5 - life for the seminary sleazeball

[RC Vikings]

Police say he first took the girl to Bridal Veil Falls in May 2009 and described a fantasy involving the two of them.

He deserves five more years for this. Honestly who takes a date up to Bridal Veil Falls.

[creekster]

The guy used bad judgment, but he didn't rape her and he didn't molest her and he didn't scar her for life. She was a sexually active, sixteen year old girl that had a crush on an older man. She is by no means innocent in all this. There are people who get convicted of manslaughter who don't serve 10 years.

How do you know this about her? I havent followed the case but this info isnt in the article. Is this info widely known there?

[UtahDan]

Probably true, but look at the charges he pled to. Not a simple love afair, it seems. Plus, even if the 16 yo is agreesive, that doesnt necesarily shed light on her maturity.

Both good points. But I'm not sure that the titles of the offenses tell us anything. I think they describe the acts rather than say that she was forced, except in the sense that she cannot, of course, consent. If sodomy and object penetration means that their sexual encounter included oral/anal sex as well as sex toys that doesn't seem any more heinous to me that sexual intercourse.

If we really are talking about that he lured her somewhere then raped her against her will, that is something completely different.

[creekster]

He deserves five more years for this. Honestly who takes a date up to Bridal Veil Falls.

Do they still have a gondola up to a burger stand that they call a restaurant at the top?

[RobinFinderson]

Don't know, but here's a picture of him from a different story today:




http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...ael-Pratt.html

Hmmm... that looks like it might be him, but I'm not completely certain. That photo is definitely in the ballpark, depending on how my mission's Elder Pratt aged.

[UtahDan]

I'm thinking 5 years is about right for this.

It is a horrible crime and 5 years in prison would be a horrible punishment for him.

That wouldn't hurt my feelings either. I don't know whether Utah has parole or what good credit he would earn. In my state a five year sentence would mean a little over four to serve. That is not a life ender by any means.

[creekster]

Both good points. But I'm not sure that the titles of the offenses tell us anything. I think they describe the acts rather than say that she was forced, except in the sense that she cannot, of course, consent. If sodomy and object penetration means that their sexual encounter included oral/anal sex as well as sex toys that doesn't seem any more heinous to me that sexual intercourse.

If we really are talking about that he lured her somewhere then raped her against her will, that is something completely different.

I am not sure. BUt the court has the PSR and has seen the parties. I am not going to second guess the sentence. I think the charges suggest which way a presumption might fall.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Don't know, but here's a picture of him from a different story today:




http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...ael-Pratt.html

What do you expect from someone that doesn't even wear a white shirt to court. Light blue isn't what you wear into the celestial kingdom.

[wuapinmon]

That she could have married him with her parents permission is extremely relevant. We are so unjust in how we mete out the law.

[Non Sequitur]

How do you know this about her? I havent followed the case but this info isnt in the article. Is this info widely known there?

I followed the case when it first came out.

[RC Vikings]

A small part of me feels bad for the guy because five years is a long time in prison but wouldn't the number one rule in having an affair be don't screw anyone under eighteen. If this girls marries and stays in the area do you think people will look at her as a tramp or a victim and do you think she will have to move away to ever have a normal life?

[statman]

Do they still have a gondola up to a burger stand that they call a restaurant at the top?

Nope. IIRC, some kind of a fire (lightning strike?) took out the gondola motor, and it was too expensive to fix, so the restaurant was abandoned...

[doctorcoug]

In my state, the courts have decided that somebody her age, regardless of personal progression or circumstance lacks the capacity to consent to sexual relations with an adult.

I have no idea whether 1 year, 5, or 10 years is enough. It should be similar to other offenders.

[statman]

A small part of me feels bad for the guy because five years is a long time in prison but wouldn't the number one rule in having an affair be don't screw anyone under eighteen. If this girls marries and stays in the area do you think people will look at her as a tramp or a victim and do you think she will have to move away to ever have a normal life?

Since we don't know her name, most wouldn't know her from Adam (Eve?). She just needs to move from Alpine. As debilitating as that can be, she should be okay...

[Jeff Lebowski]

Do they still have a gondola up to a burger stand that they call a restaurant at the top?

No. It was all wiped out in a massive snow slide several years ago. Some people are trying to drum up support to rebuild the tram, but I would hate to see that happen.