A Montana male teacher Stacey Rambold, 54, was sentenced to just 30 days in jail for raping a 14-year-old student, who later committed suicide.
Judge G. Todd Baugh presiding over the case sentenced former high school teacher Stacey Rambold only 31 days minus the one day he already served because victim Cherice Morales “… seemed older than her chronological age.” Later the judge told CNN that statement was not the best choice of words, adding the crime was “… was not a violent, forcible, beat-the-victim rape, like you see in the movies … but it was nonetheless, a rape and should not have happened.” Prosecutors argued Rambold targeted a troubled young girl and violated his position of trust as a teacher at Billings Senior High School by engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student.
As the case was still pending, victim Cherice Morales committed suicide just before her 17th birthday. Then prosecutors agreed to dismiss the case if Rambold admitted to one count of rape and agreed to enter a three-stage sex offender treatment program. Prosecutors had previously been seeking a 20-year sentence (with 10 years suspended).
To avoid prison have charges dismissed, Rambold agreed to …
Confess to rape
Complete sexual offender treatment
Stay away from children
In December, prosecutors revived the case and re-filed charges after they learned that the teacher had been kicked out of the program for having unsupervised visits with minors. Judge G. Todd Baugh calls Rambold “treatable” and sentenced him only 30 days.
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