No prison time for man who raped 14-year-old

[gollygee]

Another example that rape is just barely illegal. Compare to the threads where people are getting life in prison for non-violent crimes.

http://aattp.org/alabama-man-raped-14-year-old-will-serve-zero-prison-time/

After just two hours of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts for one count of first-degree rape and two counts of second degree rape. Judge James Woodruff sentenced Clem to 10 years in prison for both second degree rape charges, and 20 years for the first degree rape. That’s 40 years in prison! Justice is served!

And then we’re reminded that this happened in Alabama! (note - this is in linked story - it's not coming from me!)

According to the rapist’s sentencing order, obtained by Mother Jones, Woodruff decided to place Clem in a program aimed at, according to the program’s web site, “redirecting the lives” of low-level offenders who are “likely to maintain a productive and law-abiding life as a result of accountability, guidance, and direction to services they need.” In other words, Clem will be able to live at home with his three young daughters as long as he abides by some guidelines.

[seabeyond]

1. not a stretch rape a 14 yr old and three young daughters in home. los angeles calif, 1 yr for raping

an unconscious 16 yr old.

we are seeing this thru out the nation. i think it is very important to not relegate it to just being the south. it is not about region. it is about our girls being so dehumanized for whatever reason of late, that we do not even see rape as really an issue. lay back and enjoy it why dontcha.

we have to get to the underbelly of the issue.

why across the nation are so many people dismissing our girls as human beings. what has happened in our cultrue recently that could possibly shift responsible, reasonable adults from seeing our girls as independent human being.

what oh what could be the factor that has dehumanized the girls to such an extent that our old men fuckin rape them and we shrug.

[gollygee]

2. The "Alabama" thing was in the linked story - it wasn't mine

And I agree- Steubenville is in Ohio, and I have no doubt this could happen here in Michigan, or anywhere in the US.

[LuvNewcastle]

3. That's a good point about the dehumanization of girls.

While I read the story, I couldn't help but wonder how the judge might have ruled if this guy had raped a 14 yo boy. Would he have been considered a "low-level offender?" Would the judge allow him to stay at home with his 3 young sons? I wonder.

And why didn't the judge recuse himself from this case? I wish we could prosecute judges who don't recuse themselves from cases where there's an obvious conflict of interest. This case stinks to high heaven, and unfortunately, it isn't a very unusual case.

[lunasun]

4. It's OK the judge was friends/neighbor with the defense attorney - so do not worry any

[magical thyme]

5. if it were my daughter that scum stuck his dick into I'm afraid

I'd be the one who would end up doing hard time after that judge punished the rapist with no beer for 6 years.

[Sheri]

6. wrong. just wrong. nt

[gopiscrap]

7. that's so screwed up, yet

some poor guy got sentenced to life for stealing a coat? Shows you that this country is so fucked up it values possessions over life!

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. story at same link: attorney says rape victim should have closed her legs

Anger erupted in New Zealand recently after a defense lawyer told a rape victim that, if she didn’t want to be sexually assaulted in a Wellington alley, she should have closed her legs.



Victims’ rights advocates condemned attorney Keith Jefferies’ statement in Wellington District Court on Thursday.

Jefferies told the court the victim did not struggle or cry out.

"All she would have had to do was to close her legs. It's as simple as that. Why didn't she do that? The reason she didn't do that was because the sex was consensual, as easy as that," Jefferies told the jury.

His client, George Jason Pule, was convicted of rape on Wednesday. The 20-year-old victim said Pule approached her and told her he could get her into a club where her friends were. Instead, he led her down an alley and raped her.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/outrage-after-attorney-tells-rape-victim-you-could-have-closed-your-legs