# Stupid Privileged White Kid Gets 6 Months for Rape, Father describes it as "20 minutes of action" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 7, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733 "2016-06-07T14:12:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/261 "2016-06-13T12:03:30Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > This is the important part. For my WAG, I do believe money (or something equivalent) changed hands. Because I simply cannot fathom a judge having all that damning information at their fingers tips and then sentencing that prick the way he did, all the while knowing the results would end up vilified on the national stage. First of all, the judge would not necessarily known in advance that he would be “vilified on the national stage.” There are hundreds of criminal sentencing hearings every day. How many of them are vilified on the national stage? Internet outrage tends to be random. Second, by insisting that this must be caused by some sort of individual corruption completely lets off the hook the actually societal problem that this illustrates—that we live in a culture that goes easy on rapists and we live in a culture that goes easy on white people and we live in a culture that goes easy on rich people. _That’s_ the problem here and that’s what people are justifiably outraged about. Insisting that it has to have happened because the judge took a bribe is basically dismissing the actual social context of this whole incident. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/262 "2016-06-13T14:14:47Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > First of all, the judge would not necessarily known in advance that he would be “vilified on the national stage.” There are hundreds of criminal sentencing hearings every day. How many of them are vilified on the national stage? Internet outrage tends to be random. Which again supports the argument for broader appeal rights for the prosecutor on sentences. Relying on random, arbitrary internet outrage as a way to send a message about a sentence is not particularly effective to change the system. Giving the prosecutor a broad power to appeal, so that there can be regular review of sentences that don’t fit sentencing guidelines whether or not there is internet outrage, is a more effective systemic response. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/263 "2016-06-13T14:51:27Z")
Why are they not attempting to appeal the sentence? It seems like the kid lied about some stuff. Plus it’s clear he didn’t own his actions, or save the state the cost of a trial, which revictimized the victim in court, etc. Isn’t there even a little wiggle room there? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/264 "2016-06-13T14:58:43Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > First of all, the judge would not necessarily known in advance that he would be “vilified on the national stage.” There are hundreds of criminal sentencing hearings every day. How many of them are vilified on the national stage? Internet outrage tends to be random. Who said anything about “in advance”? Hell, if I’d had all the evidence that he had, before I’d made the same ruling, I’d have realized my batshit crazy sentencing was going to make people want to come after me with tar and pitchforks. It ain’t rocket science. > [@](#): > > Second, by insisting that this must be caused by some sort of individual corruption completely lets off the hook the actually societal problem that this illustrates—that we live in a culture that goes easy on rapists and we live in a culture that goes easy on white people and we live in a culture that goes easy on rich people. Why? Being corrupt and playing into rape culture isn’t mutually exclusive. As a matter of fact, I’d almost guess there’s bound to be almost a majority overlap. Apparently, YMV. > [@](#): > > _That’s_ the problem here and that’s what people are justifiably outraged about. Insisting that it has to have happened because the judge took a bribe is basically dismissing the actual social context of this whole incident. It doesn’t matter a damn but what I personally “insist” on. It’s just speculation on my part because I understand that I’m 100% powerless to effect any change in this particular instance. But I feel I’d be playing the fool if I ignored certain connections and the evidence that has come to light. You feel otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/265 "2016-06-13T15:24:48Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > But I feel I’d be playing the fool if I ignored certain connections and the evidence that has come to light. You feel otherwise. You are playing the fool now by leaping to an unfounded suspicion of individual corruption with no evidence based on nothing other than disagreeing with a ruling. Your evidence of “connections” is nothing more than evidence of favoritism that is endemic in our society, not evidence of bribery. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/266 "2016-06-13T15:48:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You are playing the fool now by leaping to an unfounded suspicion of individual corruption with no evidence based on nothing other than disagreeing with a ruling. > > Your evidence of “connections” is nothing more than evidence of favoritism that is endemic in our society, not evidence of bribery. Why? You do realize (I hope) that nothing we say on one message board out of the entirety of the Internet has absolutely zero influence, right? No one is listening to me, you or anyone else on here. Or are you one if those who truly does fall for the “hippest and brightest” moniker? I’m not debating this anywhere else, I’m not so wedded to my world view over that I give a damn and, no matter what, my unsubstantiated opinion (as that’s all this is) are not nuggets of gold dropping from my ass for everyone to savor and consider gospel. But you keep tilting at windmills, Quixote, and I’m backing away. Because as stated, I really don’t care, nor feel the need to ‘win an argument’ over this. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/267 "2016-06-13T17:07:36Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > It was such a stupid letter. Of all the things his father could have said-- what volunteer work he has done, what contributions he has made, what his plans were for the future, and how they demonstrated substance of character, what he did that demonstrated strong family ties, he writes about how his son no longer relishes steak, and no longer steals his father’s snack food. The letter that was supposed to argue for mitigation actually painted a picture of a pretty selfish and immature person, whose parents weren’t helping the matter by thinking things he did like filching snack food, were cute and funny. I mean, it’s not grand larceny, but it’s hardly something to mention when you are trying to argue that someone’s rule-breaking was an aberration. The father was giving an example of his son taking what he wants regardless of whom it actually belongs to, and completely unaware of the irony. > > The son’s letter wasn’t much better, although it was a bit better. His side of the story was unsupported, but at least it seems he didn’t drag an **already-unconscious** woman outside and behind a dumpster. His writing was so bad, it was distracting. It read like something a middle schooler would write. Cross Stanford off potential schools for my son. I’m just responding to the notion that it is immoral and indefensible to try and get a lighter sentence for your son regardless of whether he is a rapist or a murderer… by writing a letter. Why would you cross Stanford off the list? Are you under the impression that Stanford condones or ignores rape on camps? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/268 "2016-06-13T17:14:19Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I’m just responding to the notion that it is immoral and indefensible to try and get a lighter sentence for your son regardless of whether he is a rapist or a murderer… by writing a letter. A notion, it should be noted, promoted by no one in this thread. So, good job refuting that straw man, **DA**! You sure showed 'em! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/269 "2016-06-13T17:14:49Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > **Damuri Ajashi** - you should read the whole letter. It’s quite powerful. They’re arranging for it to be read into the Congressional Record next week, as a statement about the impact of rape on American women. > > Here’s the letter - > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/06/04/you-took-away-my-worth-a-rape-victim-delivers-powerful-message-to-a-former-stanford-swimmer/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/06/04/you-took-away-my-worth-a-rape-victim-delivers-powerful-message-to-a-former-stanford-swimmer/) > And here, about the Congressional reading - > [http://abc7news.com/news/congress-to-read-letter-by-stanford-sexual-assault-victim/1378269/](http://abc7news.com/news/congress-to-read-letter-by-stanford-sexual-assault-victim/1378269/) She’s a good writer. She does a very good job of humanizing the victims of rape. If this is the letter she wrote to the judge when he handed down that 6 month sentence, it should be exhibit 1 on any attempt to recall him. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/270 "2016-06-13T17:16:26Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Why would you cross Stanford off the list? Are you under the impression that Stanford condones or ignores rape on camps? Your answer lies in the two sentences written just previous to “Cross Stanford off potential schools for my son.” > [@](#): > > His writing was so bad, it was distracting. It read like something a middle schooler would write. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/271 "2016-06-13T18:12:41Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > It doesn’t really matter that he was the kid’s parent; IMO, the friend who wrote a letter is exhibiting equally indefensible behavior. What’s unethical about it is that it minimizes and tries to blame the victim and does not acknowledge the seriousness of the crime. Do you think Dan Turner would be okay with a sentence of 6 months in county for the guy who raped his wife? :dubious: Do you think he would accept the same arguments he proffered? :dubious: Of course it matters that he is the father. He is myopic and focused only on the impact this has on his son but his letter is hardly unethical or immoral. You think the father’s letter was bad, you shoud read the moms letter. It gives you an insight into why their son might have turned out the way he did. Tiger moms ain’t got NOTHING on white parents like this, and there are a lot more of them than you think. > [@](#): > > Lawyers operate under a different set of ethics that we as a society have agreed upon; were you unaware of this? First of all, society hasn’t agreed on legal ethics, the legal profession has agreed on legal ethics. Second of all, in what way is a father less obligated to his son than his attorney? [quote] It is possible to plea for mercy without denigrating the person your loved one has already victimized. By dragging this thru the court for a year, where was the entire Turner family’s consideration for the victim? Brock Turner was guilty; instead of accepting his guilt, they’ve done nothing but deflect and deny. /QUOTE] I don’t see the denigration in the letter unless you are saying that almost ignoring her completely is a form of denigration. What moral or ethical obligation does the Turner family have to consider the welfare of the victim during the sentencing phase of the trial? Do they have to bury their loved one under the prison? > [@](#): > > To me, that alone is unethical behavior but perhaps to you, anything at all is fine if it’s done in defense of a loved one, even when that loved one has committed a heinous act No, not “anything at all is fine if it’s done in defense of a loved one” (I don’t recall saying that it was, or were you just beating the shit out of straw men?) but writing a letter (no matter how bad) is almost certainly OK. There are two or three sentences in his letter that offend me but I don’t think that the letter or the act of trying to get your son a lighter sentence is immoral or unethical. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/272 "2016-06-13T18:13:59Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > A notion, it should be noted, promoted by no one in this thread. So, good job refuting that straw man, **DA**! You sure showed 'em! > > :rolleyes: No straw. Just some weird outrage at a father trying to get a lighter sentence for his son. Some of the stuff he says offends my sensibilities but nothing immoral or unethical about it. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/273 "2016-06-13T18:15:52Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > That has to be the most awful, disgusting people collected together that I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about. I feel dirty after all that. And you know, low income trashy people really get their share of vitriol aimed at them, but who knew it could really be a bunch of soulless, rich assholes that were the true despicable scum? I’d rather hang out with the Springer types any day than these vipers-in-hiding, delusional, entitled fuckers any day. I don’t think the parents are rich. The dad works on a military base and the mom seems to be a stay at home mom. This is not the result of having rich parents. This is the result of having white parents. This is an expression of white privilege not an expression of the privilege of wealth. A wealthy black student would be spending years in jail because the judge would only see a defendant rather than someone that they can relate to. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/274 "2016-06-13T18:17:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Your answer lies in the two sentences written just previous to “Cross Stanford off potential schools for my son.” So wait, you would cross Stanford off your list because of the writing ability of a Freshman that was recruited for their swimming team? What next? Cross off the entire Pac 10 and Big 10 and SEC conference because some of their football players can barely spell their names when they are admitted to the school? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/275 "2016-06-13T18:19:50Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Do you have any basis for making such an assertion? My guess is that some people don’t fully understand how much of an advantage whites have in our system. No corruption necessary, just bias. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/276 "2016-06-13T18:28:56Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > So wait, you would cross Stanford off your list because of the writing ability of a Freshman that was recruited for their swimming team? What next? Cross off the entire Pac 10 and Big 10 and SEC conference because some of their football players can barely spell their names when they are admitted to the school? Not a bad idea! ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/277 "2016-06-13T18:35:50Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > She’s a good writer. She does a very good job of humanizing the victims of rape. If this is the letter she wrote to the judge when he handed down that 6 month sentence, it should be exhibit 1 on any attempt to recall him. Indeed. But also, it emphasizes the facts of what was done to her: That she was manhandled in a way that left her bruised, filthy and vulnerable. That she continues to be haunted by the pain of that night. That the victim’s insistence that she consented to her injuries contributes to her trauma. The _victims_ are not the ones who need humanizing. Typically, it’s the defense who tries to humanize the defendent, by giving the jury some way to sympathize with the guilty party. It’s only in rape trials that the victim has to work to earn the jury’s sympathy. As we see here - the judge had no interest in _her_ suffering, even though the jury was unimpressed by Brock Turner’s swim times or Stanford connections. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/278 "2016-06-13T18:36:56Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Why are they not attempting to appeal the sentence? It seems like the kid lied about some stuff. Plus it’s clear he didn’t own his actions, or save the state the cost of a trial, which revictimized the victim in court, etc. Isn’t there even a little wiggle room there? Rights of appeal are created by statute. I asked in a different thread whether prosecutors in the US can appeal against sentence. The answer I got was that the appellate rules for sentence appeals vary from state to state, and that in California, the only right to appeal in a sentencing matter is “imposition of an unlawful sentence.” Here, the sentence was apparently in the range, although at the low end, and therefore would not qualify as an “unlawful sentence.” [Can the District Attorney appeal against sentence in the US?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=795055) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/279 "2016-06-13T18:38:41Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > My guess is that some people don’t fully understand how much of an advantage whites have in our system. No corruption necessary, just bias. It isn’t just being white. Its being white - which does get you more points than the rest - from a well off family, being a “good kid” who gets good grades, being an athlete, being famous, being good looking. All of those things add advantage points - and this kid hit most of the buttons (he’s kind of funny looking and his parents are REALLY wealthy, just well off, nor was he famous - but he gets lots of points for white Stanford athlete.) When our son was in middle school he got caught - with four other boys - with weed. He’s Asian, the other boys were white. He was the only one suspended. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733/280 "2016-06-13T19:25:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > My guess is that some people don’t fully understand how much of an advantage whites have in our system. No corruption necessary, just bias. I understand quite well, especially since it would undoubtably result in a black defendant having the book at him. But just because it’s privilege and bias, doesn’t also mean it can’t be corruption too. One doesn’t preclude the other. And as far as writing that letter goes, perhaps I grew up with a different class of people. No one I know would’ve written a letter that 1) absconds the guilty of responsibility, 2) lies like a dog, and 3) shows no concern whatsoever for the victim. As a white woman’s from a previously lower-middle class life, I definitely would’ve submitted something to a judge on the behalf of my much step-son if he’d have gotten himself in trouble and was facing serious jail time. However, I’d have wanted to make it absolutely clear that he should pay his debt to society, make amends if at all possible and focus on how gravely sorry he would and should be. I’d actually want my kid to take a lesson or four away from his crimes, not just blow the consequences off. My late husband felt the same way, as evidenced by many a teacher-parent conference. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-privileged-white-kid-gets-6-months-for-rape-father-describes-it-as-20-minutes-of-action/756733.md?page=15)