Rapist of minor gets a mere 48 weekends in jail

[TheHuckster]

Article

Cuz, you know, she's a hot cheerleader and he's a horny 15 year old boy who probably liked it.

And, it's not even every weekend. It's every other weekend for less than two years.

[Greenday]

Except for the whole sex offender registry basically being the end of having a life. Unless she forced the kid, which it doesn't appear to be the situation, she isn't a violent offender. I don't see what the problem is.

[TheHuckster]

It's statutory rape. A crime that males can spend years of jail for without the benefit of only spending it on alternate weekends and sometimes under sketchy circumstances like the offender and victim being less than a year apart or the victim lying about his/her age. What I'm upset about is the double standard where under almost any case similar to this where the perpetrator is in his 40s and male, and the child is 15, the sentence isn't only more serious, it's much more serious.

You mention her sex offender registration being a stigma. I guarantee you it's not nearly as much a stigma as any male would have for the same crime. I suggest you compare the comments section of a news article like the one above with the comments of a typical male statutory rapist to get why she's going to get a far better treatment from both the public and the justice system for the same crime.

[BlaqueKatt]

It's statutory rape. A crime that males can spend years of jail for without the benefit of only spending it on alternate weekends

yup, yay for gender stereotypes

there was a hidden camera "test" with both an underage female and underage male in a restaurant both being hit on by a much older opposite gender person posing as a tutor(and the teen acting VERY uncomfortable), almost no one helped the male(and some even congratulated him), but almost everyone came to the aid of the female in distress.

[Gravekeeper]

What I'm upset about is the double standard where under almost any case similar to this where the perpetrator is in his 40s and male, and the child is 15, the sentence isn't only more serious, it's much more serious.

Before we get the outrage train in full swing here:

The article indicates she was convicted of a fourth degree sexual offensive ( which means non-violent ) and is a first time offender. She also plead down to fourth ( they originally threw 9 charges at her many of which they knew would not stick ). There is no minimum sentence for for this under Delaware law and the maximum looks to be 2.5 years. Otherwise it seems to be under the judge's discretion.

Going over some cases in Delaware shows her sentence isn't actually that unusual. In fact there are a number of far FAR more aggrevious cases on record in Delaware ( IE men who had sex with 10-14 year olds, multiple times, walking away with 14 days in jail ). This is also the same state that let a guy out of his 8 year prison sentence for raping his 3 year old daughter because he wouldn't fair well in prison.

So, I don't think its totally a double standard in this case but rather, judges in Delaware are just awful people.

[Andara Bledin]

Also, you don't solve a problem of uneven sentencing where one side gets far harsher sentences than they should by complaining when the other side gets rational sentences.

[TheHuckster]

Going over some cases in Delaware shows her sentence isn't actually that unusual. In fact there are a number of far FAR more aggrevious cases on record in Delaware ( IE men who had sex with 10-14 year olds, multiple times, walking away with 14 days in jail ). This is also the same state that let a guy out of his 8 year prison sentence for raping his 3 year old daughter because he wouldn't fair well in prison.

Well, you certainly got the outrage train going full swing, for sure.

Also, you don't solve a problem of uneven sentencing where one side gets far harsher sentences than they should by complaining when the other side gets rational sentences.

So, you're of the opinion that a 48 year old taking advantage of a 15 year old sexually getting 48 alternate weekends in jail is a rational sentence?

I mean, yeah, a 10 year sentence for being 18 having a relationship with a 16 or 17 year old is harsh, but that doesn't mean this sentence is at all rational.

[dendawg]

The thing that always gets me about statutory rape is how it never gets applied equally.

[Greenday]

I mean, yeah, a 10 year sentence for being 18 having a relationship with a 16 or 17 year old is harsh, but that doesn't mean this sentence is at all rational.

She gave him a blowjob. How long should she be in jail for that?

[s_stabeler]

Well, you certainly got the outrage train going full swing, for sure.



So, you're of the opinion that a 48 year old taking advantage of a 15 year old sexually getting 48 alternate weekends in jail is a rational sentence?

I mean, yeah, a 10 year sentence for being 18 having a relationship with a 16 or 17 year old is harsh, but that doesn't mean this sentence is at all rational.

depends on the circumstances, in my opinion. 15 is old enough that (unless his age was on social media) she could realistically have not actually known he was a minor. Also, again, she is fairly obviously remorseful, which tends to mean a reduced sentence. Also, plea bargains- which is what this was- tend to be on the lenient side. Taken together, yes this IS a reasonable sentence. On the lenient side, but not unreasonably so. ( particularly since there was no position of trust involved).

[Gravekeeper]

It turns out most the articles on this case are just repeating the click bait headline and leaving out one important bit of info:

She was not sentenced to 48 days in jail, she is actually serving a suspended sentence for which the full maximum is 15 years. So if she farks up at all over the next 2 years its off to prison for up to 15 years ( Though prosecutors asked for 22 months for context ). The suspended sentence is because she is a first time non-violent offender, remorseful, accepted 100% of the responsibility and out of consideration for her children ( right before this happened her husband dumped her and ran off with a younger woman out of the blue ). Its also important to note that this sentence has a financial damages component being paid to the victim's family to the tune of $10,000. Which is unusual to see. Plus, she's on the sex offender registry for 20 years.

Effectively, putting her in prison would be kind of a pointless waste of resources ( as it typically is with non-violent offenders ) and cause undo harm to her own children.

Taken together, yes this IS a reasonable sentence. On the lenient side, but not unreasonably so. ( particularly since there was no position of trust involved).

Position of trust / authority is a big one in sentencing cases like this, yes. She also accepted full and complete responsibility for her actions even rejecting possible explanations others gave in her defense ( the marriage break up ).

To clarify, she did know how old the victim was and the relationship began online. She didn't just pounce a random 15 year old all of a sudden. It was a friend of her son's. She also did offer to have sex with him but he declined and that was that she did not pursue him further or pressure/threaten him. So that likely factored into her sentencing as well. Plus, if the victim had been younger than 14 she would most definitely be in a cell.

[Rageaholic]

It's statutory rape. A crime that males can spend years of jail for without the benefit of only spending it on alternate weekends and sometimes under sketchy circumstances like the offender and victim being less than a year apart or the victim lying about his/her age. What I'm upset about is the double standard where under almost any case similar to this where the perpetrator is in his 40s and male, and the child is 15, the sentence isn't only more serious, it's much more serious.

You mention her sex offender registration being a stigma. I guarantee you it's not nearly as much a stigma as any male would have for the same crime. I suggest you compare the comments section of a news article like the one above with the comments of a typical male statutory rapist to get why she's going to get a far better treatment from both the public and the justice system for the same crime.

Yeah, pretty much this.

I'm not outraged by her getting a lesser sentence. The purpose of punishment is rehabilitation and judging by the details of the case, she's remorseful.

The problem, as you pointed out, is that male offenders wouldn't be given the same courtesy. They are seen as more dangerous than females so when it's a 40 something guy sleeping with a 15 year old girl, it's assumed that he coerced her. Heck, if a guy even mentions finding a girl who's just shy of 18 attractive, Chris Hansen memes will ensue. Yet, I've read comments on storys where the woman threatened the teen boy calling the boy a pussy.

[wolfie]

And some people would say that where a teenage boy is concerned, the offer of sex by a reasonably attractive woman constitutes undue influence.