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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Montana judge gave a man 60 days for raping his own 12-year-old daughter. How can we say we take
A Montana judge gave a man 60 days for raping his own 12-year-old daughter. How can we say we take sexual assault seriously?Thanks or no thanks to a presidential candidate entangled in accusations of sexual harassment, we're paying at least cursory attention to the topic. It's a "microphone moment" for women who have been victims, ranging from unwelcome groping to violent sexual assault, to tell their stories, if they choose.
There's a victim you won't hear from, though, in Montana. She was raped prosecutors say repeatedly by her own father, who this month received a grossly lenient sentence of 60 days in jail.
You will not hear from her because she's a child. As a 12-year-old rape victim, she had no voice in the courtroom. No one spoke about the aftereffects of this staggering violation of her body, her trust, her confidence in the adults in her world to protect her.
Instead, the victim's mother and grandmother begged the judge to keep the defendant out of prison, characterizing the incestuous rape of his child as "a horrible mistake." They said his two other children, boys, "will be devastated if Dad is no longer part of their lives." In a pre-sentencing report, a psychologist said the man is contrite, low-risk, attends church and would fare better under community supervision than in prison.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/opinion/2016/10/21/montana-judge-gave-man-60-days-raping-own12-year-old-daughter-can-say-take-sexual-assault-seriously
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)The rapist? The judge? Is this advocating "2nd Amendment remedies"?
TheFrenchRazor
(2,116 posts)Dorian Gray
(13,501 posts)Don't forget them prioritizing their sons' needs over their daughter's.
whathehell
(29,095 posts)Last edited Sat Oct 22, 2016, 12:28 PM - Edit history (1)
Those two idiots are disgraceful and neither deserve custody of that child.
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)whathehell
(29,095 posts)Needs his ass kicked.
I understand the sentiment.
But, nope.
TheFrenchRazor
(2,116 posts)Oldem
(833 posts)what I had read in that post. SummerSnow has explained. No shooting, and I take that at face value.
Our country only works if we observe laws. As egregious as this judge's ruling was, "street justice" would be at least equally as bad; it would certainly affect many more people. And which mob gets to decide what "justice" is? As disgusting as it is that such a thing can happen to a child and that it can go, essentially, unpunished, mob rule would undermine the rule of law that separates us from many, many other countries. It would also make criminals of those who dispense such "justice." The repug's nominated creep might like all of that. So, whether it's shooting or kicking "the sh*t" out of them, I side with Iggo: "Nope."
LiberalFighter
(51,104 posts)onethatcares
(16,188 posts)he'd probably gotten life in prison.
Old Vet
(2,001 posts)Maru Kitteh
(28,342 posts)This fucking isn't about you.
onethatcares
(16,188 posts)concerning a victimless crime and one that affects an entire family for years to come.
I apologize if that sounded crass. I did not mean for it to seem that way
Glamrock
(11,802 posts)Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)treated as some major crime, but rape, hey, not such a big deal. This is some fucked up society.
Zing Zing Zingbah
(6,496 posts)It sounds like no one is looking out for that little girl. Seems like she ought to have an advocate speaking on her behalf (like a public defender.. someone outside the family). I would have thought that sort of thing was required, but apparently not. Annoying that they try to say that going to church some how makes this guy a good man still.
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)Is it supposed to be sufficient that she wasn't taken outside and stoned to death?
maxsolomon
(33,400 posts)WHERE did this take place? Montana is big; almost as big as Texas.
Maru Kitteh
(28,342 posts)manicraven
(901 posts)They said his two other children, boys, "will be devastated if Dad is no longer part of their lives."
So the two boys will be "devastated," but the victim, their sister, is the one who has been violated and is devastated beyond all measure, and the perpetrator, because he's related and goes to church, is getting basically a slap on the wrist.
First dad failed his daughter in the worst way, then mom and grandmother, and finally the judge did, too. They make me sick.
MH1
(17,608 posts)I'm guessing his two boys are already devastated by having this lowlife as a role model. They may not feel devastated, but I don't hold out much hope for them growing up to be decent young men if this is who they learned from.
Ugh, ugh, ugh. They all make me sick, too.
tblue37
(65,490 posts)in his own image.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)WTF is wrong with these men? This is such an injustice!
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)This ruling is so despicable. Deep breath. At least he will be off the bench, even if on a cushy public pension.
As for "how can we say we take sexual assault seriously?" I'd like say we can start by calling rape rape again. I never know on a news story about "sexual assault" if a girl got her new little breast squeezed or was raped.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)...to this monster. He's retiring and so has no other reason to give a fuck. I wonder how much child porn is on this judge's computer.
whathehell
(29,095 posts)whathehell
(29,095 posts)by kicking him off the bench -- too bad he's beating us to the punch, so to speak.. Maybe his successor will review the sentence and overturn it for something more appropriate.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)someone who will be back in court one way or another. That girl needs to be out of that house. I didn't read about that, but hopefully the county is taking better care of her than those miserable excuses for relatives.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)recovering_democrat
(224 posts)I am sick at my stomach reading this entire article. This is insane. The victim's mother begging the judge to do this is equally awful.
I posted it for whatever circulation it may get on facebook too. I just cannot believe this insanity. It is outrageous.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)Not her relatives
Not her church
No one else in the community
They treat their hunting dogs better than their little girls. It is all about sons, sons, sons.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)The poor girl is just cast aside as if she doesn't matter at all.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)He would be required to serve an additional 30-year suspended prison sentence only if he failed to meet conditions of probation, which included registering as a sex offender and joining a sex-offender treatment program, never accessing pornography, and limited internet access.
This has to be the saddest line, and it reflects poorly on the prosecuting attorney. No one spoke for the victim at the sentencing. The prosecutor should have had a separate, favorable to the prosecution, psych evaluation done that shows that the father is a danger to repeat this behavior. So where is the girl now. Is she still in the home? What the hell community lines up with a child rapist against a 12 year old child? It is SICK, SICK, SICK. Who the hell is this guy?
In an interview with the Associated Press, the county attorney pointed out that no one spoke on behalf of the girl at the hearing. In his own statement released to the AP last Friday, Judge McKeon defended his decision and cited letters the victims mother and grandmother had written to the court asking him to not send the man to prison.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)TexasTowelie
(112,453 posts)It wouldn't require much to determine who the victim was in the incident and the ridicule that will occur in a small community like Glasgow.
Calculating
(2,957 posts)If there was ever a time for vigilante justice...
Stuff like this makes my blood boil, and makes me think we really do have a problem with 'rape culture'.
Locrian
(4,522 posts)In the end, McKeon opted to not follow recommendations set forth in the proposed plea agreement, which would have sent Blake to prison for a minimum of 25 years. When discussing his reasons for suspending the sentence, McKeon referenced the support that Blake had from family, friends, his church and his employer. That support included letters written by the victims mother and grandmother asking the court to allow Blake to remain in the community.
Calculating
(2,957 posts)Just think about all the good he does for the community, and how all his buddies would miss him. The victim? Pfft, who cares.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)What a sickening travesty of justice.
lindysalsagal
(20,733 posts)incest is rampant. But you'll get beaten for being gay.
I also think there are more services and there is more awareness of incest in cities, and I've read that pedophiles get the worst treatment in prison.
It's a country thing: No one really is surprised. Country kids are on their own. No one is likely to believe them. That's why mandatory reporters in schools are vitally important, and why I am against home schooling. Some kids need protection from their own family.
tenderfoot
(8,438 posts)Imagine having to live in that house.
lindysalsagal
(20,733 posts)in the first place.
obnoxiousdrunk
(2,910 posts)the death penalty for the rape of a minor ?
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)OMFG, this is a travesty!!
No, I am not for vigilantism, but we have got to change this cruel culture!
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)If we can't protect our children from predators, whoever they are, how can we hold ourselves out as beacons for freedom, honor and integrity?
How is going to church a mitigating circumstance? How is the long-term effect on the rest of the family a mitigating circumstance?
What I've just read here is revolting.
MineralMan
(146,333 posts)No justice; No peace!
Find him in violation of his probation. He will violate. All that is needed is to catch him doing it.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)This is shit you expect from highly theocratic societies, not the United States.
Iggo
(47,571 posts)Last edited Mon Oct 24, 2016, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)
What?
Devastated at not having to live with the man who raped their sister?
Devastated at not having to live with a walking talking example that there's no consequences for raping children?
I think that's the kind of devastation they can live with.