Rapist Brock Turner may have received a light sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman while attending Stanford University, however, protestors are making it hard for the former decorated swimmer to live a peaceful life outside of prison.
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Turner was released from Santa Clara Jail in California on Friday. The sheriff’s office said Turner received hundreds of pieces of hate mail.
His case exploded into the spotlight when a poignant statement from the victim swept through social media and critics decried the sentence as too lenient. Lawmakers and elected officials stood beside survivors of sexual assault.
The 21-year-old ex-swimmer – who was released from the Santa Clara County Jail on Friday, September 2, after serving less than half of his six-month sentence – has five days to report to Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer’s office in his home state of OH to register as a Tier III sex offender, according to WHIO. The victim said it wasnt fair that Turners loss of his athletic career was taken into consideration when sentencing him.
“How fast Brock swims does not lessen the severity of what happened to me, and should not lessen the severity of his punishment”, the victim said.
Turner was convicted of assaulting the woman near a trash bin after they drank heavily at a fraternity party. One woman yelled “loser” at Turner as he got into the SUV.
Two witnesses said they had seen him sexually assaulting the woman, who was lying on the ground unconscious.
Convicted felon Brock Turner is released from prison on September 2, 2016.
Turner’s case has drawn worldwide attention and condemnation due to his lenient sentence – Turner originally faced up to 14 years behind bars – and for the presiding judge’s apparent bias towards white, affluent offenders. The girl’s attorneys at the time were hoping for a jail term of at least 6 years.
The bill, AB2888, was inspired by the Turner case – but might not have prevented it.
Time’s not mentioning him as a rapist didn’t miss the attention of Twittersphere now either.
Sheriff’s deputies stood nearby as Turner, carrying a paper bag filled with his belongings, walked silently from the jail to a white sports utility vehicle waiting at the curb.
Sexual violence against female students on university campuses in the United States has reached “epidemic levels”, and interventions to reduce it are urgently needed, a study released past year said. OH prison officials earlier this month agreed to take over supervision of Turners probation.
Public criticism of the judge who gave light sentence to Turner also continues. While prosecutors had sought a six-year sentence, Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Turner to six months in the county jail, a move that sparked calls for his resignation and ultimately led to him switching to civil cases.
A well-funded campaign also is underway to recall Persky.
Following backlash and a push for a recall, Persky voluntarily removed himself from hearing criminal cases, starting next week.
Turner must register as a sex offender for life.
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Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer said Turner has five days to register with his office in Xenia, Ohio, 15 miles east of Dayton.
