Posted on 01/05/2006 7:49:15 AM PST by 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.
Our justice system is not just when there is no justice for the victims. This judge is more concerned with "justice" for the pervert than with justice for the little girl, her family, and society.
He may have to wait in line behind Hannity or Colmes; BOTH of whom went ballistic on this judge on their national show tonight. In fact; Hannity called for his impeachment. As for O'Reilly? Maybe he can do for Vermont what he did for France, since Vermonters seem to embrace this type of nonsensical ideology.
A very delicate remedy. Myself, I ain't no Emily Dickinson, I'd like to 'ave a word with his honor.
;>)
Wrong anger that is unjustified and goes unchecked corrodes the soul. Even Christ felt and expressed his anger. This clown need to be removed from the bench then dis-bared from any future law practice. This so called judge is a menace to a free society.
Someone tell my why rape is no longer a "capitol crime"?
Hopefulle 60 days will be enough time for the other inmates to give him the punishment he deserves.
Hopefulle = Hopefully
Because nothing but murder is - and that only in rare instances!
How do you know this activist Judge Cashman is a democrat?
Any election results for proof?
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