A teen with a 47 IQ was sentenced to 100 years in prison after pleading guilty in a sex abuse case involving his six-year old neighbor. From MSNBC
Aaron Hart, 18, of Paris, was arrested and charged after a neighbor found him fondling her stepson in September. The teen pleaded guilty to five counts, including aggravated sexual assault and indecency by contact, and a jury decided his punishment.
Lamar County Judge Eric Clifford decided to stack the sentences against Hart after jurors settled on two five-year terms and three 30-year terms, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.
Lamar County Judge Eric Clifford decided to stack the sentences against Hart after jurors settled on two five-year terms and three 30-year terms, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.
The judge said neither he nor jurors liked the idea of prison for Hart but they felt there was no other option.
Hart has an IQ of 47 and was diagnosed as mentally disabled as a child. He never learned to read or write and speaks unsteadily.
Despite being a target of bullies, he was courteous, well-behaved and earned money by doing chores for neighbors, supporters said. His parents say he'd never acted out sexually.
Jurors said they sent the judge notes during deliberations in February, asking about alternatives to prison, but didn't get a clear answer. They believed the judge would order concurrent sentences, jurors said.
District Attorney Gary Young said he sympathized with Hart's situation but stands by his decision to prosecute on five counts. Prosecutors commonly pursue several charges for a single incident to see which the jury will support.
Young said a diversion program was not an option since the law doesn't allow that for serious felonies.
Hart has an IQ of 47 and was diagnosed as mentally disabled as a child. He never learned to read or write and speaks unsteadily.
Despite being a target of bullies, he was courteous, well-behaved and earned money by doing chores for neighbors, supporters said. His parents say he'd never acted out sexually.
Jurors said they sent the judge notes during deliberations in February, asking about alternatives to prison, but didn't get a clear answer. They believed the judge would order concurrent sentences, jurors said.
District Attorney Gary Young said he sympathized with Hart's situation but stands by his decision to prosecute on five counts. Prosecutors commonly pursue several charges for a single incident to see which the jury will support.
Young said a diversion program was not an option since the law doesn't allow that for serious felonies.
Why is it that the instant my eyes focused on the Headline "47 IQ, 100 Years in Prison," that I immediately thought: "TEXAS".
How do these people sleep at night??? This is NOT justice. This is a human rights violation. This young man is mentally disabled. God help this country. In the end, it's going to be the next generation that will have to pay for atrocities like these!
Posted by: George | September 29, 2009 at 11:52 PM
I hope there is much more to this story than seems to be from what is here because if not, the people responsible for prosecuting and convicting this person are criminals. The immorality of it is shocking. I personally don't want "people" like them in this country. There are other countries that they might fit well in, but not in a decent, civilized country.
I will be praying that those "people" are sentenced to life in prison some day.
Posted by: xx00xx | September 30, 2009 at 12:15 PM