Man who raped four teenagers gets no jail time, judge says: 'Incarceration isn't appropriate'

The Washington Post via SF Gate ^ | November 17, 2021 | by Timothy Bella

[Oldeconomybuyer]

A New York man who pleaded guilty to rape and sexual abuse for assaulting four teenage girls during parties at his parents' home will not face jail time after a judge on Tuesday sentenced him to eight years probation.

Niagara County Court Judge Matthew Murphy said he "agonized" over the case of 20-year-old Christopher Belter, who was accused of committing the crimes when he was 16 or 17. Belter pleaded guilty in 2019 to a series of felony charges that included third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse, as well as two misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse.

Although Belter faced a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, Murphy concluded that jail time for the man "would be inappropriate" in a ruling that shocked the courtroom.

Steven Cohen, an attorney for one of the victims, denounced the judge's sentencing, saying to reporters on Tuesday, "Justice was not done here." He told The Washington Post on Wednesday that his client, who was joined by some of the other victims in the courtroom, was "deeply disappointed" in the sentencing.

"My client threw up in the ladies room following the sentencing," Cohen said. "If Chris Belter was not a White defendant from a rich and influential family, in my experience . . . he would surely have been sentenced to prison."

Barry Covert, Belter's attorney, declined to comment. After the sentencing was handed down, the defense attorney told reporters that Belter regretted what he did as a teen.

[dangus]

>> “My client threw up in the ladies room following the sentencing,” Cohen said. “If Chris Belter was not a White defendant . . . he would surely have been sentenced to prison.” <<

Wow. This attorney STILL found a way to disgust me.

[LottieDah]

Why isn’t incarceration appropriate? Are they afraid this degenerate monster will be raped in prison?

[Eagles6]

"If Chris Belter was not a White defendant from a rich and influential family, in my experience . . . he would surely have been sentenced to prison."

May well be that he was let off because the family is influencial.

If it was up to me he would be hung.

It's ridiculous to speculate that his "Whiteness" had anything to do with it.

Just look at the rap sheets of black violent offenders.

Sometimes, dozens or hundreds of arrests for violent crimes with no jail time.

[Sequoyah101]

Needs to meet a dead end in a dark alley. A whole lot of them do.

[JerseyDvl]

Man oh man, there are no ramifications for so many scum criminals. The insane criminal justice reform that the leftists have forced on us is what led to this result.
Now, Democrats are pissed off that white people get out of jail too.

[JerseyDvl]

PS- I hope Dexter executes his own brand of vigilante justice.

*Sigh* If only

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Episodes like this judge letting off a serial rapist will cause many rape victims to say “why bother” and not be wilining to report their rape, or will report but refuse to testify.

Thanks Judge Ignoramus.

[John Milner]

Probably just watched Loopy Whoopie Goldberg talk about the difference between “Rape” and “Rape-rape.”

[ronnie raygun]

better safe in a lock up, judge needs to be tarred and feathered

[MarvinStinson]

Niagara County Court Judge Matthew Murphy

[RckyRaCoCo]

The Devil’s Advocate