Last fall a Montana judge made national news when he handed down an outrageously low 30-day sentence for a Montana teacher
convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl, who then went on to commit suicide.
Outrage is growing against a Billings, Montana, judge who handed down a 30-day sentence to a rapist teacher and said the victim, who had killed herself, "was as much in control of the situation" as the teacher—35 years her senior at the time—because she was “older than her chronological age.” Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence in the case, with 10 years suspended. District Judge G. Todd Baugh imposed a 15-year sentence and suspended all but 31 days of it, with one day credited for time already served. The judge noted that the crime "did not warrant a lengthy sentence."
Today, the Montana Supreme Court
overturned the ruling and a more just sentence appears to be on the way:
The Montana Supreme Court has overturned a one-month prison sentence given to a former high school teacher convicted of raping a 14-year-old student.
Wednesday's decision cited in part the actions of District Judge G. Todd Baugh (baw) of Billings, who suggested the young victim shared responsibility for her rape because she had some control over the situation.
Justices said a new judge must re-sentence defendant Stacey Dean Rambold.
In February, a judicial review board
recommended disciplinary action against Judge G. Todd Baugh, but that action is still pending.
