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While I've been bouncing all over the place re: the news coming from Iowa and Vermont (I don't have the links but imagine y'all have already heard), I forgot that for someone I know, today was going to be a very tough, very difficult day. I just heard some amazing news, though, that makes me very happy.
My daughter just called me. Her friend Casey was at Court today to watch a plea-bargain for the boy, her ex-boyfriend, who attacked, raped, and tried to strangle her in her own home, while her parents and sister slept upstairs. He was on probation when this occurred, he'd been stalking her for a few weeks, and he followed her home one night and ripped her apart.
Casey did all the right things when he left. She woke her parents, told them what happened, they went straight to the cops, to the hospital, filed all the reports, she endured hours of questions, and a warrant was issued for her ex-boyfriend's arrest. Casey was adamant about pressing charges. She froze when it was all happening, couldn't scream, couldn't do anything (though she scratched him), but she found her voice.
Two days later, this boy's father showed up with a hand-written apology from his son...yeah, imagine how quickly that became evidence. Good thing Casey's dad wasn't there.
He was finally arrested two weeks later. He'd missed his probation meeting--another strike against him.
Today, Casey learned that his prior conviction for which he was on probation was not a bar fight as he had told her, but for attacking a nine-year-old girl. He got probation. For attacking, and raping, a nine-year-old girl. WTF? Where is the justice in that? It wasn't justice, especially not for her.
That little girl, now almost 11--yes, not even 11--testified today for the prosecuting attorney--Casey's attorney. Her life has been one of terror because that man was still out there, free. You can imagine how that kid felt. Or maybe we can only try.
The ex--I don't even know his name, he is not worthy of a name--has now been sentenced, based on the little child's testimony, based on Casey's testimony, and the reports, breaking probation, and missing his probation meeting, to ten years in prison for rape and assault. If, when he gets out someday, he ever does anything again, he'll go away for life. He took the plea bargain because he was afraid, very very afraid, of what a jury would do to him. I can just imagine.
This boy is 22 years old.
Casey is 18, the little girl almost 11, and she told Casey that this was the best day of her life.
Carolyn
My daughter just called me. Her friend Casey was at Court today to watch a plea-bargain for the boy, her ex-boyfriend, who attacked, raped, and tried to strangle her in her own home, while her parents and sister slept upstairs. He was on probation when this occurred, he'd been stalking her for a few weeks, and he followed her home one night and ripped her apart.
Casey did all the right things when he left. She woke her parents, told them what happened, they went straight to the cops, to the hospital, filed all the reports, she endured hours of questions, and a warrant was issued for her ex-boyfriend's arrest. Casey was adamant about pressing charges. She froze when it was all happening, couldn't scream, couldn't do anything (though she scratched him), but she found her voice.
Two days later, this boy's father showed up with a hand-written apology from his son...yeah, imagine how quickly that became evidence. Good thing Casey's dad wasn't there.
He was finally arrested two weeks later. He'd missed his probation meeting--another strike against him.
Today, Casey learned that his prior conviction for which he was on probation was not a bar fight as he had told her, but for attacking a nine-year-old girl. He got probation. For attacking, and raping, a nine-year-old girl. WTF? Where is the justice in that? It wasn't justice, especially not for her.
That little girl, now almost 11--yes, not even 11--testified today for the prosecuting attorney--Casey's attorney. Her life has been one of terror because that man was still out there, free. You can imagine how that kid felt. Or maybe we can only try.
The ex--I don't even know his name, he is not worthy of a name--has now been sentenced, based on the little child's testimony, based on Casey's testimony, and the reports, breaking probation, and missing his probation meeting, to ten years in prison for rape and assault. If, when he gets out someday, he ever does anything again, he'll go away for life. He took the plea bargain because he was afraid, very very afraid, of what a jury would do to him. I can just imagine.
This boy is 22 years old.
Casey is 18, the little girl almost 11, and she told Casey that this was the best day of her life.
Carolyn
