A rape victim’s sexual history should factor into whether her rapist should get a reduced sentence, according to a Texas judge. State District Judge Jeanine Howard said that since the sexually active young lady “wasn’t the victim she claimed to be,” the rapist deserved a lighter sentence.
Howard sentenced 20-year-old Sir Young, who was barely 18 when he raped his victim, to just 45 days in jail, 5 years of deferred probation and 250 hours of community service. Young will not have to stay away from children, attend sex offender treatment, 0r undergo a sex offender evaluation. As a part of his sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender and must stay away from the young lady. He faced a maximum sentence of 20 years.
The judge, who is a Democrat, says she took into consideration that the victim, who was 14 at the time of the attack, invited Young over and agreed to have sex with him, but just didn’t want to at school. A review of the teenager’s medical records showed that she had three sexual partners and had given birth to a baby. The young lady’s mother denied that her daughter has ever been pregnant.
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Young attacked the victim, who is now 17, in a music room at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. In her court testimony, the victim said she repeatedly told Young “stop” and “no” before and during the rape. After hearing the verdict, the victim told Dallas Morning News she feels everything she went through was for nothing. “It would have been better for me not to say anything,” she explained.
District Attorney Craig Watkins opposed the judge’s decision saying that his prosecutors would always fight for the most vulnerable victims. Judge Howard said Thursday that she will recuse herself from the case, so she can speak on her decision. Another judge will be assigned to the case.
[Image: WFAA]