Sex offender kills himself

Cortez Journal ^ | April 10, 2004 | Katharhynn Heidelberg

[trussell]

April 10, 2004

Sex offender kills himself

By Katharhynn Heidelberg Journal Staff Writer

On Thursday, they said prison was too good a fate for Donald Gosnell, but the family of his sexual-assault victim was reportedly stunned to learn of his suicide Friday.

"They were looking for justice, not this," District Attorney Joe Olt said in District Court Friday, at what was to have been a continued sentencing hearing.

Gosnell, 59, had been charged with 12 felony and misdemeanor counts of sexual assault on three young girls last summer. He pleaded guilty in January to a single charge of sexual assault on a child under 15, a class-4 felony that could have sent him to prison for life.

Family members of the victim said Thursday they wanted to see that - not the prison and probation combination his defense attorney was seeking.

After several others told of alleged abuse by Gosnell that never resulted in charges, Judge Sharon Hansen continued the hearing until 9 a.m. Friday to allow Gosnell's attorney, Kelly McCabe, time to prepare a response. But the hearing was rendered moot after Gosnell fatally shot himself in a shed at his county residence shortly after 6 Friday morning.

At Thursday's hearing, relatives of the victim painted Gosnell as a manipulative predator who "groomed" entire families. "I thought he was our friend," the victim's father said.

An aunt of the girl said Thursday Gosnell was unworthy of mercy and that he'd known his actions were wrong.

"He crept into our lives and, like a cowardly rat, destroyed them," the woman said. "This man has to be stopped. ... This man must go to prison. We must stand together and send a message."

An uncle said he could not understand how Gosnell's friends and family could continue supporting him. "That's like saying this is all right," the man said. "This ain't all right. This ain't all right at all."

McCabe objected to permitting information from alleged past victims because they had nothing to do with the specific charge to which Gosnell had pleaded.

Although Hansen allowed the statements, she said they could have no bearing on Gosnell's sentence.

"I'm absolutely astonished to hear what we've heard," McCabe said.

He said he was astonished that Olt had known about the claims but did not advise him of them in advance of the hearing.

Olt said he hadn't known prior to Wednesday evening who would be speaking at sentencing.

In court Friday, McCabe said that his client had been remorseful and had always admitted culpability for the offense with which he'd been charged. "He decided this was the only way out."

Gosnell's minister, the Rev. Dave Seaford, told the Journal after the grim announcement that Gosnell had changed in the months since his arrest. "He has changed, but no one will see it now," Seaford said.

[trussell]

One less criminal the people have to support!!

[trussell]

Just Damn??

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Problem? I think not.

[dagnabbit]

A lot of taxpayer money saved. Works out best for everyone.

[GailA]

To bad more of them don't follow suit.

hanoi john kerry I'm for the death penalty for terrorist, but I'll declare a moratorium on the death penalty @ the federal level...which means OBL will be housed in a glamor slammer at taxserfs expense forever.

[Illwind]

He shot himself to save his butt!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The world is better off by once less monster.

[wingster]

Sounds like the family's upset or something. I'd be very satisfied with this outcome. Self cleaning gene pool.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The world is better off by one less monster -- Part deux. :O)

[wingster]

Problem solved, eh!

[GeronL]

They should kill themselves before they commit such crimes.

[Bismarck]

A self-made man! This guy didn't need the government to punish him, because he did it himself.

[trussell]

I agree. At least I don't have to worry about this monster hurting my baby girl!!

[Army Air Corps]

"He shot himself to save his butt!"

In more ways than one!

[Atchafalaya]

Sums it up!

[nmh]

Saved time and money. Good riddance.

[fso301]

Good news to start the week with!

[LisaMalia]

Sex offender kills himself

Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! My hope is that more of this ilk would take a page from his book.

[sarasmom]

He did the right thing.IMHO.
Too late for the lives of his young victims, but finally, he did one right thing.
Perhaps he will start a new trend in the pedophile set.
May God grant what mercy, if any, that God feels is warranted.
There are no lawyers,legal technicalities or appeals in the final,ultimate judgement.

[katz]

Bump.