Terminal cancer patient gets life in prison for sex assault

[ohiosmith]

The Associated Press
RENO -- A cancer-stricken man with only a few months to live has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a young relative in the 1980s. Richard Byrum will be eligible for parole in five years under Thursday's sentence handed down by Washoe County District Judge Connie Steinheimer.

But his doctor says Byrum has only a few months to live as colon cancer has spread to his liver and lungs.

After he was arrested for burglary in 1989, a 15-year-old girl reported he had sexually molested her for years.

Prosecutors say Byrum vanished for 17 years before surrendering last year.

Prosecutors say he surrendered only because he was homeless and needed medical care for his terminal colon cancer.

link: http://www.lvrj.com/news/33686009.html

[Shell Beau]

1. Had he surrendered earlier, he would likely be out.

[1Hippiechick]

2. No sympathy here. Unrepentant - now he's screwing the taxpayers.

[UndertheOcean]

3. Fuck him , rape is equivalent to murder , in my opinion

[LostinVA]

12. Agreed -- it should be live in prison without parole

Ever notice how whenever a woman or kid is raped and murdered, or a serial rapist is caught, the perp has always served time in prison on a sex offense???

[BeachBaby]

4. What goes around, comes around.

So for 17 years, he's been living his life, while the victim has had to contend with her own personal hell.

And now he will contend with his.

He should feel lucky; if he had been caught earlier, he would have had done to him, what he had done to his victim. On a daily basis. By several different attackers.

A few months of pain in a jail cell? He got off way too easy, imo.

[BlueIris]

5. I'm offended the AP even considered this newsworthy. Rape someone, go to jail.

Everyone knows that's how it should be, cancer or no cancer. Jesus.

[MrCoffee]

6. Boo hoo hoo

[LeftyMom]

7. He turned himself in to get a warm bed and medical care.

I don't really see how giving him what he wants is any kind of punishment for his crime.

I think this story says more about the medical crisis in our country than it does about our joke of a "justice" system.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. actually, it is a sad commentary on how both systems are

EPIC FAIL. :thumbsup:

[LeftyMom]

9. True. How was a rapist out on the street so long?

I know the cops up in Washoe county have their hands full tracking down meth labs (BIIIIG problem up there) but I'd think a loose rapist would merit some attention.

[pitohui]

10. i think so too

there is no justice here for the victim

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. No question about that

[Withywindle]

14. And how many people are there desperately in need of those things

who have never hurt anyone, and so can't conveniently turn themselves in to get it on the taxpayers' dime?

There are a lot of people I'd rather my share go to help.

[LostinVA]

11. Boo hoo -- good

[Mutley]

15. Good.

I hope no one thinks this guy should get a pass because he's sick.