To short to go to prison....

[Autolycus]

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Judge Rules Sex Offender Too Short Prison; Gives Probation Instead
Thursday, May 25, 2006

SIDNEY, Neb. — A judge said a 5-foot-1 man convicted of sexually assaulting a child was too small to survive in prison, and gave him 10 years of probation instead.

His crimes deserved a long sentence, District Judge Kristine Cecava said, but she worried that Richard W. Thompson, 50, would be especially imperiled by prison dangers.

"You are a sex offender, and you did it to a child," she said.

But, she said, "That doesn't make you a hunter. You do not fit in that category."

Thompson will be electronically monitored the first four months of his probation, and he was told to never be alone with someone under age 18 or date or live with a woman whose children were under 18. Cecava also ordered Thompson to get rid of his pornography.

He faces 30 days of jail each year of his probation unless he follows its conditions closely.

"I want control of you until I know you have integrated change into your life," the judge told Thompson. "I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced."
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,196947,00.html

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How did anyone come up with this logic to allow a man who rapes 12 year old girls out of prison? I cant believe the lack of justice. :banghead:

 

[rebelz]

I would have shot him out of his small boots

 

[Autolycus]

More information...

from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197103,00.html
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Light Sentence for Short Sex Offender Under Fire
Friday, May 26, 2006

•Judge Rules Sex Offender Too Short Prison; Gives Probation Instead
LINCOLN, Neb. — A judge's decision to sentence a 5-foot-1 man to probation instead of prison for sexually assaulting a child has angered crime victim advocates who say the punishment sends the wrong message.

But supporters of short people say it's about time someone recognizes the unique challenges they face.

Cheyenne County District Judge Kristine Cecava issued the sentence Tuesday. She told Richard W. Thompson that his crimes deserved a long prison sentence but that he was too small to survive in a state prison.

Though he could have been sentenced to 10 years behind bars, he ended up with 10 years of probation instead. On Thursday, the state's attorney general, Jon Bruning, promised to appeal within two weeks, calling the sentence far too lenient.

"I'm concerned about the message this sends to victims and perpetrators," said Marla Sohl with the Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition, adding that it shows more concern is being placed on the criminal and his safety in prison than the victim.

But Joe Mangano, secretary of the National Organization of Short Statured Adults, agreed with the judge's assessment that Thompson would face dangers while in prison because of his height.

"I'm assuming a short inmate would have a much more difficult time than a large inmate," said Mangano, who is 5 feet 4 inches tall. "It's good to see somebody looking out for someone who is a short person."

Thompson, 50, had sexual contact over a couple of months last year with a 12-year-old girl, said Sidney Police Chief Larry Cox. He was sentenced on two felony sexual assault charges.

As part of the probation, he will be electronically monitored for the first four months and was told never to be alone with someone under age 18 or date or live with a woman whose children were under 18. He was also ordered to get rid of his pornography.

Thompson's attorney, Donald Miller, had no comment on the ruling. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub, who prosecuted the case, did not return a call seeking comment. Cecava did not return a message seeking comment.

The judge's reasoning confounded Amy Miller, legal director for the Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"I have never heard of anything like this before," she said.

No one has ever come to the ACLU to complain of height discrimination, she said. And using Thompson's height as a reason to avoid sending him to prison is surprising, because neither the U.S. nor state constitution provides protections based on physical stature, she said.

A spokesman for the prison system said Thompson's height would not put him at risk among the state's 4,400 inmates. There are protections available in prison to help inmates who feel threatened, prison spokesman Steve King said, but to his knowledge, no one has ever taken advantage of them based on fears related to their height.

"He's not the shortest guy we have in prison," King said. "We've got some short guys that are as tough as nails. We've got people from all ages, physical stature of all sizes, in general population."

State Sen. Ernie Chambers, a longtime critic of judges, said he was baffled by the sentence.

"If shortness is an excuse and protection from going to prison, short people ought to rob banks and do everything else they would wind up going to prison for," Chambers said. "We're talking here about a crime committed against a child, and shortness is not a defense."

 

[rebelz]

then i would have shot his boot for good measure hehehehe

 

[exar]

They would have never found his body if he did that to someone I know.

 

[gezzer]

Should have given him lifts. Child molesters get what they deserve. This Judge needs to be removed or her kids should have to bunk with the didler.

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

But Joe Mangano, secretary of the National Organization of Short Statured Adults, agreed with the judge's assessment that Thompson would face dangers while in prison because of his height.

"I'm assuming a short inmate would have a much more difficult time than a large inmate," said Mangano, who is 5 feet 4 inches tall. "It's good to see somebody looking out for someone who is a short person."

Never mind that he is a CHILD MOLESTER.:banghead: Not enough air gets to Mangano's brain, methinks...

 

[Henry Bowman]

"I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced."

Hope? . . . Hope? That's it? What are you wagering? Are you betting your career? Your daughter's safety? Someone else's daughter's safety?

 

[Lupinus]

what in the heebie jeebies?

I don't give a rats hairy rump roast if the guy is 4'1 with long legs and a pretty twinkle in his eye. Anyone who rapes a child should be thrown into the general population after all available Vaseline has been confiscated.

 

[American By Blood]

Wow. Given the typical racial dynamic of prison rape, does this mean that I can commit a heinous felony and be judged "too white for prison" due to my fair hair, blue eyes, and inability to tan?

 

[1 old 0311]

The problem is that there is NO cure for child molesters. This is a fact. The re-arrest rate is like 98%, in 3 years. Give him a choice. Prison, or surgery so he will be unable to do this again (See I was polite)

Kevin

 

[2TransAms]

"I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced."

I read the article before I signed onto THR.I was furious.If that was my daughter...

I have no words.This is an outrage and an insult to every American.That this judge would be more concerned with the safety of a child molestor than the safety of someone's daughter...I rarely curse except when the occasion calls for it.There are better and far more intelligent ways to express yourself.But this is one of those times.I say let this five-foot f***er rot in solitary if he's not safe.He's already shown that the public is not safe from him.

 

[real_name]

Nice pic of the little freak.

Courtesy of SmokingGun.com

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0525062shorty1.html

 

[Ohen Cepel]

This is so wrong.

What the hell are these pinko's thinking?

Is he short enough to live next to the judge?

2 felony counts. He should have been shot.

 

[longeyes]

Clearly we need a new Federal program for all-short prisons.

 

[Pilgrim]

It is very possible the judge erred in using this reasoning and went outside the law in awarding probation. It will be up to the prosecuting attorney to decide if it is worth appealing the sentence.

Pilgrim

 

[Dionysusigma]

So...

what gun for Hobbit?

9mm, for once, does not seem underpowered at all.

 

[stormspotter]

Too short for jail

They should have used a 22 "short" on him.

 

[CalamityJane]

Too short, huh? Well I guess that explains why Martha Stewart actually had to GO to prison, she's taller than that. And, her crime WAS much worse, than raping a little girl. I mean, we're talking about money here, in Martha's case.

These kind of cases are getting out of hand. There is no cure for these creatures' behavior/actions. I do not understand these judges.

 

[Autolycus]

I have said it before...

Only in America.


I am so ashamed at the justice system. If the prosecutor, judge, and defense lawyers honestly cannot figure out a legitimate reason to keep this monster out of prison then they had better start looking for new jobs.

 

[ugaarguy]

Hmmm 98% recidivism (sp?) rate for child molestors? Chemically castrate them, throw them under the jail - I don't care but do something to them. I'll be an uncle for the first time in December and I shudder to think if anything like that would happen to my future neice or nephew. I can't imagine what the child's parents are going thru. My only comfort is that these perverts and the activist judges that let them off easy will one day stand before God and account for their actions.

 

[Jeff]

This specific case raises many interesting questions. The three most interesting issues are below:

1) If he had committed murder, would he have bent sent to prison? How about if he had raped an adult? Or shot at a police officer because he was drunk?

Exactly where in the rhetorical spectrum would this foolish judge have placed reason above unreason and given the criminal the sentence he deserves? When does his physical shortcoming no longer become an issue, and justice is rightly delivered?

2) Does a 5 ft 1 in man pose a greater victim than a thin man with fair facial features? How about a white man in a predominantly black prison, or a black man in a predominantly white prison? The point is, when you go to jail, you automatically become a target for physical and sexual abuse, and mere specifics become ridiculous.

3) Do these foolish judges we have seen so much of lately deliver these sentences because they want the notoriety? Is it their time to be in the spotlight? That's the only thing I can think of.

What is happening to this country?

 

[Autolycus]

Very good posting Jeff.

Since I am fat do you think they will let me get away with robbery. As a fat man all of my money goes to food and I cant afford to buy any more guns. I also happen to have earlobes that are attached to my head which is a non-dominant feature. This puts me in the normal looking person-challenged category and I cannot handle prison due to this.

If I am caught I will give up my Playstation becuase I got the idea from grand theft auto (the guy in the original story probably got the idea from porn which he was forced to give up). And you can put me on probation for the next 10 years. I will just watch tv instead of playing video games.

do you think an activist judge would buy it? Cause I think I hear the armored car coming...

 

[GrammatonCleric]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

OH MY FOOT!! Danger, blood pressure spiking, must not give in to urge to wake the dead with virulent cursing. Must resist urge to describe in graphic detail the horrific vengeance I would enact on the little creep if I could. Must spare the ears of Art's dear grammaw. Seriously though, How did America come to this level of idiocy? Can it be fixed? Will it ever be righted?

 

[PCGS65]

SIDNEY, Neb. — A judge said a 5-foot-1 man convicted of sexually assaulting a child was too small to survive in prison, and gave him 10 years of probation instead.

I guess the judge isn't concerned about the child he raped.........

by Tecumseh, Since I am fat do you think they will let me get away with robbery. As a fat man all of my money goes to food and I cant afford to buy any more guns.

Tecumseh, just tell the judge they will not give you enough food in prison so that will be bad for you.
Thats a good one.