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Is the punishment long enough?

StealthSpeed3

Charge THIS!!
after reading this story in the star trib i don't think that the guy's punishment is long enough, nor does it suit the crime. Raping kids is something that requires a more serious action to be taken IMO. Whos to say that when he gets out he will do it again to someone else's kids, not to mention possibly looking up the girls and committing a more serious crime.

Girls' rapes draw 24 years in prison

July 23, 2008

A Champlin man found guilty of raping two girls 4 and 6 was sentenced to 24 years in prison in Hennepin County District Court on Wednesday.

Kenneth Atkinson, 36, will also have to register as a sexual offender.

"Both of my girls still have nightmares of Mr. Atkinson and cry every night," the girls' father told the court in his victim impact statement. "There is no sentence that will make this OK."

The charges were brought against Atkinson -- a live-in boyfriend of the girls' mother -- after the two girls notified their uncle that Atkinson made them take off their clothes. Later in an interview with a child abuse evaluator, the girls claimed that Atkinson repeatedly raped them.

A search of the home shared by Atkinson and the girls' mother netted pornographic videos.

Atkinson maintained his innocence in court, telling Judge Lloyd Zimmerman that the jury was stacked against him and that he felt he "didn't get a fair shake."

"If you look at my record, a lot of the crimes I have committed have been violent crimes," Atkinson told the judge before being sentenced. "This is not something I am capable of."

Hennepin County court records show Atkinson had previously been found guilty of multiple assault charges and for the malicious punishment of a child.

Zimmerman said his decision was guided by "horrific evidence" of a man whom the girls regarded as someone they could trust and who ended up taking advantage of them.
 

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
My view, if the facts are 1000% on and no questions about this guy doing it, he needs to die.
 

ij1889

New Member
how fucking sick is this. he deserves time, and we should be thankful that hes atleast getting 24 years of his miserable life taken away, at least we have a gov that will punish these sick bastards compared to many places in the world where stupid fuckers can get away with this horrible crime that should be pun ished to the fullest extent
 
D

DrWebster

Guest
Let's just kill everyone who goes to jail. Shoplift a candy bar? You're on death row.
 
M

Matt D.

Guest
We may frown upon Islamic ideology, but at least they have the majority of crime punishment correct. An eye for and eye. You steal, you lose your hand. You commit a sex crime, you lose your genitals. You beat someone, you get beat. You kill, you get killed. Yet there are people who oppose the death penalty. :rolleyes:
 

Workdawg

NARWHAL
"An eye for an eye leaves the world blind."

I agree that are criminal justice system is fucked up. IMO, 24 years is a pretty severe punishment... that 1/3-1/4 of his life more than likely. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, because he does, but I think when you can get YEARS in prison for dealing drugs, it makes sentences for more severe crimes seem less severe. If punishment for dealing drugs was a big fat fine, instead of incarceration, then prison time would mean a lot more.

Also, consider the fact that being convicted of the crime, being in prison for 24 years, and having to register as a sex offender pretty much screws up any shot at a decent life when he gets out. He'll be 60 and have no shot at a decent job, his life is fucked up.
 

dmention7

Hater
A lot of people get upset over what they view as sentences that are too lenient, but one thing that has to be considered in cases like this is the prosecutor's point of view. I don't know the details of the case, but for the prosecutor to go after, say first degree sexual assault, requires them to prove far more than a lower degree, making the conviction that much riskier. Oftentimes there is a balance between going after as long of a sentence as possible and going after a sure conviction. Think about how much more pissed you'd be if the prosecutors were seeking a conviction that would result in life in prison.... and were unable to prove some aspect of their case, resulting in the guy walking with no prison time.
 

ZoomZoom Diva

New Member
Agreed, Dan. I also think 24 years, plus sexual offender registration is a severe punishment for a severe crime. I also agree that the excessively harsh penalties for many lesser crimes has skewed how we view punishment for crimes in general.

Don't forget that child abusers and molesters are the lowest of the low in prison. He's going to be the prison bitch and quite possibly not make the full 24 years.
 

YSOSLO

is the word, beotch
One other thing to remember with people like this going to prison for long terms....many times they don't make it out of prison alive. Crimes against children and the elderly are especially despised by criminals themselves too, and they tend to "handle" the people that perpetrate these crimes in their own way.
 

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
The fact he gets to go free to do it again later in life tells me the sentance is not enough.
 

dirtyd

New Member
I think 24 years is too long...too long to be living off tax payers money...$.73 hollow point ought to do the trick. Line him up with the morons that beat the father at Valley Fair in early July as well. There is no place in society for people that act out against others in such fashions...I can't believe we have been accustomed to just throwing them in jail to help 'rehabilitate' them. Criminals need to know that this stuff is not allowed at all and if they break the rules they will be punished for it...not a slap on the wrist and free room/board plus food.
 

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
I think 24 years is too long...too long to be living off tax payers money...$.73 hollow point ought to do the trick. Line him up with the morons that beat the father at Valley Fair in early July as well. There is no place in society for people that act out against others in such fashions...I can't believe we have been accustomed to just throwing them in jail to help 'rehabilitate' them. Criminals need to know that this stuff is not allowed at all and if they break the rules they will be punished for it...not a slap on the wrist and free room/board plus food.
X2 :usa1:
 

StealthSpeed3

Charge THIS!!
I think 24 years is too long...too long to be living off tax payers money...$.73 hollow point ought to do the trick. Line him up with the morons that beat the father at Valley Fair in early July as well. There is no place in society for people that act out against others in such fashions...I can't believe we have been accustomed to just throwing them in jail to help 'rehabilitate' them. Criminals need to know that this stuff is not allowed at all and if they break the rules they will be punished for it...not a slap on the wrist and free room/board plus food.
AMEN!! Throw in the nutjob who shot the kids who were swimming and the canuck that decapitated the guy next to him on the bus while we're at it.
 
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