Teacher Sentenced To 30 Days In Jail After Raping Student Who Committed Suicide

Attorneys for a former Montana teacher who raped a 14-year-old student argued Friday that his 30 days in prison were enough punishment, even as a judicial oversight panel sought the censure of the judge in the case over what it called an unlawful sentence.

Prosecutors want to send freed rapist Stacey Dean Rambold of Billings back to prison. They said in an appeal of his sentence that he should have served a minimum of four years after pleading guilty last year to sexual assault without consent.

[Defense attorneys] suggested the girl bore some responsibility for the rape, and referenced videotaped interviews with her before she committed suicide while the case was pending. Those interviews remain under seal by the court.

“The citizens of Montana have determined that persons as young as 12 years of age will be held accountable and responsible for their actions in regard to certain types of sexual offenses,” Rambold attorney Jay Lansing wrote. “There is no rational basis to conclude that if the person is 14 years of age, the person can only have responsibility if they are the offender.”

AOL News