re: How did this sorry, low life pos, only get 15 yrs

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a 3 strikes weed smoker gets more time than a child rapist...

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Unbelievable that you mention this. I just said the same thing to a friend not a half hour ago.
I actually know of someone who got 25 years for third time possession of weed. It was reduced, thankfully.
Completely moronic and illogical. Cannot wrap my head around it.

Even though the news story says rape he was actually convicted of either sexual abuse in the first degree or sexual assault in the second degree--it is a bit unclear because the computer court record and ADC information don't match exactly regarding the specific crime. Sexual abuse in the first degree is a class C felony punishable by 3-10 years imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding $10K, and this would be per count. It appears there were 2 counts involved, probably meaning there were two separate incidents. Looks like there was a suspended imposition of sentence in addition to the 180 month term of imprisonment.

On the other hand rape is a class Y felony punishable by 10-40 years or life imprisonment. Individuals convicted of and sentenced for rape are not eligible for release until they have served at least 70% of their term of imprisonment.

Here's the computer generated court record in his case. Looks like it was a negotiated guilty plea to sexual abuse in the first degree LINK and his ADC information reflects sexual assault in the second degree LINK but sexual abuse and sexual assault are basically the same offenses involving sexual contact (assault is actually classified as a B felony one step higher than the abuse offense), assault just being a later version of the crime. Either way he was convicted of lesser offenses than that of rape.

Which is why it is on the level of murder in my eyes. I know someone that was unfortunately a victim. It's a lifetime sentence of hell unless they manage to get the right long term support system.

How there can be "shades" of rape and he is convincted of a lesser crime is mind blowing. I feel so bad for this girl and her family.

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Which is why it is on the level of murder in my eyes. I know someone that was unfortunately a victim. It's a lifetime sentence of hell unless they manage to get the right long term support system. How there can be "shades" of rape and he is convincted of a lesser crime is mind blowing. I feel so bad for this girl and her family.

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TO keep a child for suffering through more agony, often times deals are cut to avoid much of the trial. this may have been part of the reasoning. IDK? Either way it is a crime and a sin against humanity!

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But there's no guarantee that the rape will destroy the victim. Murder will DEFINITELY destroy the victim. They are gone. To say that murder is less severe than rape, IMO, is akin to saying that you'd rather your child be dead than alive and broken.

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Ohhh, I get what you are saying and as a father with girls... It is a difficult thing to imagine. They are awesome! I hope and wish nobody to go through either and have no desire to choose between the two. Lets just hope and pray, and guide our kids in such a way as to lead them so none of the above happens!

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TO keep a child for suffering through more agony, often times deals are cut to avoid much of the trial. this may have been part of the reasoning. IDK? Either way it is a crime and a sin against humanity!

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I can understand that. I'm one of those that seeks out justice and sometimes let's reason go out the window, though.

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But now she's happy, married for 10 years, and a great mother

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My contact was riddled with panic attacks for years, but she ultimately overcame it.

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Sensitive topic and not sure how to word it, but I'm glad she is better, if that's appropriate to say.

I just want to point out that harsher sentences for child molestation aren't actually good.


In most cases the molester is known to the child and often a relative. If you have a guaranteed life sentence then the child is MUCH less likely to report it and the family is MUCH less likely to be supportive. If you have a "lighter" sentence of 5 to 10 years then there is a much greater likelihood of the child feeling that they can report it and their family supporting them. Most molesters form a bond with the children they abuse and it's often very difficult to get them reported at all. Even though it seems counterintuitive, lighter sentences means higher reporting and it means safer children.

Sex Offenders get tracked heavily and there are a ton of apps to let you know where they are in relation to you.

Depending on the numbers you go by approximately 1/3rd of all girls and 1/5th of all boys have been sexually assaulted by age 18. There is a giant problem with half or more of all assaults going unreported. Anything that can get the reporting up and the awareness up is good. Harsher sentences actually work against that.

Btw, if this type of thing is something that bothers you a great deal check out RAINN or find your local state organization that does much the same thing and offer to volunteer or help out with donations. Child abuse is imo, the single biggest problem in the United States and it gets zero attention because it is an uncomfortable subject.



(as retarded as it sounds.. awareness and publicity is the key.. kinda like how 16 and pregnant on MTV actually contributed to a LOWER teen pregnancy rate)

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Worst act on earth?

Horrible, without a doubt. Worse than murder? No.

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You posted this before your angle became clear.
I just finished reading the debates here.
From a neutral perspective, i.e. when a total stranger that you have no personal connection to is the victim, which one affects those that care about them and their community more? I'm surprised that question wasn't posed here.

In the case of a sexual crime, I think we can agree that the victim suffers the most. In the case of murder, it gets much deeper than that. That's a key difference between the two; though from a human's perspective, they're both abominable acts.
Pigfeet —

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Just depends on the situation, I guess.

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Yes, I could agree with this. All humans are different and wouldn't react the same way if a loved one was murdered or sexually abused. There are countless actions that people close to the victim could take, many of which are bad. Some people move on, while other people that know the victim let it haunt them for the rest of their life too, etc.
Hog on the Hill —

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There's probably no point is debating whether rape or murder is worse. They're both pretty fricking bad, way beyond any threshold of understanding by any decent human being. Committing either act places a person among the absolute worst of humankind.

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I could agree with this.
ocelot4ark —

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No. But I know that, as horrible as it sounds, I would rather one of my kids be raped than be murdered.

You can bring someone back from the earth-shattering consequences of rape. And that person can go on to live a great life as a spouse and parent. I've seen it first hand.

Now, had this person been murdered? Nothing. Nothingness. No hope for having a relationship with them at all.

Give me the chance of having a relationship for the rest of my life with one of my future kids over them dying any day of the week.

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Yes, obviously one's opinion on many crimes and activities would change if they've experienced it first or secondhand. I think I can understand where you're coming from. In a way though, can't a victim of abuse sometimes be compared to someone with a disorder or disability that adversely affects their life? If someone's murdered, then there's no telling how they would have lived the remainder of their life. My question is, would you prefer a loved to live a life of misery after a traumatic experience? If you can't enjoy life to your potential or its fullest, is it best that you stick around for others or the fear of the unknown?
piggilicious —

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i understand that view.

but i also think that rape (and certainly raping a child) is always black and white open and shut no gray area at all.

as far as murder goes, i think sometimes there are gray areas- i'm talking murder in general (not legal terms). there's temporary insanity, there's self defense, there's murdering some guy who hurt (or raped) your child/loved one. i'm not saying is a good idea but i can understand the action in my head whereas i can't/will never understand a sick pedo.

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Yeah, I can agree with the whole different shades of murder thing. People with mental defects, psychological problems, or that choose to be intoxicated can perform heinous acts though that would introduce different shades to whatever crime they committed while under the influence of such no? Life's complicated. In the end, there isn't a good excuse for serious sex crimes, and murder is likely rarely the answer for anything.
Arkla Missy —

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I honestly don't understand how someone who repeatedly rapes a young child can get sentenced to such a short amount of time either. That, in & of itself, is a travesty. Shame on the judge who handed down such a light sentence. I assure you, the offending pedophile would not make it from the prison to the vehicle, alive, upon his release had he done that to my child.

Since the murder vs. rape (which is worse?) issue did come up, I'd like to comment on it, briefly. I suggest those who believe young victims of violent rape go on to lead happy, normal lives do a bit of research on that. The vast majority of these victims do not tell anyone what happened to them for years, if ever; therefore, the trauma, shame, and horror manifests itself in drug abuse, criminal activity, all kinds of psychological issues ranging from severe depression to bipolar disorder, and suicide. These victims are robbed of their childhoods, not only physically, but perhaps more traumatically, psychologically & emotionally, and the horrific effects remain with them for the rest of their lives. Unless the victims receive extensive psychiatric counseling (meaning years), it is impossible for them to have "normal" relationships or "normal" lives because of the overwhelming inner turmoil they suffer. They, in effect, get handed a "life sentence" by the disgusting excuse for a human being who violated them.

In my opinion, there are certain crimes that are just as heinous, if not more so, than murder - child rape being at the top of the list. This crime should carry the same punishment as murder since the perpetrator, in actuality, robs and kills any chance these children have of a "normal" life.

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You summarized the consequences of rape from an objective standpoint excellently.
ocelot4ark —

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But there's no guarantee that the rape will destroy the victim. Murder will DEFINITELY destroy the victim. They are gone.

To say that murder is less severe than rape, IMO, is akin to saying that you'd rather your child be dead than alive and broken.

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But again though, what if the victim is someone that you personally don't know and didn't care for? What if the victim of murder is already broken inside and their support or counseling isn't helping? Some people want to be put out of their misery. That's a different topic, but like someone else said, murder isn't so clear cut all the time; though it's hard to justify from a moral, ethical, or rational standpoint.
Killean —

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Child abuse is imo, the single biggest problem in the United States and it gets zero attention because it is an uncomfortable subject.

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If you extend the word "abuse" to include parental neglect, the broken home, poverty, physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse by peers and family, etc. then perhaps I could agree with you. However, if you're using "abuse" in the sense of this topic, then I'm curious as to why you believe it's the biggest problem in this country if you don't mind me asking.