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Do I get to vote on this dude's job?
This is a case that just went to court in my area. While the crimes are horrible what I am upset about is the DA's offer of 20 years to the guy. This is the same DA who offerred the perpetrator in my girlie's case a very short plea agreement as well. I fought for him to be given a much longer sentence despite the plea agreement (same judge so I have hope she will fry this bastard too) and was able to secure his incarceration for most of his life.
I understand that often DA's offer good pleas so that kids don't have to testify but is that for the victim's comfort or their own. I figure griling a kid about being raped can't be a fun job. I just think he's too soft. Any thoughts on plea bargains and what crimes deserve what type of sentencing? Should DAs go soft to avoid the trauma of testifying?
The story:
Man found guilty of 88 sex crimes
By Chitra Subramanyam
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
After deliberating for a little more than two hours, a six-member jury Friday found Richard Rightmire guilty of 88 sex crimes.
He was found guilty of intent to promote child pornography, promoting sexual performance by a child, lewd or lascivious battery, sexual activity with a 16- or 17-year-old, contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child, and failure to appear. Leon County Circuit Judge Kathleen Dekker earlier dismissed two charges because they were "no longer an issue." The status hearing for Rightmire's sentencing has been set for Sept. 18.
Rightmire took the stand against the advice of his attorney Alex Morris earlier in the day. He initially filed a plea of not guilty after his arrest in May 2005, but Friday he admitted he had oral sex with the girl when she was 15. He said he had sexual intercourse with her after she turned 16. Having sex with a minor under the age of 16 carries a stiffer criminal penalty. Rightmire was the family's neighbor for many years.
Frank Allman, assistant state attorney, questioned Rightmire's capabilities to remember the exact date he had sex with the girl. Rightmire said he remembered because, "At my age it is a rare opportunity to have sex with a young lady."
The girl, who is now 17, and her mother testified Thursday.
Rightmire admitted taking the girl's photographs, but after she asked him, he said. He said he had given the girl 15 or more photographs. The prosecution Thursday submitted 75 photographs as evidence.
"Her face was phenomenal. ... That was the best part of all the pictures," he said, adding that her body was irrelevant.
During cross-examination, he said he took other sexually explicit pictures of the girl. He said she wanted copies to show her boyfriend. Rightmire said that the girl had asked him to post the pictures on the Internet, but that he refused. He also said that he gave her a sexual device after she asked him.
When Allman asked Rightmire about his relationship with the girl - whether he saw himself as a father figure or an uncle, Rightmire said, "Not a father figure, just a friend ... maybe an uncle."
Rightmire was also accused of escaping to Canada during Hurricane Dennis in July 2005.
Morris asked him why he fled, and Rightmire told the court he was on his way to his daughter's home and stopped on the way. He said he "went to the woods to relieve myself." There, he said he slipped and broke the band of the GPS bracelet he was wearing. "I panicked and took off," he said.
During his closing arguments, Morris told the jury that since Rightmire had taken the stand and admitted to three instances of sexual intercourse with the victim, it was possible that that was the "most credible evidence." But Allman called Rightmire's admissions "damage control."
"He saw a blitz coming and threw a Hail Mary pass," he said.
After the verdict, Morris said that Rightmire was initially offered a plea of 20 years but decided not to take it.
"He wanted to evaluate the length of the sentence offered versus his age and then decided to go with the trial," Morris said. Rightmire could now face a life sentence.
"I wasn't as surprised that he took the stand as him admitting that he had sex with the victim. It is very rare," said Frank Allman, assistant state attorney.
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