Another rapist walks with no jail time

In My Humble Opinion
1

The assailant, Christopher Belkin, raped and sexually assaulted four teen-age girls when he was also in his teens.

Christopher Belter, now 20, entered a plea deal in 2019 in which he agreed to plead guilty to attempted first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree rape and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, according to court documents.

The charges stem from four separate incidents in 2017 and 2018 in Lewiston, New York, the documents state. He and the victims were all under 18 at the time.

Belter was placed on interim probation for two years with limits on his internet use and access to pornography, the documents state.

But he violated the terms of his probation, according to court documents. Judge Matthew J. Murphy denied him Youthful Offender status and ruled he’d be sentenced as an adult, the documents state.

Last Tuesday, Judge Murphy issued a sentence of eight years of probation and ruled Belter must register as a sex offender – but said prison time would be inappropriate.

“I agonized. I’m not ashamed that to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case because there was great pain. There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case,” Judge Murphy said, according to CNN affiliate WKBW. “It seems to me that a sentence that involves incarceration or partial incarceration isn’t appropriate, so I am going to sentence you to probation.” [source]

So “great harm” and “great pain” were done to the victims, and there were multiple crimes committed, but neither incarceration nor partial incarceration is appropriate? WTF?

The NYT article says the judge offered no explanation for his decision.

“My client threw up in the ladies room following the sentencing,” Mr. Cohen [attorney for one of the victims] said in an email, adding that “if Chris Belter was not a white defendant from a rich and influential family” he “would surely have been sentenced to prison.”

Chris Belter, Sr. is a wealthy senior partner in Goldberg-Segalla, where partners earn up to $1 million dollars annually. When Belter, Jr. was arrested, so were his mother, Tricia Vacanti, her current husband, and a friend, all of whom reportedly supplied marijuana and alcohol to Jr. and his friends.

“The truth of what went on and what he did to his victims is far more egregious than the charges he pleaded to,” Mr. Cohen said of the younger Mr. Belter.

2

“I’m not ashamed that to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case” = “I got divine guidance, and God is swayed by the wealth and clout of the perpetrator’s family.”

According to the NY Times, the judge, who was elected, turns 70 next month and has to retire (so is no longer accountable to the electorate). We can’t even blame the GOP for him – he’s a Democrat.

3

I don’t think race or privilege has anything to do with this, rapists and sex offenders get SURPRISINGLY low sentences all the time.

There was a recent one in my area where a black man (saying to show it wasn’t a race thing) raped someone, was out on bail, raped ANOTHER woman on bail, then somehow got out on bail again only to be sentenced to 3 years in prison!

4

You’re correct. It has to do with gender.

There is an element in society that has no trouble throwing an unlimited number of women under the bus to avoid inconveniencing the men who rape and abuse them.

5

I wonder what the typical sentence range is for someone convicted of multiple rapes/assaults that he committed as a minor.

6

When I was younger, I used to get really pissed about how sexual assult is under-reported. Women would say “Nothing will happen to him…” and I’d reply “Not if you don’t say anything.” Time has proven this is often true, meaning women will be even less likely to come forward.

7

Your example is a black person who raped two people getting jail time as a way of showing that it’s not race? This thread is about a white guy who raped four girls and got no jail time.

8

Yes, especially when we consider all the tough stuff that comes with reporting: disbelief, accusations of lying and sexual promiscuity, and the emotional trauma that comes with recounting the rape/assault. You want to feel safe again, but the system that’s supposed to help ensure your safety rarely does so when it comes to rape and sexual assault.

9

No, race is definitely a factor, both for the accused and the victims. From the US Office of Justice Programs website:

Black men accused of assaulting black women accounted for 45 percent of all reported cases, but for only 26 percent of all men sentenced to the State penitentiary and for only 17 percent of all men who received sentences of 6 or more years. By contrast, black men accused of assaulting white women accounted for 23 percent of all rapes, but 45 percent of all those sent to the penitentiary and for 50 percent of all who received sentences of 6 or more years. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that, compared to other defendants, black men who assaulted white women received more serious charges and longer sentences; they were more likely to have their cases filed as felonies, receive executed sentences, and be incarcerated in the State pentientiary. At the same time, black men who assaulted white women were no more likely than other suspects to be arrested or found guilty, because the racial variable applies to the seriousness of the sanction imposed; it does not address the question of whether the defendant is guilty or innocent.

It has to do with gender in that women are more likely to be victims than men. However, that doesn’t rule out race and privilege as being factors in sentencing. Gender and race are not mutually exclusive factors.

10

I was getting a rape kit done while the cop was asking me if I was sure I wanted to charge the guy with rape [1981] so don’t tell me about under reporting … it is an agenda pushed by [almost entirely ] male police forces.