Trying to save a son from the consequences of sexually assaulting anunconscious woman behind a dumpster is not acceptable. Brock Turner’s parents pleaded to the judge for mercy
after a jury convicted their son of 3 felony counts of sexual assault. Any loving parent wants mercy for their child just as we all want it
from God. But only after we are sorry
for our sins are we forgiven and showered with mercy from the ultimate judge, God. Brock and his parents are still making
excuses.
The promising future afforded
by a swimming scholarship and Brock’s pre-med major at the prestigious Stanford
University evaporated when he gave in to disordered sexual desires. People are outraged, not just
by this case, but over the letter
written by his father to the judge begging for leniency. A letter
by his mother has also surfaced.
by a swimming scholarship and Brock’s pre-med major at the prestigious Stanford
University evaporated when he gave in to disordered sexual desires. People are outraged, not just
by this case, but over the letter
written by his father to the judge begging for leniency. A letter
by his mother has also surfaced.
They
Made Things Worse
Made Things Worse
Brock’s parents have magnified the
impact of their son’s depravity. They made excuses and begged for leniency on their
beloved son, but never once acknowledged the harm he did to someone’s beloved
daughter.
impact of their son’s depravity. They made excuses and begged for leniency on their
beloved son, but never once acknowledged the harm he did to someone’s beloved
daughter.
Brock’s mom insisted
her son “has lived an exemplary life” and was a “nice guy” whose success has
been “shattered” by the guilty verdicts. His father claimed that Brock should not have to go
to prison for “20 minutes of action.” He
was sentenced to six months and probation—a major reduction of the 14 years in prison possible for his crimes. His father lamented: “He
will never be his happy go lucky self with that easy going personality and
welcoming smile. His every waking minute is consumed with worry, anxiety, fear,
and depression. You can see this in his face, the way he walks, his weakened
voice, his lack of appetite.” That description should be sadness for over what
he stole rather than over what he threw away.
her son “has lived an exemplary life” and was a “nice guy” whose success has
been “shattered” by the guilty verdicts. His father claimed that Brock should not have to go
to prison for “20 minutes of action.” He
was sentenced to six months and probation—a major reduction of the 14 years in prison possible for his crimes. His father lamented: “He
will never be his happy go lucky self with that easy going personality and
welcoming smile. His every waking minute is consumed with worry, anxiety, fear,
and depression. You can see this in his face, the way he walks, his weakened
voice, his lack of appetite.” That description should be sadness for over what
he stole rather than over what he threw away.
I feel heartbreak for theTurners. Imagine those years of excitement
and success all gone due to Brock’s one drunken night. But if only they could see: “The truth shall set you free,” (John
8:32). They are choosing imprisonment by fighting the truth, heaping judgment upon
themselves from the media and public all while remorse appears completely
absent. The Turners determination that their son escapes
charges for his crime, dragged the victim through a yearlong, painful court case
where her personhood was again assaulted.
The case has also ignited a firestorm of anger against Judge Aaron Persky’s who was
persuaded to be lenient on Brock since prison would have a “severe impact on
him.”
Turner called himself a victim of the party culture at Stanford
and blamed
drinking and promiscuity. But that was not the problem that destroyed his
dreams. Sexual assault was. He and his parents still don’t seem to get
that.
and blamed
drinking and promiscuity. But that was not the problem that destroyed his
dreams. Sexual assault was. He and his parents still don’t seem to get
that.
The Real
Victim Speaks Out
Victim Speaks Out
The victim’s
powerful letter read in court went viral in the media and put the assault
into perspective. She pointed out that Brock could have spared a lot of
people a lot of pain, but didn’t want to give up his life as he had known it. He could have admitted guilt, apologized and accepted
punishment for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. But not even after being found guilty, was
there an apology.
powerful letter read in court went viral in the media and put the assault
into perspective. She pointed out that Brock could have spared a lot of
people a lot of pain, but didn’t want to give up his life as he had known it. He could have admitted guilt, apologized and accepted
punishment for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. But not even after being found guilty, was
there an apology.
In her letter, the victim
responded to Turner’s statement to the judge that he wants to show people that
one night of drinking can ruin a life. “A life, one life, yours, you
forgot about mine. Let me rephrase for you, I want to show people that one
night of drinking can ruin two lives. You and me. You are the cause, I am the
effect…. You have been convicted of violating me, intentionally, forcibly,
sexually, with malicious intent, and all you can admit to is consuming alcohol.
Do not talk about the sad way your life was upturned because alcohol made you
do bad things. Figure out how to take responsibility for your own conduct….
responded to Turner’s statement to the judge that he wants to show people that
one night of drinking can ruin a life. “A life, one life, yours, you
forgot about mine. Let me rephrase for you, I want to show people that one
night of drinking can ruin two lives. You and me. You are the cause, I am the
effect…. You have been convicted of violating me, intentionally, forcibly,
sexually, with malicious intent, and all you can admit to is consuming alcohol.
Do not talk about the sad way your life was upturned because alcohol made you
do bad things. Figure out how to take responsibility for your own conduct….
“He has only apologized for drinking and has yet to
define what he did to me as sexual assault, he has re-victimized me. He is a
lifetime sex registrant. That doesn’t expire. Just like what he did to me
doesn’t expire, doesn’t just go away after a set number of years. It stays with
me, it’s part of my identity, it has forever changed the way I carry myself,
the way I live the rest of my life.”
define what he did to me as sexual assault, he has re-victimized me. He is a
lifetime sex registrant. That doesn’t expire. Just like what he did to me
doesn’t expire, doesn’t just go away after a set number of years. It stays with
me, it’s part of my identity, it has forever changed the way I carry myself,
the way I live the rest of my life.”
The Turners plan to appeal the
conviction. I pray for them to stop—to
stop and feel the pain of the real victim and to stop further victimizing their
son and themselves by running from God’s mercy.
conviction. I pray for them to stop—to
stop and feel the pain of the real victim and to stop further victimizing their
son and themselves by running from God’s mercy.
~~~~~~~
