I dont think they have actually been sentenced yet, I think 35 years is just the maximum sentence that they could recieve.
I have to disagree with what they are using for their defence, a Burmese python is not just like having a cat or dog, I mean who was the last person to be killed by their dog or cat while they were feeding it? I can think of 3 who have been killed while feeding their large constrictors.
Burmese pythons are a serious pet, they are one of the biggest snakes in the world, they can grow to 16+ feet and weigh more than a fully grown man. But, they can, and usually will make great pets if they are looked after properly by experienced keepers, not by amateurs who keep them in a bloody fishtank.
Its people like this who give snakes a bad name, the reptile licensing system in America needs some serious work done.