Montana Judge to Re-Sentence Convicted Rapist Stacey Rambold
After much public outrage, a Montana judge has agreed to re-sentence convicted rapist Stacey Rambold. The news came from Judge G. Todd Baugh, who initially sentenced Rambold to 30 days in jail for violating a plea deal.
"We believe that the sentence Judge Baugh imposed on Stacey Rambold is illegal," Attorney General Tim Fox told The Washington Post. "Using the means provided by state law, we are appealing his sentence and working diligently to ensure that justice is served."
Rambold's light sentence enraged the victim's family and the public at large. People demonstrated to show their ire and petitions were circulated, calling for Judge Baugh to resentence Rambold or step down from the bench. Baugh was also under fire for making inappropriate comments about the young victim, Cherice Moralez.
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"Mrs. Hanlon," Cherice's mother, "was horribly disappointed with the 30-day sentence and was, frankly, quite shocked," said her attorney Shane Colton. "She's pleased that the county attorney's office and attorney general's office understands that the most significant date to be considered in this sentencing is Cherice's birthday. She was 14."
"Certainly, Auliea will want to try and attend, but it's been a pretty overwhelming week already," Colton added. "She'll have to decide whether she can do that again." She "continues to appreciate the support from the community and from folks all across the nation," he said.
Rambold, who has begun serving his 30-day sentence, will be back in court tomorrow, Sept. 6, for re-sentencing. According to Judge Baugh, the minimum sentence "appears to be two years," which would be considerably longer than the original 30-day sentence.
Moralez, who was 14 when the rape occurred, killed herself just shy of her 17th birthday. Her parents believe that a lack of justice in the case against her teacher, and rapist, Rambold, added a great deal of stress and anxiety to the teen's life.
At the original sentencing, Baugh said that Moralez seemed "older than her chronological age" and was "as much in control of the situation" as her rapist. He has since apologized for the comments, but that has not done much to stop the calls for his resignation. One petition has 47,000 signatures and continues to grow.
