Too Short For Prison

[JDMiller]

Judge rules sex offender is too short for prison


5-foot-1 man gets 10 years probation for sexual assault of a child
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:14 a.m. CT May 25, 2006




SIDNEY, Neb. - A judge said a 5-foot-1 man convicted of sexually assaulting a child was too small to survive in prison, and gave him 10 years of probation instead.
His crimes deserved a long sentence, District Judge Kristine Cecava said, but she worried that Richard W. Thompson, 50, would be especially imperiled by prison dangers.
"You are a sex offender, and you did it to a child," she said.
But, she said, "That doesn't make you a hunter. You do not fit in that category."
Thompson will be electronically monitored the first four months of his probation, and he was told to never be alone with someone under age 18 or date or live with a woman whose children were under 18. Cecava also ordered Thompson to get rid of his pornography.
He faces 30 days of jail each year of his probation unless he follows its conditions closely.
"I want control of you until I know you have integrated change into your life," the judge told Thompson. "I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced."

[buckfever]

I assume the prosecution will appeal.

For a judge to say that prison is too dangerous is not a valid reason to give a defendant a lesser sentence.

That judge needs to be terminated.

[trust me]

If the midget lived next door to the judge and her small children, I bet things would've turned out differently.

She is terribly concerned that Shorty might recieve some of that strong manly lovin', but she is totally oblivious to all the children at risk from him. What an idiot. This one will probably make the Bill O'Reilly show. He likes to showcase moronic judges and track the results of their stupid decisions.

[buckfever]

Here's some more on this case. Interesting that this judge (and I use that term very loosely) only seemed interested in protecting this child molester, not much concern about the young victim.


http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/05/24/nebraska/doc44749250c5b4c263805011.txt

[hillhntr]

Since when was there a height requirement for serving time?

[corndogggy]

I agree that I think that reasoning is lunacy, but at the same time, we probably ought to question our prison punishment system if a 5'1" inmate probably could not survive. Some of the stuff that knowingly goes on in prison is quite simply "cruel and unusual punishment" as far as I'm concerned. The idea is to take an inmate's freedom away and keep them out of society. The beatings and rapes and stabbings and all the other crazy mess goes well beyond that idea in my opinion.

[Bruttus]

This will send the wrong message. If your 5'1" or under you can do whatever you want and not be imprisioned.

[Auk1124]

I dunno about the logic behind this, I've saw some short people that were mean as snakes. My grandma wasn't much taller than that and I believe she could have whipped Mike Tyson.

[lab]

I agree that I think that reasoning is lunacy, but at the same time, we probably ought to question our prison punishment system if a 5'1" inmate probably could not survive. Some of the stuff that knowingly goes on in prison is quite simply "cruel and unusual punishment" as far as I'm concerned. The idea is to take an inmate's freedom away and keep them out of society. The beatings and rapes and stabbings and all the other crazy mess goes well beyond that idea in my opinion.

Think about it though. If you take all of the bad, law breaking people of this country and put them in one area, is that going to make them peaceful. Of course not. What do you think the percentage is of repeat offenders that do the time, and as soon as they get out, they are back at doing what they were in prison for? I am going to guess pretty high. Some of these people know no other way. They are what they are and there is no changing that.

As for the guy in question, he did the crime. He should do the time. There is no excuse for what he did and he should serve the sentence for his actions. Too short?:confused: Is there a sign at the prison gate that says you have to be this tall to enter? I don't think so. Make him serve his time. If they "have their way with him", it might make him think twice before even looking at a young girl again.

[corndogggy]

Think about it though. If you take all of the bad, law breaking people of this country and put them in one area, is that going to make them peaceful. Of course not. What do you think the percentage is of repeat offenders that do the time, and as soon as they get out, they are back at doing what they were in prison for? I am going to guess pretty high. Some of these people know no other way. They are what they are and there is no changing that.

Yeah but it just seems like we look the other way on stuff that goes on while inside of prison. There is not much we do to escalate the punishment for people who do bad stuff when already in prison. I just have a hard time believing that it's morally right knowing that pretty much all of the weaker folks and even alot of the folks except for the most badass guy out there is going to be violently assaulted and/or violently raped, probably multiple times. When is the last time you ever heard of a case of a prisoner getting charged for a rape that occurred while he was already in prison? I can't say I ever have, yet it happens all the time. I'm sure if you look on google hard enough you can find something.

[corndogggy]

http://www.nospank.net/rape2.htm

290,000 rapes (probably violent) of men behind bars every year.

135,000 rapes of women nation wide every year.

Something's wrong.

[buckfever]

Yeah but it just seems like we look the other way on stuff that goes on while inside of prison. There is not much we do to escalate the punishment for people who do bad stuff when already in prison. I just have a hard time believing that it's morally right knowing that pretty much all of the weaker folks and even alot of the folks except for the most badass guy out there is going to be violently assaulted and/or violently raped, probably multiple times. When is the last time you ever heard of a case of a prisoner getting charged for a rape that occurred while he was already in prison? I can't say I ever have, yet it happens all the time. I'm sure if you look on google hard enough you can find something.

I'm sure that prison's no fun. I agree that prisoners shouldn't be subjected to free for all rape and physical assaults, but, as Lab points out, stuff is gonna happen when you house thousands of violent felons under the same roof, and taxpayers shouldn't be saddled with the burden of paying more taxes to absolultely guarantee that no harm ever comes to Johnny Child-Molestor.


As far as I can tell, the potential for being your cellmates "wife" for the next 10 years would be a pretty strong deterrent. At least for me anyway.

By the way, this Judge's disdain for prisons is obviously so profound that she'd rather sentence them to death that spend time in the clinker. . . .
http://www.prisonpotpourri.com/COURTSandCASES/CNN_com%20-%20Man%20gets%20death%20for%205%20murders%20in%20b ank%20robbery%20-%20Nov%2011,%202004.html

[trust me]

1. . What do you think the percentage is of repeat offenders that do the time, and as soon as they get out, they are back at doing what they were in prison for? I am going to guess pretty high.

2. If they "have their way with him", it might make him think twice before even looking at a young girl again.


1. The word is "recidivism" and yes, it is extremely high.

2. It doesn't work that way. Most molesters were molested themselves as a child, and it can make them the way they are. In their world, that is how it works; the bigger and stronger have sex with you, and you, in turn, find the smaller and weaker and have sex with them. It's the way they are wired, and prison or some of their own medicine doesn't change them.

For what it is worth, child molesters are the lowest dregs of prison society and they get an especially awful welcome.

[keith meador]

i still cant figure out the "it doesnt make you a hunter" statement.......

[Willie]

Maybe the judge needs one of these signs..

http://www.saferparks.org/kids_club/images/kc_cartoons/find_ride_that_fits_sm.gif

[Pooge]

i still cant figure out the "it doesnt make you a hunter" statement.......

Has nothing to do with "Hunting" as we refer to it on this site.... Maybe a more appropriate term is "Predator" i.e. actively seeking out victims....


Oh, and Willie... LOL!!!!!!

[kyfanatic]

The problem I see with some of your logics is you CANNOT differenciate between Non-Violent and Violent offenders.I have NO sympathy for a sex offender and especially not for a child molester.By the same token some of you hear the word Felon and think all with that title should be locked away forever,enduring whatever is handed to them regardless of how cruel or unusual it is.
Example = an Insurance salesman here in Kentucky who had a wife and 4 children,the only crime he ever commited in 45 years was that he had a drinking problem and got 3 DUI's in less than the allotted time period and was sent to prison for 5 years.This is fine and dandy except they placed this person in a cell with a convicted murderer (serial killer) who had a life sentence with no possibility of parole,a Murderer who had already killed two people in prison,needless to say he killed the Insurance salesman also.I guess you guys can justify that in your mind?
Or how about the 19 year old boy from Pendleton County who was arrested in Grant County for speeding (the only violation he ever had) and was placed in a cell in Grant County jail with 8 hardened criminals by deputy jailer who stated "fresh meat boys,have fun" and the youngster was repeadedly raped .
Guess anybody who ends up in a cell deserves whatever happens right?

[trust me]

KyFanatic,
I've searched every post on this thread and I can't find where anybody said that non-violent offenders deserved that kind of treatment. The "he deserved it" kind of posts all were directed at the 5'1" child molester.

Yes there're plenty of cases where non-violent offenders suffer at the hands of the hardened criminals; I'm sure some innocent people that were wrongly convicted have suffered as well. But that isn't the topic here.

[gwhilikerz]

I have a cousin who has been in and out of pens for many years. He always does something when he is released that gets him sent back, says he can't take life on the outside. He was released one time when it was decided that since his crimes were the non-violent type he could be freed early. Two weeks after release he held up a convenience store, kidnapped the clerk and carried her across the state line back into Ky. Seems he had been incarcerated in every state around Ky and liked Eddyville best. He reasoned that even though his crime started out of state if they caught him in KY he would do time here. Wrong. Well he learned his lesson. Now he only does crimes in Ky when released.

[corndogggy]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art3/0525062shorty1.jpg

[lab]

There are also several people who have died due to the poor decisions made by a panel of jurors. Do I agree with that? Not in the least. I was simply stating that if this guy did get made someone's play toy while behind bars, it served him right. The sick, twisted individuals that have committed sex crimes at the fate of a young child have no place in my heart. This criminal needs to serve his time just like a 6'4" guy who committed a crime of equal severity. He should get no special treatment because he is "vertically challenged". If nothing else, you would think that it would be easier for him to hide from the inmates that pursue him.:D

[Xi Bowhunter]

I assume the prosecution will appeal.

For a judge to say that prison is too dangerous is not a valid reason to give a defendant a lesser sentence.

That judge needs to be terminated.

My thoughts exactly.

[corndogggy]

"Short People"
by Randy Newman


Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
`Round here

Short People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's A Wonderful World)

Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick 'em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
'Round here

:D

[KY_Fried]

If they're not going to lock him up they should at least have him castrated by a rabid pit bull.

[Multidigits]

Might be where they coined the phrase "short timer"???

[trust me]

Might be where they coined the phrase "short timer"???

I'm disappointed i didn't think of that one myself.:D

[ksp771]

WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!! THAT CHILD WILL BE CARRYING AROUND WHAT THAT FREAK DID TO THEM THE REST OF THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL LIVES. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE RULING THE POOR EXCUSE FOR A JUDGE IS OVER TURNED AND THAT MAN IS SENT IN JAIL TO PAY BACK WHAT HE HAS DONE TO A CHILD. MAYBE IF HE IS SENT TO PRISON HE WILL KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE!

Judge rules sex offender is too short for prison


5-foot-1 man gets 10 years probation for sexual assault of a child
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:14 a.m. CT May 25, 2006




SIDNEY, Neb. - A judge said a 5-foot-1 man convicted of sexually assaulting a child was too small to survive in prison, and gave him 10 years of probation instead.
His crimes deserved a long sentence, District Judge Kristine Cecava said, but she worried that Richard W. Thompson, 50, would be especially imperiled by prison dangers.
"You are a sex offender, and you did it to a child," she said.
But, she said, "That doesn't make you a hunter. You do not fit in that category."
Thompson will be electronically monitored the first four months of his probation, and he was told to never be alone with someone under age 18 or date or live with a woman whose children were under 18. Cecava also ordered Thompson to get rid of his pornography.
He faces 30 days of jail each year of his probation unless he follows its conditions closely.
"I want control of you until I know you have integrated change into your life," the judge told Thompson. "I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced."

[Carl]

have their nads removed. Anyone that doesn't agree with me should have their's removed also.;)

[Multidigits]

have their nads removed. Anyone that doesn't agree with me should have their's removed also.;)

That's all we need....a bunch of 5 footers running around with no balls??? :confused:

[kyfanatic]

That's all we need....a bunch of 5 footers running around with no balls??? :confused:

Minature eunichs?

[corndogggy]

Charlie Daniels had this stuff figured out a long time ago, we should have listened.

As far as I'm concerned there ain't no excuse
For the raping and the killing and the child abuse
And I've got a way to put an end to all that mess

Just take them rascals out in the swamp
Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump
Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest
-- Charlie Daniels, "Simple Man"