Steubenville Rape Trial Verdict, Bill Protect Child Sex Abuse Victims Testimony

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Steubenville Rape Trial Verdict: Judge finds both teens guilty of raping 16-year-old girl  March 17, 2013  By Julia Dahl 

(CBS News) - Two former star high school football players broke down and openly wept on Sunday morning in court after being found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl during a night of partying last August.

Ma'Lik Richmond, 16, and Trent Mays, 17, had been charged with digitally penetrating the intoxicated girl twice on the night of August 11, 2012. Richmond and Mays were found delinquent, which is the juvenile equivalent of being found guilty. Mays was also convicted of a second felony charge of using a minor in nudity oriented materials for taking and distributing photographs of the victim in states of undress....

"I'm aware this is the first time they have been in trouble with the law, but these are serious offenses," said Judge Thomas Lipps, who decided the case without a jury. "If they were convicted in an adult court of these charges they would be spending many years in an adult prison."

Judge Lipps sentenced Richmond to a minimum of one year incarceration in a juvenile facility. Mays was sentenced to a minimum of one year incarceration in a juvenile facility for the rape, and one year for the second felony, to be served consecutively. Lipps called Mays' crimes "more egregious" than Richmond's. Both teens were facing a maximum sentence of incarceration until age 21....

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57574728-504083/steubenville-rape-trial-verdict-judge-finds-both-teens-guilty-of-raping-16-year-old-girl/

http://goo.gl/dm6hk

New Bill Aims to Protect Testimony of Child Sex Abuse Victims
Mar 15, 2013
Reporter: Mike Springer; Sachs Media

Press Release: Sachs Media Group

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Child sexual abuse survivor and advocate Lauren Book is joining with the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association to promote the passage of legislation that would make an out-of-court statement from child victims of sexual abuse a stronger tool trials against their alleged abusers. Book’s non-profit organization, Lauren’s Kids, also is seeking to expand Florida’s existing abuse prevention curriculum through fifth grade.

Under current Florida law, out-of-court statements – such as transcripts of forensic interviews – made by a child victim with a physical, mental, emotional or developmental age of 11 or less may be admissible as evidence in some child sex abuse cases. Book and Florida’s State Attorneys want to see this option extended to children up to 16 years old, as contained in HB 7031.

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/New-Bill-Aims-to-Protect-Testimony-of-Child-Sex-Abuse-Victims-198513621.html

http://goo.gl/GLvMu