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Recant case ruling delayed
Judge will decide soon regarding prosecutor's motion to release information about juvenile rape case.
Date published: 2/20/2009
BY KEITH EPPS Stafford County prosecutor Eric Olsen yesterday urged a judge to allow him to discuss publicly a juvenile rape case he prosecuted in 2007. Olsen argued in Stafford Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court that a Feb. 5 Free Lance-Star article about the case had several inaccuracies that "cry out for some kind of response." But Olsen told Judge Julian Johnson that he might be breaking the law to address his concerns publicly without the judge's authorization. Andrew K. Block Jr., a lawyer who is representing the teen, opposes Olsen's motion, saying among other things that his request is too broad and vague. "[Olsen's] disagreement with people's opinions of this case does not justify the release of confidential information," Block argued. At the end of the hearing, Johnson said he would take the case under advisement and prepare a written order in a few days. The Innocence Project of the University of Virginia Law School and JustChildren, a child advocacy group, are trying to have the boy released from custody, his conviction overturned and his name removed from the state sex offender registry. Supporters say the boy, who has been locked up for about a year and a half, was wrongfully convicted based in part on the word of a mentally handicapped teenage girl who has since recanted her allegations. The victim's mother, the boy's parents and his lawyers were quoted in the story that Olsen has referred to. The father said he encouraged that boy to plead guilty because he feared that he would be tried as an adult. Olsen cited to the judge several things that need to be addressed, including allegations that his office never interviewed the girl and that the boy's race was a factor in the prosecution. The boy is black and the girl is white. Olsen said he was particularly upset that the article implied that he took advantage of the boy's limited intelligence in securing a conviction. The prosecutor told the judge that there is no evidence that the boy has any mental disabilities, and he said the parents didn't mention any in interviews prior to his sentencing.
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 2/20/2009
Read the other article Goldie
(posted by
dicerotops
, Feb. 20, 2009 5:10 pm)
That one was far more informative. It mentions how even the girl is considered to have aggressive tendencies, and the boy more submissive ones, so really, who came on to who? The boy's IQ is only 7 points above hers. It was teens have consensual sex. It in no way warrants his life being forever altered by criminal charges, especially if the girl's is not. Shame on Olsen for wanting to slander a mentally challenged boy because he was finally caught taking advantage of defendants.
Goldie, you didn't read any or the previous stories on this did you?
(posted by
domsmom
, Feb. 20, 2009 2:38 pm)
His IQ is like less than 10 points higher than hers...7 points to be exact ( 2/5/09 FLS article) So, I think that makes them both a little mentally challenged. So, before you get too terribly tired of people playing the race card, you need to look at all of the facts of the case. What puzzles me is the breaking and entering.. Did they EVER prove that one in court when he was sentenced? Probably not. Then the casually dropped abduction charge.. GIve me a break.He abducted her and took her to her room? ok...
He took advantage
(posted by
goldie484
, Feb. 20, 2009 1:15 pm)
of a mentally deficient child. That is RAPE. The kid SHOULD be tried as an adult and LOCKED UP FOR A LOOOONG TIME!!! Even CONSENSUAL sex with a retarded girl is RAPE. He KNEW what he was doing was wrong. And how SHOCKING they are playing the race card. I am so SICK of IDIOTS playing the race card to avoid responsibility for thier actions. Lock him up, and label him a SEX OFFENDER for LIFE!!
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