anthony trial? Between that and the status of the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case, what do you make of our justice system? Is your faith in the system restored or shaken?

Sound off in our comments section.

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