A ruling by a Texas judge has brought national attention to how the law views rape on minors. Telling The Dallas Morning News, judge Jeanine Howard said she based her decision on handing down a 45-day probation sentence on 20 year-old Sir Young on the victim's medical records. She told the newspaper that the medical records did not indicate an innocent girl, referring to her already given birth and having three sexual partners aside from the rape.
Chief prosecutor Andrea Moseley for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office said about the sentencing, "We're certainly concerned about the message that's being sent to victims of sexual assault. We expect that our victims will be protected and that their reputations will be protected and that they will feel safe in coming forward and reporting these crimes."
Another critic voiced his concern over the type of punishment Howard has handed out to Young. Young was a schoolmate of the victim when the rape had happened in 2011. Young was to serve 250 hours of community service at a rape crisis center, CNN said. Later, the center has voiced its concern and stated that Young was not welcomed in the facility.
Telling CNN affiliate WFAA Bobbie Villareal, director of the Dallas Rape Crisis Center said, "Just having a criminal defendant in the office could be a triggering effect for many of our clients."
Scottie Allen, Young's defense attorney, has maintained his client's innocence and told CNN that the sentence was fair and appropriate given the circumstances of the rape. Moreover, he also sided with Howard's earlier statement that his client was not a normal sex offender, and that the rape was consensual to a point that the victim had pleaded Young to stop.
CNN said a new judge is tasked to oversee the case, which includes a motion filed by prosecutors in order to add more restrictive requirements on the defendant's probation.
