Summary: After being convicted of raping an unconscious woman outside a frat party at Stanford University, Brock Turner was released after three months of his six month sentence.
The former Stanford University swimmer sentenced for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman outside a party served half of his sentence. Brock Turner was set free after being behind bars for three months of the six month sentence in the Santa Clara County Jail in San Jose, CA.
Not many people were happy with the early release including the Santa Clara County Sheriff. Laurie Smith said, “We don’t know who picked him up or where he’s going, but we’re done with him. He should be in prison right now, but he’s not in our custody.”
There was outrage across the country during the trial, especially after the victim’s gut wrenching impact statement was released to the media. Turner was given a light sentence, eliciting outrage against the judge that gave the minuscule punishment and how sexual assault cases are handled by the courts. Similar outrage is expected now that Turner is free. A rally was scheduled for today by those demanding Judge Aaron Persky to be recalled.
See Stanford Rape Judge Removed from New Sex Assault Case.
Turner was charged and found guilty by a Santa Clara County jury on three felony counts: penetration of an unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person, and assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated or unconscious person. Deputy District Attorney Alaleh Kianerci sought a six year sentence due to his lack of remorse and the fact that he knew the woman was unconscious.
Judge Persky follow the probation department’s recommendation of county jail time and probation but ruled that Turner’s lack of prior criminal history, show of “sincere remorse,” and impairment in judgment from the use of alcohol warranted a lighter sentence. Persky also stated in his reason that the “severe impact” Turner would face by serving a state prison sentence was unnecessary. He said, “I think you have to take the whole picture in terms of what impact imprisonment has on a specific individual’s life. And the impact statements that have been – or the, really, character letters that have been submitted, do show a huge collateral consequence of Mr. Turner based on the conviction.”
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Persky was transferred to the civil division and will no longer hear criminal cases, per his request. State lawmakers also passed a bill purposed by the Santa Clara district attorney’s office seeking a mandatory prison time for those guilty of sexual assault on unconscious or intoxicated persons. Smith also urged Gov. Jerry Brown to sign the bill. She said, “As the Sheriff of Santa Clara County and a mother I believe that the interests of justice are best served by ensuring that sexual predators are sent to prison as punishment for their crime. Victims of these types of sexual assaults struggle for years to cope with the damage done to their lives and knowing that there is more just punishment to those that perpetrated these assaults may provide some solace to these victims.”
Do you think Turner should have been given a longer sentence? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about the case, read Stanford Rapist Brock Turner Set to Be Released September 2.
Photo: onbreaking.com
