Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Montana Teacher Rape Case

In a widely covered news story, a Montana teacher, Stacey Rambold, was sentenced and released from prison after serving only 30 days in jail. He will still have to register as a sex offender and is considered to be on probation until 2028, but his sentence has been heavily criticized by the people.

Rambold was convicted of raping Cherice Moralez, a 14-year-old girl and one of his students, in 2007. When his case went to trail Moralez took her own lifein 2010 before Rambold went to trial.
In an interview with the Associated Press Moralez's mother, Auliea Hanlon, said that man has managed to avoid what she considers to be justice.“I figured he'd be fired, go to jail, and she would be vindicated, and that would be the end of it,” Hanlon said. “Instead, here it is six years later, still going on, and he's getting out.... He's still skating.” 
“I considered going down to the jail to forgive him, but I don't know,” she said. “I'm still waiting for a sign from God.” Tears streamed down Auliea Hanlon's face as she described the emotions that have at times overwhelmed her since a church counselor her daughter confided in first told Hanlon about the rape. 
Hanlon has said Rambold's actions were a "major factor" in her daughter's suicide. Moralez felt guilty for ruining Rambold's life, and was ostracized and ridiculed by her peers after details in the case became public, Hanlon said. Hanlon said her focus remains on Rambold and the appeal of his sentence, which prosecutors said could take six to 18 months to work its way through the Montana Supreme Court.
So what was the reasoning for the judge’s decision on the light sentence? Judge G. Todd Baugh said that the girl was “older than her chronological age” and “as much in control of the situation as was the defendant.” This of course caused a huge backlash with the general populace. Women’s advocates including the state chapter of National Organization for Women filed a complaint against Baugh and delivered petitions with 144,000 signatures along with the complaint to the state Judicial Standards Commission. The complaint asks that Baugh be removed from the bench “for his misconduct related to his handling of and speech about the rape case involving the sentencing of Stacey Rambold.”

Baugh did release and official apology saying: “I made some really stupid remarks. It didn't come out right and I owe the whole county, but maybe even the whole country, especially women, an apology.” But it seems to be too little, too late with the people.
Rambold acknowledged his actions in a 2010 deferred prosecution agreement made after Moralez killed herself. The agreement allowed Rambold to remain free for more than three years until he was kicked out of a sex offender treatment program for unauthorized visits with relatives' children.  He was returned to court and sentenced as part of a new arrangement in August. 
According to the current agreement in the case, Rambold must register as a level one sex offender, which means he must make his residence open to officers for home visits. He is barred from working with children. 
State officials are also asking Montana's higher courts to send Rambold back to prison for a longer term. Prosecutors said Baugh's lenient sentence was not allowed under a state law that requires Rambold to serve a mandatory minimum of two years in prison. 
In court documents and during the sentencing hearing, Lansing described his client as a one-time offender with no prior record who took responsibility for his actions when he admitted to a single count of rape under a 2010 deferred prosecution agreement that was made after Moralez killed herself. The agreement with prosecutors allowed Rambold to remain free for more than three years until he was kicked out of his sex offender treatment and for not disclosing that he was in a sexual relationship with a Washington woman.
I hope this case continues to shine light on the easy slap on the wrist sentences that rapists and abusers like this continue to receive. Everyone, including the media, keeps forgetting that this girl has died. She committed the ultimate and final act. The pain and torture she felt was too much and she took her own life because of victim blaming. This has to end; we have to start showing more love and less hate to those that have been tortured by men like this.
This is where you can make a difference. Reach out a hand to those who feel alone. Reach out to those that are afraid to come forward for this very reason. Show them how to RISE.
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