Really upset over abduction/rape/attempted murder sentencing

[somethingshiny]

So, 10 years ago one of my friends was abducted at knife point from her place of work (hotel clerk), raped, stabbed 7 times in the chest and left for dead along the highway. She drug her bloody body to the side of a parked semi truck and half crawled in through the window to wake the guy for help. Thankfully, the guy got her help and she recovered (physically).

She was able to give a detailed description of the kidnapper and eventually he was found serving time in another state for burglary. This week he was finally sentenced in this matter and I''m SO PO''d because he got 35 years, of which he only needs to serve 85%. This is a complete downfall of the justice system! He''s been involved in more than one crime involving weapons. He plead guilty to a Class X Felony. She nearly died and that''s certainly what he wanted to happen in addition to a torturous rape. He should be imprisoned for life! This man should never be allowed to walk the streets with the public. And, the man is young. When he gets out, it''s not like he''ll be too old to harm others. How come some cheating CEO who never physically harmed anyone get more time than a psychotic?

My friend is devastated. The man looked at her in the courtroom and offered some pseudo-apology and she got up and walked out. She fought very hard for the last 10 years both for her life and for this man to never get an opportunity to hurt another person. Now, she knows that in a relatively short time, this man will be on the streets again. For a victim of such a heinous act, this thought alone will continue to torture her.

 

[Steel]

I feel tremendous sympathy for victims of crime and their friends and family. The legal system often falls short in acknowledging their position - not as a witness to a crime, but the victim.

I can understand why you feel angry.

 

[Blackpaw]

Im so sorry somethingshiny

that''s really unfair. I hear you about the absolutely useless justice system. The sentences in australia are even more ridiculous if thats possibly. That guy would have been unlucky to even get 15 years in aust. Im so sorry for your friend, its awful that the justice system has failed her and failed us (as in the people who will be in danger when he gets out)...

 

[Indylady]

I am so sorry to hear this. Really, very, very sorry. I know that I cannot even begin to imagine how she might be feeling, but I will certainly be keeping her in my thoughts and prayers.

There are so many victims of assault, and sexual assault that never even press charges; some are afraid, some are embarrassed, some just want to put it all behind them. I deeply admire the strength she has to have testified against him...to even sit in the same room as a person that had done her such intentional harm, and to bring this person to justice. I am so sorry he didn''t receive a greater sentence.

 

[ckrickett]

that''s ridiculous!!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Tell your friend the Universe has a way of taking care of these guys, and not to despair.

Nobody gets away with anything.

At the same time, it is a tremendous opportunity for her in the way of soul growth. This experience could lead to enlightenment for her if she doesn''t allow it to make her bitter.

Forgiveness is the portal.

 

[jewelerman]

Date: 8/1/2009 3:55:53 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood
Tell your friend the Universe has a way of taking care of these guys, and not to despair.

Nobody gets away with anything.

At the same time, it is a tremendous opportunity for her in the way of soul growth. This experience could lead to enlightenment for her if she doesn''t allow it to make her bitter.

Forgiveness is the portal.

I understand what Richard is saying...I hope your friend wont let this create bitterness that will keep her from living a productive and happy life.She lived through something that most people would not have survived!She has a second chance and cant let bitterness ruin her living her life to the fullest.

 

[DiamondSmitten]

What happened to you friend is AWFUL, however I work in the criminal justice system in Jersey and I can tell you he NEVER would have gotten that much time here. We recently released an inmate who was in for rape at gunpoint. He had been arrested 23 times before the rape arrest for a variety of crimes including several aggravated assaults and robberies. He raped a woman at gunpoint with her toddler crying in the same room, postol whipped her breaking several bones in her face. Had no remorse and stated he did it because her husband''s brother was selling crack on "his corner". He got 4 years... 85%. He was released last week at the age of 22.... talk about plenty of time to go out and do more harm. Can you imagine how his victim feels?

 

[QueenB29]

Date: 8/1/2009 11:58:56 AM
Author:somethingshiny
So, 10 years ago one of my friends was abducted at knife point from her place of work (hotel clerk), raped, stabbed 7 times in the chest and left for dead along the highway. She drug her bloody body to the side of a parked semi truck and half crawled in through the window to wake the guy for help. Thankfully, the guy got her help and she recovered (physically).

She was able to give a detailed description of the kidnapper and eventually he was found serving time in another state for burglary. This week he was finally sentenced in this matter and I''m SO PO''d because he got 35 years, of which he only needs to serve 85%. This is a complete downfall of the justice system! He''s been involved in more than one crime involving weapons. He plead guilty to a Class X Felony. She nearly died and that''s certainly what he wanted to happen in addition to a torturous rape. He should be imprisoned for life! This man should never be allowed to walk the streets with the public. And, the man is young. When he gets out, it''s not like he''ll be too old to harm others. How come some cheating CEO who never physically harmed anyone get more time than a psychotic?

My friend is devastated. The man looked at her in the courtroom and offered some pseudo-apology and she got up and walked out. She fought very hard for the last 10 years both for her life and for this man to never get an opportunity to hurt another person. Now, she knows that in a relatively short time, this man will be on the streets again. For a victim of such a heinous act, this thought alone will continue to torture her.

OMG! I am so sorry for your friend. The way rapes are investigated/prosecuted really disgusts me. A man like that should never see the light of day again!

 

[Black Jade]

I know about this kind of thing, also. When I was a teenager, my 16-year old cousin (slightly older than me) was abducted, gang-raped and then shot in the head. She died. The rapists served very minimal jail and the young woman, supposedly a ''friend'' who had lured her to the place where the crime was committed didn''t serve any time at all (apparently, raping people and shooting them in the head is a minor kind of crime, but bringing girls to guys so that they can have somebody to rape and shoot in the head is not a crime at all.)

I am so sorry for you friend, and I think it is really important to make some changes in the US justice system so that not just rape, but all kinds of violent crime (I think few of us would like to murdered, for instance, even if we weren''t raped) that hurts not only the victims but the families (my uncle and aunt REALLY suffered and my cousin''s brother had all kinds of issues also) are actually punished and if possible others were deterred from committing the same kind of crime(not the same thing). The way the system is currently set up, while well-meant (and I do think it''s good that one is innocent until proven guilty in the US and that there are all kinds of appeal possible before the death sentence, in places where the death sentence actually still exists), all too often tends to punish the victims AGAIN (sometimes over and over again) instead of punishing the criminals at all.

In the meantime however, before this big problem is fixed, I hope your friend finds some kind of peace. And that, although this all brings the crime back, she is able to forgive the guy, not because he deserves it (he doesn''t) but because in my experience anything you can''t forgive keeps you trapped in it, and your friend has suffered enough with that. (And I know you have too, I''m so sorry. None of the women in my family have felt safe in the same way as before since my cousin died.)

 

[somethingshiny]

Steel~ thanks

Blackpaw~ Unbelieveable that anyone committing such a crime would be out any sooner ANYWHERE.

szh~ Thankyou for your prayers. And, I agree. She has shown tremendous strength and follow-through to keep going for ten years. It''s like a slap in the face.

cricket~ You''re right!

Rich~ I''ve been trying to think along the lines that you''ve posted. Personally I think forgiveness needs to come about for her own comfort and I hope that this guy gets what''s coming to him.

jewelerman~ She indeed has come out of tragedy and is happy. One of my biggest issues is that she was doing so well considering what she''s been through. She had not forgiven him, but I think she was definitely taking strides. Now I feel like she''ll be back in the darkest of places.

DiamondSmitten~ That is awful! Un-freakin-believable! I can''t imagine how any man ever thinks that rape is a good idea or an answer for something. I hope that lady and her family get to move far away or she may never feel safe again.

Queen~ You said it!

Black Jade~ I''m sorry to hear about your cousin. Your entire family must have been devastated. I do agree that "in general" the justice system is set up in a good way, but there has got to be HUGE changes when it comes to violent crimes.


My DH and I were thinking that maybe this guy cut a deal or something. He was involved in many incidences throughout the country (he''s a truck driver) and we wonder if he wasn''t aware of a big drug ring or something that he was going to turn over. It still doesn''t make his lenient sentence easy, but in mentioning this to my friend, I hope the can at least see that she may have helped bring about an end to other criminal activity possibly across the nation.

 

[Lilac]

I''m so sorry for your friend, it sounds like an absolutely horrible and horrific thing she went through and he should have to serve much more time for putting her through that.

 

[CJ2008]

Date: 8/1/2009 9:41:39 PM
Author: Lilac
I''m so sorry for your friend, it sounds like an absolutely horrible and horrific thing she went through and he should have to serve much more time for putting her through that.

My thoughts exactly...and it must so hard for you to have to watch her be in pain and not be able to do anything...

 

[HollyS]

It is an absolutely horrifying situation. How awful for your friend to live through this again, only to have him get a lighter-than-he-deserves sentence.

 

[purrfectpear]

Heck, if I were raped and the guy had to serve more than 20 years I''d be over the moon with glee. That''s about 15 years more than the average rapist would serve in prison in California. I''m not sure why she expected more than 35 years, but I seriously doubt there was any deal cut. He got the max IMO.

 

[asscherisme]

This makes me so upset that the punishment does not fit what they did.

 

[somethingshiny]

I believe in Illinois (where we live and where the crime took place) a Class X Felony has a minimum of 30 yrs. The point of Class X is to double the normal sentence. The aggravated kidnapping (meaning with weapon), the rape itself, and the attempted murder are ALL Class X and therfore (IMO) should ALL carry the minimum 30 yr sentence.


Heinous, brutal and habitual criminals are supposed to have a life sentence. (from what I understand)

purrfect~ Just so you know, your post really offends me. NO ONE should be HAPPY that a raving psychotic rapist would get more than 5 yrs.

Thank you all for your support, I didn''t know this was going to be so hard for ME.

 

[marcy]

I feel so bad for your friend and sorry he''ll be out on the streets again someday. That is sad and scary.

 

[Camille]

OMG, this is terrible! Brutal crimes like this make me fume

Hope you find peace soon Something.........