[floriduh voter]

Judge Rapkin had a decision to make re: coke charges last year. FIVE YEARS or rehab? Judge Rapkin chose rehab for scumbag predator Smith. Why didn't Judge Rapkin look at ANY of the prior arrests back when he gave the predator rehab? Rapkin is a bleeding heart judge worried about the criminal's rights. JUDGE RAPKIN MADE A BAD DECISION BACK THEN. All that followed would be moot because the killer would have been serving the remaining FOUR years of his five year sentence and CARLIE WOULD BE ALIVE.

[floriduh voter]

REOCCURRING THEME IN FLORIDA: Violence against women. Indifference to violence again women. Comments?

[NautiNurse]

Why didn't Judge Rapkin look at ANY of the prior arrests back when he gave the predator rehab?

lol--he didn't even look at the offender. That's been one of his excuses. He never ever saw the perp. Just pushed the paper across his desk. Bet he saw the golf course though.

[longtermmemmory]

Did the judge choose or was that the offer from the state attorney and did the defendant accept? (probably had a public defender lawyer) Generally the SA makes the offers, the judge does not enter the plea fray.

What was the maximum scoreable sentence under the FL sentencing guidelines? Drug charges as a user are different than beating up other people. His kidnapping case went to trial. There was 8 years distance from his only other case regarding violence.

You are right if he had locked this guy up Carlie would be alive. Of course this assumes that locking this guy up for five years would have prevented him killing someone else when he go out.

I am just saying hindsight is 20/20. It is easy to blame the judge when in fact there is more than one party in the courtroom and when the judge has sentencing guidlines they have to obey. (for example the offer of treatment in lieu of jail may not be discretionary. The SA or Judge may have been required to make it in User cases. I don't know the specifics of his case.)