Dozens of people gathered across from the Main Jail in San Jose where they heard from federal, state and local officials who believe Judge Aaron Persky was biased in serving a light six-month sentence for 21-year-old Brock Turner in a case that has received global attention.
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Convicted sex offender Brock Turner had some trouble remembering how to use a door when he was released from jail Friday.
Now that he’s out of jail, Turner, now 21, must complete three years of probation and register as a sex offender.
What does being a registered sex offender entail?
Brock Turner leaves the Santa Clara County Main Jail on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 n San Jose, Calif. Turner was released after serving 3 months of his 6 month sentence for the sexual assault of an unconscious woman in January of 2015.
A jury in March found Turner guilty of three felony sexual assault counts.
In California county jails, it is not uncommon for inmates to serve half of their sentences if well-behaved, according to the Associated Press.
Critics argue the sentence minimized sexual assault on college campuses and called attention to inequality in the courts. The brevity of Turner’s sentence triggered outrage against the judge and controversy over how the justice system treats sexual assault survivors.
Smith said she believed Turner’s sentence was too light.
Persky is not allowed to comment on the Turner case, as the Mercury News pointed out, because the case will be active until Turner serves three years on probation, starting with his Friday jail release.
‘In our opinion, Judge Persky is biased and should not be on the bench’.
California passed a stiffer sexual assault bill Monday that would trigger mandatory prison sentences for the same crime that Turner committed.
Turner’s lenient sentence created a firestorm of criticism for Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who cited Turner’s lack of a criminal history and young age.
“Rape is Rape, and rapists like Brock Turner shouldn’t be let off with a slap on the wrist”, Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Silicon Valley, said in a statement. If he waits longer than 72 hours, he’s required to meet with his probation officer here, since he’ll be on probation for the next three years.
“We’re done with him; he’s gone; he should be in prison right now”, Smith told reporters after Turner was released. A scheduled rally organized by the campaign to recall the judge that sentenced Turner, Aaron Persky, is set to start at 10 a.m.
Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer said Turner has five days to register with his office in Xenia, Ohio, 15 miles east of Dayton.
As part of the program, Turner must submit to polygraph tests. The bill is awaiting California Governor Jerry Brown’s approval and signature.
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Turner’s neighbours will receive postcards from the sheriff’s office to inform them that a sex offender is living nearby, and his name, address and photo will remain publicly available on the state’s online sex offender registry. Wollack said the appeals court has not yet received the trial record, “so we are still very early in the process at this time”.
