Posted on 01/05/2006 2:26:58 PM PST by Rodney King
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.
Brian Joyce - Channel 3 News
If is does not work it still keeps them off the streets. This Judge needs to be removed.
Baseball bat time for both the perp and the judge.
And no crowd has surrounded the courthouse? Sorry, but that is what's missing. We tolerate this type of mental illness quietly.
Funny how that works: I suspect a lot of people no longer believe in paying Judge Cashman's salary anymore.
"justice" for a rapist?
Where is the justice for the little girl?
Where is justice for the rest of us who are subjected to this pervert out loose among us?
If someone ever even tried this sh!t with my girls, they'd be begging to be put in jail before I was done with him. He wouldn't have anything left to use to rape anyone else.
Probably none, actually. Pedophiles already know about harsh sentences, but their impulses are stronger than any deterrent (and maybe even strengthened by the taboo).
The only "cure" for pedophiles is to remove them from society forever.
If this judge survives this, then our society is beyond redemption. When we can no longer rely on the judicial system for justice, justice will become the domain of the armed and willing.
Does this judge not understand the concept of when you feel your values will not let you do what a job calls for you RESIGN? I could for example see a judge who objects to the death penalty, but either follows the law or resigns.
I have heard of jury nullification, but judge nullification?
I guess this judge is one of Levin's MIB who thinks he is so superior his job is to enforce his views not the law?
Why was mom not in the home? Where was she? Why was he in the home? Why is he still in the home? Was he alone with the girl, or what? Where's dad in all this? 2) Judge should be tarred and feathered,and run out of town on a rail. If, as he says, punishment doesn't work then why even give him 60 days? Here's hoping Bubba gives him a very memorable stay.
Other prisoners might take care of him actually.
Remember, this is the state that elected Howard Dean as its Governor. Seems to fit.
Whoa....my inlaws live in Williston and have a 1 year old daughter. They are also the kind of liberals who support judges like this. It will be interesting to hear their take on this mutant scum and the wrist-slapper who let him skate. Disgusting.
Somebody ought to spirit the judge off to the joint, arrange a "football party" where he goes from "tight end" to "wide receiver", and then sentence the dudes to rehab - at the judge's house.
Lets do the judge first...
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