Originally Posted by
gloopy
We're still talking around the issue though. Its not the morality of groping or if victims deserve justice after an assault or how that is defined. The issue here is getting a felony rap (even an arrest record, which these days is almost as bad) simply from one person's verbal testimony and nothing else. That is completely unacceptable for anyone for any issue. That makes it a guilty until proven innocent system and that is a far greater threat to freedom than the occasional guilty person going free because their guilt couldn't be proven. Follow that line of reasoning that justifies that kind of guilty until proven system to its logical conclusion and the entire Bill of Rights has to be shredded but that's ok because "if it saves just one life…"
Originally Posted by
thevagabond
Amen, Gloopy.
Originally Posted by
biigD
I agree with this.
I further agree. I'd argue that the sex offender registry could be worse than the felony. He can't live in many communities, he will likely never be hired again. He is lumped in with rapists, child molesters, and murderers. We also have to now pay for jail time. But that is other peoples' money, right?
For the "think-of-the-children" crowd, think about the now convict's high-school daughter, who will never have friends over to the house ever again, who will be ruthlessly teased about her buns-grabbing daddy. It is not a setup for success for her (innocent) or this family. They may have to move if they are less than 1000 feet from a school or day care, or if their private community forces them out.
Yes, I would argue this judge ruined his life, when it could have been a reasonable outcome (maybe something like 5 year probation, avoiding females < 18 years old, 200 hours community service + court costs.)
United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website