‘Epitome of injustice’ Child Rapist Ex-Cop Gets Just 10 Weekends in Jail

[Social Media]

 

The sentencing of former New York police officer Shawn Jordan, who pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl, has sparked outrage and condemnation from advocates for child sexual abuse survivors. Kathryn Robb, the national director of the Children’s Justice Campaign at the Enough Abuse organization, described the sentence as "the epitome of injustice" and "dangerous." She emphasized that such leniency sends a disturbing message to child sexual predators that the legal system might not hold them fully accountable.

 

“This sentence is the epitome of injustice and a dangerous nod to child sexual predators letting them know, ‘No worries, we won’t go too hard on you,’” Robb stated. She pointed out the lifelong trauma the victim would endure, contrasting it with the mere 20 days of imprisonment Jordan would face. “This little girl will be imprisoned by her memories for life, while [the rapist] loses a mere 20 days of his liberty,” she added.

 

 

Robb, who has been instrumental in advocating for reforms in child sexual abuse laws across the United States, underscored the severity of child rape, labeling it as one of the most heinous crimes with enduring effects on the victim. The case of Shawn Jordan, she argued, was a glaring example of why stronger criminal penalties and more substantial civil remedies are necessary in cases of child molestation.

 

Shawn Jordan, aged 40, had pleaded guilty in March to second-degree rape and forcible touching in connection with the molestation of a 13-year-old girl in South Bristol, a community in Ontario County, New York, in 2022. This was one of two criminal cases filed against Jordan involving underage victims. In the other case, which was still unresolved as of Thursday, authorities in Monroe County, New York, had charged him in the spring of 2023 with exposing himself to a 16-year-old girl during a video call.

 

Under a plea agreement in the Ontario County case, state judge Kristina Karle sentenced Jordan on Wednesday to serve 10 weekends in jail, along with 10 years of probation. Additionally, Karle ordered Jordan to register as a sex offender and imposed fines. Despite the gravity of the crime, the sentence drew criticism for its perceived leniency.

 

The mother of the 13-year-old victim pleaded with Judge Karle to impose a harsher sentence, expressing the profound impact Jordan’s actions had on her daughter’s life. According to a report by the New York ABC affiliate WHAM, the mother said Jordan had "ruined" her daughter’s life and insisted that he "doesn’t deserve to be out on the street."

 

Judge Karle, while approving the plea deal, reportedly expressed her disappointment with Jordan's actions, telling him, “I hope you feel shame, I hope you feel remorse, and I hope you never ever hurt another child.” Despite these strong words, she upheld the plea agreement, which many viewed as a betrayal of justice.

 

Scott Berkowitz, the president and founder of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (Rainn), joined the chorus of voices expressing disappointment in the outcome of Jordan’s case. Berkowitz remarked, “A sentence of 10 years in prison, or more, would make a lot more sense than one of 10 weekends.” He emphasized the disparity between the brief duration of Jordan's sentence and the lifelong consequences the victim would endure, stating, “He’ll be out in a few months, while she will be dealing with the consequences of his crime for many years to come. That is not justice.”

 

The local assistant district attorney, Kelly Wolford, acknowledged her dissatisfaction with the sentence, telling WHAM, the New York NBC affiliate WHEC, and other outlets that she was "not entirely satisfied" with the outcome. However, she defended the decision to proceed with the plea agreement, citing the potential impact on the young victim if she had been required to testify in court. “She’s a child, and she was going to have to face her accuser in the courtroom,” Wolford explained.

 

She further noted that when the opportunity arose to accept a guilty plea, she opted for it without hesitation, stating, “When I was given the opportunity to consider whether or not we’d take a guilty plea – absolutely, all day, in a circumstance like this.”

 

Following his sentencing, Jordan quickly left the courthouse without answering any questions, as reported by WHEC. The unresolved case in Monroe County, which led to his suspension and subsequent resignation from the Rochester police department, remains pending. A spokesperson for Monroe County prosecutors informed WHEC that Jordan had not yet been assigned a court date for this second case.

 

The case of Shawn Jordan has reignited a broader conversation about the adequacy of the legal system in addressing crimes against children. Advocates like Robb and Berkowitz argue that lenient sentences, such as the one given to Jordan, undermine public trust in the justice system and fail to adequately protect the most vulnerable members of society. They call for reforms that would ensure that those who commit such heinous crimes face penalties that reflect the severity of their actions.

 

As this case continues to unfold, the voices of those advocating for justice for child victims will likely grow louder, demanding that the legal system not only acknowledge the profound impact of these crimes but also respond with the gravity they deserve. The sentence handed down to Shawn Jordan may be viewed by some as a legal resolution, but for many, it stands as a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done to protect children and hold their abusers accountable.

 

Credit: The Guardian  2024-08-19

 

 

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[animalmagic]

This is so incredible that I actually had to Google it to check if it was a wind up!  Sad to report it seems to be true.  Ten weekends of imprisonment beggars belief; he should be locked up for every year of the probation and then some.  The 13 year old girl will suffer every day and not just the weekends.  I am not an advocate for vigilante justice but things like this make me consider it.

[klauskunkel]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Judge Karle expressed her disappointment with Jordan's actions, telling him, “I hope you feel shame, I hope you feel remorse, and I hope you never ever hurt another child.” Despite these strong words, she upheld the plea agreement, which many viewed as a betrayal of justice.

They are not "strong words", they are wishful thinking... The judge's job was to make sure that he felt shame, remorse and never ever hurt another child, instead she facilitated him. Why not bake him a cake and give him a medal on top of that sentence...

[Will B Good]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Following his sentencing, Jordan quickly left the courthouse without answering any questions,

 

 

Well there's a surprise....

[Chomper Higgot]

Now that’s what I call ‘Two Tier Justice’. 

[retarius]

This is what the democrats will bring in nationally. No perp too awful or violent to spend time in jail. 

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, retarius said:

This is what the democrats will bring in nationally. No perp too awful or violent to spend time in jail. 

Of course, these people (villains) are the voting base of the current democrats