Louisiana judge, Bruce Bennett, controversially offers to lower rapist’s 12-year prison sentence if he pays his victim $150,000 – Outraged victim rejects offer to defendant, 44, who raped her as a 15-year-old
Louisiana District Court Judge Bruce Bennett made the startling offer Thursday at sentencing of a rapist in Baton Rouge
Judge Bennett sentenced Sedrick Hills, 44, to 12 years in prison for raping the woman, whose identity is being protected, in 2003 when she was just 15
The judge sparked outrage by offering to lessen the rapist’s prison sentence if he paid his victim $150,000 as restitution
The outraged victim now 31, who Hills raped 16 years ago, when she was just 15, refused the offer, saying ‘I don’t think money is going to provide any restitution for what he’s done’
Hill was convicted in 2018 after new DNA evidence linked him to the crime
Louisiana District Court Judge Bruce Bennett [photo], last week outraged a rape victim by saying he would give her rapist a lower sentence if the man agreed to pay her $150,000
A judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has outraged a rape victim when he offered her rapist the option of a lesser sentence if the man who raped her as a minor agreed to pay her $150,000.
Judge Bruce Bennett sentenced Sedrick Hills, 44, to 12 years in prison last week for raping the woman, whose identity is being protected, in 2003 when she was just 15.
He was convicted last year after new DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
Bennett said that he would shorten his sentence if the victim agreed to accept $150,000 in restitution from him.
She refused the offer this week, saying no amount of money would excuse what he had done.
‘I don’t think money is going to provide any restitution for what he’s done,’ the woman, now 31, said last Thursday after a hearing in the case.
It is unclear if Hills has access to $150,000 to give her.
Both the prosecution and the defense said they were surprised by the offer.
The victim had read her impact statement in court, saying Hills took at least 16 years of her life entreating the judge to exact the same punishment on him.
Judge Bruce Bennett was presiding in this courthouse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at Thursday’s sentencing when he made the startling offer. The victim read her moving impact statement in the same courtroom last week
Leave a Reply