Colorado University rapist gets no prison time. Sound familiar? Poor him

Colorado University rapist gets no prison time. Sound familiar? Poor him—don't want to ruin his life

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Friday August 12, 2016 · 3:28 PM PDT

2016/08/12 · 15:28

Brock Turner, left and Austin Wilkerson, right — Convicted college rapists Brock Turner (Left) and Austin Wilkerson (Right)

This past summer much of the country was in outrage over the Stanford University rape case, whereby a former student and Olympian swimming hopeful Brock Turner was convicted of raping an unconscious young woman. Turner only received a 3-month county jail sentence for three felony counts. This week, a similar story has emerged and is circulating social media.

Screen_Shot_2016-08-12_at_4.50.01_PM.png — Boulder District Judge Patrick Butler

Daily Camera/Boulder News reports Austin James Wilkerson, a 22-year-old convicted rapist, was sentenced on Wednesday by Boulder District Judge Patrick Butler. The sentence for a Class 3 felony which usually carries a four to 12-year prison sentence, was whittled down to a work/school release program and 20 years probation. Wilkerson was convicted earlier this year for raping a female college student in 2014 at a St. Patrick’s Day party. The woman reportedly had consumed too much alcohol and Wilkerson took off with her telling her friends he’d look after her. Instead — he raped her.

Even though the rape victim and prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Wilkerson to prison time, the judge felt Wilkerson should “have a shot at rehabilitation.” Wonder what the judge wanted for the rape victim. You know, other than for her to stop drinking around men on St. Patrick’s Day or on any day, and keep those legs crossed!

So, Wilkerson will be able to go to school, get an education, have a nice job, and only spend his nights in the county jail. Wonder if he’ll have a cell key like “Otis” did on The Andy Griffin Show.

Thankfully, many in the Boulder community are speaking out including Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman who tweeted:

“No prison time for sexual assault sends a terrible message. My thoughts are with the victim.”

AG: Ã¢ÂÂNo prison time for sexual assault sends a terrible message. My thoughts are with the victimÃ¢ÂÂ @CCASAColorado https://t.co/sAzZCQlGNU
Ã¢ÂÂ CO Attorney General (@COAttnyGeneral) August 11, 2016

One perfect response to Coffman’s tweet above was by Chirs XXXX:

Then get rid of unfit judges like Patrick "rapefan" Butler. Or change his job title to "rape enabler."

Brie Franklin, a victim’s advocate, says all too often judges take into greater account the offender’s future — than the victim’s.

“There’s a lot of, ‘Oh, poor him. We don’t want to ruin his life. It was a one-time thing.’ We’re forgetting that this wasn’t something that happened to the perpetrator. This was something that they chose to do.”

Franklin poignantly adds that in other other instances, like when it’s a person of color, or a person who’s not an athlete, or a person who’s not in college — “they don’t seem to be as worthy” of that same mercy from a rape judge.

Prosecutors thanked the victim for being brave enough to come forward. Deputy DA Caryn Datz said:

“This one particular victim through her courage has kept the community safer by speaking out and preventing future victims in her own way. And that’s something that we’re very proud of too.”

Deputy District Attorney Lisa Saccomano who also worked on the Wilkerson case said she hopes media coverage of his prison-free rape sentence will snowball, prompting the community to get involved, and help laws and sentencing to change.

If you or someone you know is, or has ever been, a victim of rape/sexual assault, you are not alone and it’s never too late to seek help. You can find free support via the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and/or by visiting the Rape, Abuse Incest National Network/online.RAINN.org. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. You do not have to live with guilt and shame. You are not alone. It’s not your fault.

Related Daily Kos Coverage on Judge Aaron Persky:

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