Rapist's Prison Sentence Triggers Outrage

Channel 3 News ^ | 1/5/2005 | Brian Joyce

[DaoPian]

Burlington, Vermont -- January 4, 2005

There was outrage Wednesday when a Vermont judge handed out a 60-day jail sentence to a man who raped a little girl many,many times over a four-year span starting when she was seven.

The judge said he no longer believes in punishment and is more concerned about rehabilitation.

Prosecutors argued that confessed child-rapist Mark Hulett, 34, of Williston deserved at least eight years behind bars for repeatedly raping a littler girl countless times starting when she was seven.

But Judge Edward Cashman disagreed explaining that he no longer believes that punishment works.

"The one message I want to get through is that anger doesn't solve anything. It just corrodes your soul," said Judge Edward Cashman speaking to a packed Burlington courtroom. Most of the on-lookers were related to a young girl who was repeatedly raped by Mark Hulett who was in court to be sentenced.

The sex abuse started when the girl was seven and ended when she was ten. Prosecutors were seeking a sentence of eight to twenty years in prison, in part, as punishment.

"Punishment is a valid purpose," Chittenden Deputy Prosecutor Nicole Andreson argued to Judge Edward Cashman.

"The state recognizes that the court may not agree or subscribe to that method of sentencing but the state does. The state thinks that it is a very important factor for the court to consider," Andreson added.

But Judge Cashman explained that he is more concerned that Hulett receive sex offender treatment as rehabilitation. But under Department of Corrections classification, Hulett is considered a low-risk for re-offense so he does not qualify for in-prison treatment.So the judge sentenced him to just 60 days in prison and then Hulett must complete sex treatment when he gets out or face a possible life sentence.

Judge Cashman also also revealed that he once handed down stiff sentences when he first got on the bench 25 years ago, but he no longer believes in punishment.

"I discovered it accomplishes nothing of value;it doesn't make anything better;it costs us a lot of money; we create a lot of expectation, and we feed on anger,"Cashman explained to the people in the court.

The sentence outraged the victim's family who asked not to be identified.

"I don't like it," the victim's mother,in tears, told Channel 3. "He should pay for what he did to my baby and stop it here. She's not even home with me and he can be home for all this time, and do what he did in my house," she added.

Hulett -- who had been out on bail-- was taken away to start his sentence immediately.

[DaoPian]

Those people across the Lake there must have their brains frozen.

See here too: http://www.thechamplainchannel.com/news/5860407/detail.html

[bkepley]

I guess all the child molesters will move to Vermont when it gets its independence.

[Peach]

This is so outrageous that I almost don't have words.

[Gay State Conservative]

Looking at the pieces of excrement that Vermount (not a typo) sends to DC,how can anyone be surprised by this?

Nauseated? Yes Surprised? No way!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Judge Cashman also also revealed that he once handed down stiff sentences when he first got on the bench 25 years ago, but he no longer believes in punishment.

This man is no longer fit to be a judge. If he no longer believes in punishment then how can he possibly hand out fair and appropriate sentences based on state law? I hope that the prosecutor files and official complaint with both the state's attorney general and supreme court to try and have him removed from the bench. This is simply disgraceful!

[AppyPappy]

They wouldn't find him until the first day of hunting season.

[DTogo]

Too many things to suggest that might get "removed" by the Moderator...

[DaoPian]

It's great when you get a "Judge" that doesn't believe in punishment.

[the OlLine Rebel]

OMG!

"Punishment doesn't work". Yes it does. The problem these days is weeny punishment.

The axiom should be:

TIMELY, SERIOUS, TOUGH PUNISHMENT WORKS

[crazyhorse691]

under Department of Corrections classification, Hulett is considered a low-risk for re-offense

---

I shudder to contemplate what they classify as a high risk.

[the OlLine Rebel]

He doesn't think punishment works.

Did it "work" for the little girl? Hmmmm?

[manglor]

Sexual predators do NOT get rehabilitated. Psychiatrists know this all too well. Molestors are like alcoholics except their drug of choice is molesting children. The temptation will always be there.

[SMARTY]

"The one message I want to get through is that anger doesn't solve anything. It just corrodes your soul," said Judge Edward Cashman speaking to a packed Burlington courtroom.

If this judge believes in a 'soul' then he must believe in God.

Time for the judge to understand that the disposition of the criminal's soul is between the criminal and his God. It is NOT the purview of the judge.

The judge is there to sentence the criminal based on the findings in the law and the decision of the jury.

I bet this judge is not practicing ANY faith and is using the 'idea' of the human soul to have it both ways on this.

[Noumenon]

See my tagline.

Who will rid us of this troublesome judge?

[Lazamataz]

The judge said he no longer believes in punishment and is more concerned about rehabilitation.

So he'll have no desire to punish the guy(s) who string him up, right?

[SMARTY]

I was thinking, IMMEDIATE and ETERNAL punishment.

[Lazamataz]

Activist judges - out of touch, out of tune, but not out of reach

I love you.

[Smokin' Joe]

I shudder to contemplate what they classify as a high risk.

Maybe the guy who doesn't run into the little girl's family reunion the day he gets out of jail....

[NonLinear]

So does that mean that when the mom shoots the rapist, the judge will only give her 90 days?