Trigger warning: We want to warn you that this article contains text and video that could be disturbing to some readers. We feel that it’s important that the words of the victim not go unheard in this case, even though those words can be heartbreaking to read.
The judge who sentenced convicted rapist Brock Turner to a mere six months in jail has been cleared of misconduct. Following the sentence handed down by Judge Aaron Persky, Turner served only three months in a county jail before being released for “good behavior.”
Brock Turner’s Good Behavior
“Sexual assault” and “good behavior” aren’t terms that usually go hand-in-hand, but in this case, Judge Persky was apparently more impressed by Turner’s status as an Ivy League athlete than by the words of his sexual assault victim.
The young woman read a statement to the court before Turner was sentenced. She addressed Turner directly, describing how she felt following the night he sexually assaulted her behind a dumpster:
“You don’t know me, but you’ve been inside me, and that’s why we’re here today.
When I was finally allowed to use the restroom, I pulled down the hospital pants they had given me, went to pull down my underwear, and felt nothing. I still remember the feeling of my hands touching my skin and grabbing nothing. I looked down and there was nothing. The thin piece of fabric, the only thing between my vagina and anything else, was missing and everything inside me was silenced. I still don’t have words for that feeling. In order to keep breathing, I thought maybe the policemen used scissors to cut them off for evidence…
My brain was talking my gut into not collapsing. Because my gut was saying, help me, help me…
I had multiple swabs inserted into my vagina and anus, needles for shots, pills, had a nikon pointed right into my spread legs. I had long, pointed beaks inside me and had my vagina smeared with cold, blue paint to check for abrasions…
I wanted to take off my body like a jacket and leave it at the hospital with everything else…
One day, I was at work, scrolling through the news on my phone, and came across an article. In it, I read and learned for the first time about how I was found unconscious, with my hair disheveled, long necklace wrapped around my neck, bra pulled out of my dress, dress pulled off over my shoulders and pulled up above my waist, that I was butt naked all the way down to my boots, legs spread apart, and had been penetrated by a foreign object by someone I did not recognize. This was how I learned what happened to me, sitting at my desk reading the news at work.
At the bottom of the article, after I learned about the graphic details of my own sexual assault, the article listed his swimming times. She was found breathing, unresponsive with her underwear six inches away from her bare stomach curled in fetal position. By the way, he’s really good at swimming. Throw in my mile time if that’s what we’re doing. I’m good at cooking, put that in there, I think the end is where you list your extra-curriculars to cancel out all the sickening things that’ve happened.”
No Abuse Of Authority
A jury convicted Brock Turner on three felony sexual assault counts. He was caught in the act on top of the unconscious woman.
After the sentencing, the California Commission on Judicial Performance fielded thousands of complaints from people who believed Judge Persky abused his authority and that Turner’s sentence was far too lenient. Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence Turner to six years in prison for the sexual assault.
Earlier this week, the Commission on Judicial Performance issued a statement about their investigation into Persky’s alleged misconduct:
“The commission has concluded that there is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline.”
Listen to the victim’s entire statement, and tell us whether or not you agree with the Commission’s decision.
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
