Posted on 08/08/2007 9:53:14 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
To the dismay of his victim, a man convicted last year of sexually assaulting a University of Virginia classmate in 1984 is scheduled to get out of jail after serving only six months of an 18-month sentence.
William N. Beebe, 42, pleaded guilty in November to one charge of aggravated sexually battery and was sentenced in March to 10 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended.
Beebe’s projected release date is now Sept. 17, according to Virginia Department of Corrections records.
News of the impending release shocked and angered his victim, 40-year-old Liz Seccuro of Greenwich, Conn.“I never thought I’d be looking over my shoulder so soon,” Seccuro wrote in an e-mail Tuesday.
Beebe was charged last year with raping Seccuro at a UVa fraternity party in 1984, when both were students at the school.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailyprogress.com ...
Update on Seccuro rape case ping.
The crime was committed in 1984? And the conviction was
in 2005?
Whetever happened to the statute of limitations?
MV
Virginia has no statute of limitations for felonies.
He wrote her and apologized for raping her and that was used to convict him.
I actually see, for some crimes, a statute of limitations as
a good thing. Something in the same vein of “its better
to let 10 guilty men go free rather than to convict one innocent man.”
The state could use this to go witch-hunting.
If that is the case, it only underscores the ‘admit nothing’
mantra.
MV
I have a hard time with it. Ok, punishment. but this “looking over her shoulder” stuff is CRAP. He date raped her. He never stalked her again, he apologized in a letter and she said aha! I’ve got him. Now I see her point, yet ....
I don’t know. I just think she’s had her say and now should stay out of it.
Is that horrible of me????
OTOH, you could look at it as this guy was dumb enuf to write it down;
thus, he deserved to get convicted.
She got her justice so now it is over.
Perhaps the judge and the parole board also wondered why
there was no statue of limitations in this case. This is not the case
of the MMoxley murder by MSkakel.
It was a date rape? Now I really see this as giving the state carte
blanche to go witch-hunting!
And yes! You are horrible! :)
MV
So in your opinion it is alright to rape someone if you only do it once and then appologize? I bet there are a ton of women out there who don't agree with that thinking. She had her say and she should stay out of it? She no longer counts as a victim and shouldn't worry about this guy taking revenge on her? I would say you are not horrible, just being a basic liberal in your thinking.
I don't know. I just think she's had her say and now should stay out of it.
Is that horrible of me????
This is a weird case because of the long delay, the apology of the rapist, and the circumstances under which all of this happened.
Since there is no question about the guy's guilt (which is one of the reasons statutes of limitations exist in the first place), I really don't see that there should be any difference in punishment because of the time lag.
Suppose instead of in 1984, he had raped her in 2006 and then confessed? Would 18 months really have been a suitable sentence?
Regarding the woman now staying out of it, no, I don't think so. Victim involvement in the release process is a good thing. Maybe this guy is a low risk of re-offense, but shutting her out of even commenting seems insensitive.
Neither his words or the facts support your "accusation." This guy came forward, was charged, convicted, served time. Your outrage is contrived, and therefore very...liberal.
"I bet there are a ton of women out there who don't agree with that thinking. She had her say and she should stay out of it? She no longer counts as a victim and shouldn't worry about this guy taking revenge on her?
It really doesn't matter how many women or people agree, or not...she got her justice, and punishing him more isn't a moral imperative, however much you or she would like to frame it as such. While I wouldn't say she's no longer a victim, I think it's a fair question whether she's worn the cloak of victimhood long enough.
This is America, and she can say what she wants...it's a question of whether it's appropriate. And as far as revenge...she's gotten her justice, he's paid his debt. He's been living clean for 20 years, and this only became an issue because he came forward, and confessed to something she wasn't really even sure happened. While there's some change of revenge seeking, I'd say it's so minimal as to be irrelevant.
I would say you are not horrible, just being a basic liberal in your thinking...
I think your display of hysterical hyperbole makes you less than a credible accuser.
I know. Everything you say makes sense, except for the victim involvement. I tend to think of her part being bringing this to justice. Now step back and let the wheels grind.
I think that maybe letting the victim decide the punishment is too “iffy” Some would get off, some would be put to death for accidents.
And again, her hysterical “looking over my shoulder” crap is crap. She has not had to thus far, why should she now?
But then I do expect rapists to serve more than 18 months.
I don’t know. I just don’t know.
I might be. I don’t want to be. It just seems that she’s being overly involved in this process and i think it should be unemotional.
I know that my response is not popular. I might even change my mind, I’m not even positive of my stance myself.
Thanks for your answer.
“And yes! You are horrible! :)”
Gee thanks, I feel better now.
(can we laugh on this thread?? I feel guilty for doing that!!!)
No, you can’t laugh.
But if you feel guilty and seek absolution, feel free to do so
via the written word. I promise not to turn it over to the
authorities for prosecution....as long as there is a statute
of limitations.
MV
You get no disagreement from me there. My only feeling is that allowing victims to make statements to the relevant review boards helps them (i.e., the victims) with their recovery.
But then I do expect rapists to serve more than 18 months.
Hoo-boy, me too. I reread the original article. The sentence was 10 years with all but 18 months suspended. That seems awful light to me.
I don't know. I just don't know.
I can sympathize as well. It's a weird case.
Oh, and by the way, I don't think you're a horrible person. ;-)
I don’t either. Don’t worry, I don’t let strangers define me. I just wasn’t sure of my own opinion and was using this forum to work it out in my own mind.
Thanks though.
Oh no, I like that tagline.
Consider me permanently trying to do better next time. :D
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