Putting an unwilling or uncooperative victim, especially a minor, on the witness stand comes with its own set of risks. The genetic evidence would prove he’s the father (if there is genetic evidence: did she carry the pregnancy to term? is so, is the baby available for testing [e.g., not adopted out-of-state] ? if not, is there a chain of custody for the products of conception?). However, the girl’s own testimony can prove how and where it happened. If it wasn’t in Arkansas, then some other state’s laws apply and some other state’s courts have jurisdiction. If a turkey baster was involved, then sexual assault laws may not apply. If she can’t or won’t testify as to the how and where, is his statement even admissible, much less sufficient? If she testifies, but says she was a willing participant and wants to move forward with this man in her life, can the prosecution convince all twelve on the jury to disregard her wishes and in effect ruin her life plans too, or will one or more be swayed to sympathy for her and vote to acquit?
This sounds like a bad decision by the prosecution, but without knowing exactly what factors the prosecutor had to consider, criticism is perhaps premature.
This is a terrible story, and Arkansas can be a real shithole, but this is uncalled for. Can we manage to disparage people based on their geographic location in a less all or nothing sort of way?
(Was born in AR, have friends and relatives there who put up with enough dumb shit already, thanks)
There may be some practical issues that justice is bending to accommodate. It will be a lot easier for the victim to collect child support and perhaps even civil damages from an able bodied convict out on probation than one locked up and financially destitute.
Arkansas, with all our problems, is certainly not the reason this scumbag skirted a cromulent sentence and judgement.
These jerks are everywhere.
One lives in the Whitehouse.
One killed himself in prison.
One, former rap icon is cooling his heels in prison.
One is a Royal prince.
Yeah, don’t blame the south. Don’t blame Arkansas.
Blame the Men who believe they have the right to “sexually assault” very young women,
Guess where they got the idea it is okay?
Well, ok. But he’s dead. Though his files live on.
(What exactly are you apologizing to @Frilly_Heck for? I know for a fact that all (100%, your term) have in fact not raped, impregnated, slept with underage girls)
Child rape. Child sexual exploitation, and trafficking did not start in Arkansas.
It happened here, of course. It happened Everywhere from way way back. Well before the US or Arkansas was even a place.
I find it a very offensive statement.
We’re not all bad here.
Hey, I live here. And I’m nice.
Yeah. When I read about something like this, it’s usually not so much about what they did but rather who was doing it. If it’s someone from a minority community, they throw the book at them. If it’s a good ol’ boy, they get off with a slap on the wrist.
This. It’s not Arkansas, it’s the good ol’ boy system. In Arkansas the good ol’ boys are (usually) rednecks. In other places, the good ol’ boys have different cultures / backgrounds / accents / religions etc. What they have in common, and the reason the got the idea that what they do is okay, is because they are caught they get a slap on the wrist from their fellow good ol’ boys. Those good ol’ boys might be rednecks, or British nobility, or Catholic priests, or business executives, and so on. But they all look out for each other, which is why we get these outcomes.
I don’t understand why the court thinks this guy will benefit from a mental health assessment and parenting classes. I think some instruction is less than what this guy needs.