What I want to know is
How someone gets convicted of anything based on these facts:
On March 19, 2005, the victim had fallen asleep on the living room couch in her mother’s home. Her mother awoke her and instructed her to go upstairs to bed so that the defendant could sleep on the couch. The victim went upstairs but later went to the basement to smoke a cigarette. The defendant came to the basement, sat beside the victim on a couch and also smoked a cigarette. The victim and the defendant played a card game, and the defendant offered the victim a glass of beer, which she refused. The defendant also asked the victim if she wanted to take the drug ecstasy, which the defendant did not have in his possession, but attempted unsuccessfully to get via the telephone.
The defendant noticed a ‘‘hickey’’ on the victim’s neck and asked how she got it. The victim responded that her boyfriend had given it to her. The defendant touched the ‘‘hickey’’ and looked at the victim in a manner that she considered weird. The defendant kissed the ‘‘hickey,’’ released the victim’s bra, touched her breasts and placed his mouth on them. The defendant talked to the victim about her being his wife, marriage, children and getting a place together. The defendant also removed the victim’s pants and asked the victim for a condom, which she did not have and refused to get from upstairs. The victim asked the defendant what he was doing. The defendant assured her that it was all right, as she was his wife. The defendant removed a tampon from the victim and performed cunnilingus.
Although the victim resisted the defendant’s advances, she did not fight or try her hardest to stop him. She did not call for her mother, who was upstairs sleeping. The defendant’s sexual assault lasted approximately one-half hour. The victim then put on her clothing, went upstairs to her older sister’s bedroom and fell asleep.
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about 2 years ago
Uh, I wasn’t surprised based on your abrievated recitation of facts that there was a conviction, but I was surprised that you were surprised when I clicked the link and saw…
30 year old defendant, 15 year old complainant. (Age of the two being the most “reasonable” thing “reasonable found” by the jury.)
Not weighing in on actual guilt/innocence or BRD analysis, just surprised that you are surprised, that’s all…
about 2 years ago
Yeah but that’s why I omitted the age of the players. That’s a per se crime, but just on the description of the “assault” alone, I think it’s highly suspect.
I mean, how did her bra get released, etc., with nary a word. And what of the shirt that she was supposedly wearing?
Sounds like a case of regret to me.
about 2 years ago
I am confused. Meaning depends on context. She’s 15, he’s a creep, and you indicate just above that’s a crime per se. But the opening of your post expresses surprise at a conviction of anything.
Are you saying the defendant should not have been convicted at all, or that he was convicted of an inappropriate charge?
about 2 years ago
Right. Putting aside the fact that it’s a per se crime based solely on age, my post was about the disbelief that these set of facts would result in a conviction.
Put another way, does anyone believe, reading these set of facts, that the story is credible.
about 2 years ago
Reading just the facts as you presented them, almost everyone here where I live would be convicted on those facts. Do I think that should happen? No.
I agree with you that it doesn’t make much sense that the story went down the way she says it did.
Now, reading the entire opinion, I find even more reason to believe the defendant was likely actually innocent. Evidence that was excluded seems to me to be evidence that was highly probative as to the likelihood the girl lied.
Add that to the lack of an investigation and the facts which are not very believable and I just have to wonder how many innocent men are in prison after false accusations by young girls such as in this case.
about 2 years ago
I didn’t have to click the link to know what this was about.
I’m in the same camp as the first commenter – can’t understand why you’re surprised.
I’m a bit perplexed by your question about whether I believe the story is ‘credible’ based on the linked PDF. What was the defendants explanation of events? Would you or I find *that* story credible?
Could you shine a bit of light on why you think this set of facts should not have resulted in a conviction?
PS – this is a great blog.
about 2 years ago
It’s not about any of that. At all. Just read her version of events – or the version of events as found by the Appellate Court. That (which I’ve quoted), to me, is wholly incredible.
The link to the decision is merely to provide the source of the quote.
about 2 years ago
Hi Gideon.
My apologies – I’m still not making the connection.
I’m not sure what is remarkable about the court’s findings and the subsequent rejection of the appeal(s).
I’m not a lawyer, so I’m sure I’m missing something that’s obvious to attorneys – is there any way you can elucidate on what’s “wholly incredible?”
PS – I’m not being dense or obtuse – I honestly am not “getting it”, and I really want to.