Man Sentenced For Rape Despite Girl's Recantation

CBS2CHICAGO ^ | 02-25-2006 | AP

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

(AP) WAUKEGAN, Ill. A man convicted of molesting a 14-year-old girl even though the victim repeatedly recanted her allegation has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The 14-year-old girl Geoffrey Donehey was found guilty of raping testified in his defense Friday, telling Associate Judge George Bridges she made up the story about her sexual encounter with Donehey.

"It is a story I made up," the girl said. "And I have been writing stories I make up -- horror stories, sex stories, you name it -- since I was 3 years old."

She made similar statements from the witness stand during Donehey's trial in October and in letters to the Wauconda man's defense attorney. But Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue said the jury chose to believe her original statement to police.

LaRue said the girl told police Donehey had been drinking heavily last April 5 when he raped her inside her mother's home.

When Donehey was arrested in May, the girl changed her story, saying she actually had had sex with a boy her own age.

Donehey had served time in prison previously for robbery, armed robbery and aggravated battery, which led to a stiffer sentence on Friday.

He denied raping the girl in a statement.

"My background is the reason I am here," he said. "I did my time, and I am going back to prison now for something I did not do."

[Old Sarge]

Facts don't matter - it's the seriousness of the charge...

This kid has learned a valueable life lesson: Lie, and you can put a man in jail.

We've just seen the birth of a journalist.

[My2Cents]

The article makes no reference to other evidence presented during the trial...like, perhaps, medical evidence which would have shown she was raped. This is a poor article because it implies that the defendent was wrongly accused, without presenting other evidence that may have pointed his guilt, and which made the judge and jury conclude that the girl is now lying.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Well said

[A CA Guy]

I don't get this unless there is DNA showing her current story is the lie.

[Krankor]

"And I have been writing stories I make up -- horror stories, sex stories, you name it -- since I was 3 years old.".
Gee, you don't think maybe her mother had somethin' to do with her changing her story.

[My2Cents]

Precisely. A DA isn't likely to go ahead with a prosecution if it's just based on "he said/she said." There must be more evidence than simply her accusation.

[Pikachu_Dad]

WRONG.

People are convicted of an accusation all the time.

Go look at the project innocence web sites to see the folks getting off when the DNA evidence is finally looked into.

[bill1952]

Bingo. This is often the case from the leftist, "blame society" folks to whom every conviction is highly suspect and in need of reversal.

Nobody bothers to address the fact that serious omissions of fact are present or that society itself is endangered by this mindset.

We do not need a million OJs running around.

If the judge and the jury and the prosecutor all chose to also look at the other evidence, of which I am sure that is is a LARGE amount, then the proper question would be; why?

Perhaps the girl is not a credible witness and the physical evidence trumps her testimony. - Perhaps she is "challenged."
Not mentioned and we don't know.

That being said, Sarge is correct in his line of thinking that it is supremely easy to send a male to jail for a very long time on very little.

What about the law in some states that has put away males for not stopping in the middle of a sex act if the girl changes her mind?

To me, that is the feminist agenda: Gelding the American male.

While it may seem that I have just jumped on both sides of the issue, my point is that it is a complex issue and therefore one that is easy to slant with typical leftist half truths and rhetoric to further their "agenda for change." -think

[My2Cents]

People are convicted of an accusation all the time.

[jocon307]

Yes, really. I agree with you, what other evidence was there? You'd think DNA could easily answer this, unless the issue is "consent" and maybe this falls under "statutory rape". In any event this gal has just made herself out to be the liar who tells you "I'm lying".

[Paul C. Jesup]

Bingo. This is often the case from the leftist, "blame society" folks to whom every conviction is highly suspect and in need of reversal.

And don't forget Bill O'reilly.

[Paul C. Jesup]

It's not a hyperbole since it's true.

I remember those witch-hunt childrape trials in the mid 80's that railroaded a lot of innocent people.

But people who push for a police-state never think about the innocent that the state condemns, they think only of how to turn the country into more of a prison for everyone.

[festus]

"And I have been writing stories I make up -- horror stories, sex stories, you name it -- since I was 3 years old."

Um. Wow. Writing since she was three years old ?

[Tribune7]

I think there is something missing in this story. Was there any physical evidence? A DNA match?

[Focus1]

I want to let u know that there was no other evidence but a statement the judge even said because of his past he got convicted.