Prosecutors in Montana are
appealing a controversial 30-day sentence
imposed on a teacher who admitted to
raping his 14-year-old student.
The girl later took her own life.
In a Wednesday motion, Yellowstone
County Chief Deputy Attorney Rod Souza
argued the sentence was "illegal," and
can only be corrected after an appeal to
the Montana Supreme Court.
The filing came one day after the judge in
the case filed a court order, admitting the
sentence he imposed may have been
against the law. He scheduled a new
hearing for Friday, which Souza wants
canceled.
"This is an illegal sentence. While well-
intentioned, this sentence cannot be
corrected by this court. If the case is to
be re-sentenced, it can only occur after
appeal to the Montana Supreme Court,"
Souza wrote.
Calls to the court and to the judge
seeking comment on whether the hearing
would go ahead were not immediately
returned.
The case drew widespread attention
when District Judge G. Todd Baugh
imposed the 30-day sentence on Stacey
Dean Rambold and made controversial
comments about the victim, saying she
"seemed older than her chronological
age."
In his order this week, Baugh said that it
now appears the mandatory minimum is
two years, not 30 days. He said the court,
"if necessary and appropriate," would
amend the sentence at Friday's hearing.
"In this court's opinion, imposing a
sentence which suspends more than the
mandatory minimum would be an illegal
sentence," read the order.
Rambold admitted raping the girl while he
was her teacher at her high school.
Cherice Moralez was 14 at the time. She
took her own life shortly before her 17th
birthday.
50% off Hosting for your Website at GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
Host a site without stress on namecheap
eApps|YOUR APP HOSTING PROVIDER
Submit your Website
Free webmaster resources including
SEO Tools,
Computer Glossary,
Templates
Sign up to BIGTIMEBUX today!
0 comments:
Post a Comment