Rapist Gets Light Sentence Because Judge Says 14-Year-Old 'Wasn't The Victim She Claimed To Be'

Judge Cites Teen Victim's Sexual History To Justify Rapist's Light Sentence

A Texas judge used those words to justify the lighter-than-light sentence she gave to a rapist, telling the Dallas Morning News that the 14-year-old victim had three previous sexual partners and had given birth before the sexual assault.

As a result, Judge Jeanine Howard sentenced Sir Young to just 45 days in jail, 5 years of deferred probation and 250 hours of community service. If Young completes his probation, he will have a chance to wipe the conviction off his record.

The paper reports that the judge asked the victim several times during the trial if she cried during the attack. The girl said she did not, but cried later.

The victim also testified that she only wanted to kiss Young, and had told him "no" and "stop" during the attack.

Young, who pleaded guilty to raping the girl at school in October 2011, was 18 at the time of the attack. Howard said his age and the victim's age were another consideration.

“There are rape cases that deserve life. There are rape cases that deserve 20 years,” Howard told the Dallas Morning News. “Every now and then you have one of those that deserve probation. This is one of those and I stand by it."

Howard initially ordered Young to fulfill his community service at a rape crisis center -- something that didn't sit well with the center.

"We all read it and we're like, wait a minute," Bobbie Villareal, executive director of the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center told the Dallas Observer.

“It flies in the face of logic," Villareal told the local CBS station. "First of all, in that you would ask someone to do their community supervision for the population that has been directly affected by the exact crime. That’s like saying a pedophile should do their community supervision helping at a pre-school.”

The court is modifying the sentence to include a different form of a community service.

Villareal also made it clear she didn't agree with the rest of the sentence.

“It is a deterrent to all survivors when you see a very lenient sentence like this passed down,” Villareal told WFAA. “It sends a devastating message to survivors of sexual assault. That victim’s family definitely didn’t feel like there was justice for her and for other survivors of sexual assault.”

Young had faced a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars. In addition to the 45 days in jail, he will have to spend a night in jail on the anniversary of the rape for the duration of his probation.

But the Dallas Morning News reports that while he will have to register as a sex offender, he will not face many of the other restrictions given to such offenders. He won't be required to keep away from children and will not have to attend sex offender treatment.

The victim told the paper that the light sentence means "everything I went through was for nothing.”

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