And you thought it could not get sicker?

[lala_rawraw]

PHOENIX (AP) - Two young men charged with sodomizing 18 boys at a youth camp last year have been offered a plea agreement that may net them little jail time and no record of sexual assault.

"Clifton Bennett, 18, the son of Arizona Senate President Ken Bennett, and his co-defendant, Kyle Wheeler, 19, were charged in January with 18 counts of aggravated assault and 18 counts of kidnapping for the incidents, which happened at a youth camp last June."


Not to worry, his state senator daddy lends a helping hand:

"Yavapai County prosecutors now say they'll drop all but one assault charge and likely recommend little or no jail time if Bennett agrees to plead guilty.

Wheeler has been offered a similar deal but faces an additional assault charge for choking three boys until they passed out.

The plea agreements were presented in court last week and could be finalized Monday.

<snip>

More at link:

http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2006/04/03/news/local/20060403_local_news_7.txt


EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5 PARAGRAPHS
FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE PER DU RULES.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I would think these people have a case for civil court

where they could be awarded damages for pain and suffering, and even punative damages. Might not be the justice they wish they had, but a large settlement might be enough to give other would-be tormentors pause. And it should take the smirk off the face of that one fellow's father.

[Waya]

2. WTF??????

What the hell is this? Everyone's braincells going south or what?
Not sexual in nature - yeah right. I say take those two little pieces of trash and hand them over to the parents of the victimized children - just for ten minutes, they might get a notion or two.

Well, if the law ain't gonna do nothing about it - civil suit, I say...and hefty ones with a looooooooooooot of publicity........

[acmejack]

3. I had a whole bus full of people today of the so what? variety

Everything is is so strange, one hand they are screaming about perversion, on the other you have this! Religious and moral values, right.

Sometimes you just know how much easier it would be to ignore it all like those happy idiots, and live your life out for your own pleasure. But I just can't do that...

[mrcheerful]

4. Yep best court system money and power can buy

[yellerpup]

5. Please tell me that they aren't getting away with this.

Sexual assault is never about wanting sex. Was there sexual intent? The nature of the assault proves it.

[Jigarotta]

6. another thread on this here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1011995#1013035

Unbelievable!
I am grinding my teeth in rage and banging my head against the wall over this.

[panader0]

7. If it was my son, I'd make sure they paid the price.

[Talismom]

14. I'm afraid I would react the same way you do. I wouldn't be able to rest

until I made sure!

[6000eliot]

8. The parents should sue the fuck out of them.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. Yes. And I'd lobby to get the prosecutor fired too!

He was acting as a de facto defense atty in the courtroom saying this was not a sexual offense because no sexual intent could be proven. :wtf:

Republicans get so bent out of shape over consensual sex, whether it's pre-marital, extramarital or same sex, but juvenile forcible sodomy is just a prank if you're a republicant or spawn of one.

His lawyer had the nerve to say he was an upstanding member of his church and wouldn't be able to go on a mission this fall if he has a record. His unstained rep is more important than justice for kids whom he permanently scarred with his premeditated sociopathic behavior.

keep this sick fucker away from kids!!

[BrklynLiberal]

9. If you have a relative who works for Bush, you can get away with ANYTHING

:mad: :puke: :grr: :nuke: :cry: :banghead:

[lies and propaganda]

10. I am contantly embarrssed living in AZ

we are pretty shit about the raping of Mormom girls and their disposal of boys in Colorado City as well.

[Old and In the Way]

12. Republican family values.

Nothing more to say.

[Doctor_J]

13. Goddamn Clinton

it's his fault

[Jose Diablo]

15. Vlad the Impaler had a different take than the prosecutor

Of course Vlad would impale his enemies on a long stick and stand the stick-up until the victims were well beyond dead.

But somehow, this so called 'hazing' ritual sounds similar to what Vlad did. Not some 'prank' by young men. Makes me wonder what these guys will do later in life if they escape punishment for these deeds. Escaping from this could only make them believe they are 'invincible' to punishment for any of the things they may do.

Just speculation, but does anybody else think that the father of Clifton Bennett being Arizona State Senate President Ken Bennett may have influenced the prosecutors thinking on the degree of this crime.

No, I think these men need to be shown that nomatter who papa is, they are not above responsibility for what they do. That's what Judge Jose' thinks.

Next case.

[stillcool]

16. Holy Crap....I have never read such a piece...

of mind-bending shit in my life. 18 Boys? These are two very, very, sick young men, that need serious medical attention, in a locked facility like yesterday. As for their EIGHTEEN victims, and their parents...Good God..what must they be thinking?