OUTRAGE! Judge Sentences Serial Rapist of Child to 60 Days Jail Time
Jim Kouri, CPP
January 06, 2006
A Vermont judge sentenced a man who repeatedly raped a 6-year old girl for four years to a jail term of 60 days, shocking the entire city of Burlington.
Mark Hulett, who admitted to repeatedly sexually abused a child over a four-year period, got a slap on the wrist in a Vermont courtroom this week and will be free to walk the streets in as few as 60 days, according to the Burlington Free Press.
He sexually assaulted the girl for years, beginning when she was only 6 until she was 10, according to the prosecutor. The prosecution wanted at least an eight year sentence, and says he could have received life in prison.
However, Corrections Department officials said they were unable to provide psychiatric or psychological treatment to Hulett in jail. Judge Edward Cashman then decided to set the jail term at a minimum of 60 days.
Judge Cashman defended his ruling by saying that without treatment, a long jail term would only harden Hulett and make him more dangerous when he is released. He seemed to feel that decision would keep society safer from this offender's sexual deviancy in the long run.
"This judge has got to go. It's appalling that he's so concerned over the treatment of a sexual predator who sexually assaulted a little girl over and over and over again," says former New York City Police Department sex crimes detective Sid Francis, who now runs a private detective agency.
"The people of Vermont have got to dump this judge. He's dangerous," added the decorated cop.
Numerous studies on rehabilitation of sexual predators -- especially child predators -- strongly suggested that sex offenders very rarely get rehabilitated.
In a previous case, Judge Cashman threw out a drunk driving charge on an alleged technicality, prompting the prosecutors to request such cases not go before Judge Cashman.
Cashman claims punishment doesn't work. But critics say he's supposed to apply the law, not base decisions on his personal views.
Mark Hulett, who admitted to repeatedly sexually abused a child over a four-year period, got a slap on the wrist in a Vermont courtroom this week and will be free to walk the streets in as few as 60 days, according to the Burlington Free Press.
He sexually assaulted the girl for years, beginning when she was only 6 until she was 10, according to the prosecutor. The prosecution wanted at least an eight year sentence, and says he could have received life in prison.
However, Corrections Department officials said they were unable to provide psychiatric or psychological treatment to Hulett in jail. Judge Edward Cashman then decided to set the jail term at a minimum of 60 days.
Judge Cashman defended his ruling by saying that without treatment, a long jail term would only harden Hulett and make him more dangerous when he is released. He seemed to feel that decision would keep society safer from this offender's sexual deviancy in the long run.
"This judge has got to go. It's appalling that he's so concerned over the treatment of a sexual predator who sexually assaulted a little girl over and over and over again," says former New York City Police Department sex crimes detective Sid Francis, who now runs a private detective agency.
"The people of Vermont have got to dump this judge. He's dangerous," added the decorated cop.
Numerous studies on rehabilitation of sexual predators -- especially child predators -- strongly suggested that sex offenders very rarely get rehabilitated.
In a previous case, Judge Cashman threw out a drunk driving charge on an alleged technicality, prompting the prosecutors to request such cases not go before Judge Cashman.
Cashman claims punishment doesn't work. But critics say he's supposed to apply the law, not base decisions on his personal views.
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