chickenfeet

So recently there's been a trial in Ohio concerning a guy who kidnapped some wpomen and locked them up in his basement for ten years and sundry other very unpleasant things. Following a plea bargain he was sentenced to life without possibility of parole plus a thousand years.  Now, in one sense, this is utterly absurd.  It's like sentencing someone to death three times; sentences to be served consecutively.  But, why?  Presumably legislators who mandate/allow this sort of thing and judges who impose such sentences think they are doing something that, on some level, makes sense.  Or are judges in fact all raving loonies?  I wouldn't be that surprised if that were the case.  Curious to know what people with more knowledge/experience in this area think.