Redd Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Case stems from charges involving the fondling of a 6-year-old neighbor PARIS, Texas - A teenager who has profound mental disabilities was sentenced to 100 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges in a sex abuse case involving his 6-year-old neighbor. Aaron Hart, 18, of Paris, was arrested and charged after a neighbor found him fondling her stepson in September. The teen pleaded guilty to five counts, including aggravated sexual assault and indecency by contact, and a jury decided his punishment. Lamar County Judge Eric Clifford decided to stack the sentences against Hart after jurors settled on two five-year terms and three 30-year terms, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday. The judge said neither he nor jurors liked the idea of prison for Hart but they felt there was no other option. "In the state of Texas, there isn't a whole lot you can do with somebody like him," Clifford said. Diagnosed as mentally disabled Hart has an IQ of 47 and was diagnosed as mentally disabled as a child. He never learned to read or write and speaks unsteadily. Despite being a target of bullies, he was courteous, well-behaved and earned money by doing chores for neighbors, supporters said. His parents say he'd never acted out sexually. "He couldn't understand the seriousness of what he did," said his father, Robert Hart. "I never dreamed they would think about sending him to prison. When they said 100 years — it was terror, pure terror, to me." Jurors said they sent the judge notes during deliberations in February, asking about alternatives to prison, but didn't get a clear answer. They believed the judge would order concurrent sentences, jurors said. District Attorney Gary Young said he sympathized with Hart's situation but stands by his decision to prosecute on five counts. Prosecutors commonly pursue several charges for a single incident to see which the jury will support. Diversion program not an option Young said a diversion program was not an option since the law doesn't allow that for serious felonies. "I hope people will remember he committed a violent sexual crime against a little boy," he said. Hart's appellate attorney, David Pearson, said the court-appointed doctor did the bare minimum to assess competency and ran tests geared for mental illness, not mental retardation. He said an appeal will be filed. Saw the story here. Thoughts ES? Does the punishment fit the crime? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PleaseBlitz Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I mean, if he's a danger, then he's a danger and needs to be put somewhere. There should probably be an option other than prison. The Cowboys probably have a roster spot for a mentally handicapped sex offender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 A violent sexual crime? I must have missed something there. I think that is way overboard, 100 years? If its proven he has a mental disability, I'd fit this til the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsngibbs4life Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 While what he did obviously needs to be punished, I can't believe that he understood the severity of what he did. 100 years is ridiculous. I don't know. Something needed to be done, but I dont know about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTSIDER Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Texas is so behind the times. There have to be better alternatives than sending a mentally disturbed young man to prison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckus Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 This is the result when there are no properly run State Mental Health facilities anymore - we just send them to jail. They either have to be born into a wealthy family that can dedicate the time and care need, or they will end up e either homeless on the street with no support structure or in jail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renaissance Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 100 years? I don't think most adults serve that much time for this kind of crime. Also this makes me think of Primal Fear for some reason. Edward Norton scared the **** out of me in that movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTSIDER Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 100 years? I don't think most adults serve that much time for this kind of crime. We're talking about Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renaissance Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 This is the result when there are no properly run State Mental Health facilities anymore - we just send them to jail. They either have to be born into a wealthy family that can dedicate the time and care need, or they will end up e either homeless on the street with no support structure or in jail. Sadly, I think this is the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stophovr6 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 What? No death penalty? So what kind of prison would he be in? Maximum security? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Can't you be mentally deficient and a sociopath? Where else do you send people who touch 6 year olds? He couldn't learn to write or read, how will he not become a danger if he sees no harm in what he did? Would a shorter sentence in prison make him an improved person? (prison doesn't make people better, it's an awful place that you would never send anybody unless they did things like touch little boys). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Lamar County Judge Eric Clifford decided to stack the sentences against Hart after jurors settled on two five-year terms and three 30-year terms, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday. The judge said neither he nor jurors liked the idea of prison for Hart but they felt there was no other option. So, wait...the judge says he did NOT like the idea of sending this guy to prison due to his mental handicap...yet STACKED the sentences instead of making them concurrent, thus giving him a sentence that would be 3 times longer? lol :doh:...Either there's some info missing from the story (like, why he decided to stack the sentences...it only says that he stacked them), or this judge is a complete idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMike619 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 100 years is overkill and probably just meant to send a message to everyone else. its at the expense of this kids life. and the neighbor's all say he was a good kid. it is obvious that he doesnt understand what he did was wrong. he needs help not punishment. he wont learn from prison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACW Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Texas :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Can't you be mentally deficient and a sociopath?Where else do you send people who touch 6 year olds? He couldn't learn to write or read, how will he not become a danger if he sees no harm in what he did? Would a shorter sentence in prison make him an improved person? (prison doesn't make people better, it's an awful place that you would never send anybody unless they did things like touch little boys). Even the judge and jurors said they wanted an alternative to prison...his extremely diminished I.Q. SHOULD play a part in analyzing what exactly happened, and why...and thus what punishment and actions should legally be taken next. A six year old who "fondles" another six year old will not be thrown into prison with a shrug and a comment of "Oh, well, that's what you do with sex offenders"...his age and mental development will cause us to see that six year old differently than a fully developed 25 year old. This guy, from the sounds of it, was nothing more than a six year old in an 18 year old's body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 and the neighbor's all say he was a good kid. David Berkowitz's neighbors loved him as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Even the judge and jurors said they wanted an alternative to prison.. I agree that their should be an alternative to this, but there isn't, so off he goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redd Posted June 11, 2009 Author Share Posted June 11, 2009 Oh Texas. nvm I could be wrong about other states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Oh Texas. In any semi normal state, a person like that would have been sent to a secure and caring place where he can lead a happy, and within his abilities, productive life, if his family isn't able to provide that for him. No lets send the mentally ill person to Prison out of sight, out of mind. Out of curiosity, what would Virgina do with him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techboy Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Either there's some info missing from the story (like, why he decided to stack the sentences...it only says that he stacked them), or this judge is a complete idiot. He could well have done it because he felt his hands were tied with regards to prison, so he made it as extreme as possible to increase the chance that the case would get enough attention that someone (perhaps the governor?) might do something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeman38 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 The reason this sentence is so shocking is because we have become so lenient as a society with sexual predators. This should now become the precedent in sentencing. Touch a little boy inappropriately as a man and you get 100 years. No parole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redd Posted June 11, 2009 Author Share Posted June 11, 2009 Out of curiosity, what would Virgina do with him? Oh I can answer that since I know Virginia crazy very well having to deal with them for my uncle. Give him two weeks in a psyche ward an if he's a THREAT to society put him somewhere he can't hurt people. If they're just crazy give em a ride home or put em out on the streets. edit: if you were in the military you could qualify for the VA an go there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACW Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 The reason this sentence is so shocking is because we have become so lenient as a society with sexual predators. This should now become the precedent in sentencing. Touch a little boy inappropriately as a man and you get 100 years. No parole.:doh: Even if you have the mental capacity of a little boy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 "Fondling" is such a broad term. I don't think this punishment fits this crime at all. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins24 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Mentally disabled, can barely speak, can't read, can't write...How did he plead guilty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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