Dad of ex-Stanford swimmer says son has paid price for rape
The father's letter was made public by a Stanford law professor who wants the case's judge removed from office over giving the swimmer a short sentence.
This June 27, 2011, photo shows Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who drew criticism for sentencing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The swimmer's father, Dan Turner, ignited more outrage by writing in a letter to the judge that his son already has paid a steep price for "20 minutes of action." Dan Turner wrote that his son's conviction on three felony sexual assault charges has shattered the 20-year-old, who has lost his appetite. The letter was made public over the weekend by a Stanford law professor who wants Persky removed from office because of the sentence.
Jason Doiy/The Recorder via AP
PALO ALTO, Calif.
The father of a former Stanford University swimmer who received six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman ignited more outrage over the case by saying his son already has paid a steep price for "20 minutes of action."
Dan Turner said in a letter to the judge that the conviction of his son, Brock Turner, on three felony sexual assault charges has shattered the 20-year-old, who has lost his appetite and will never be his happy-go-lucky self again.
The letter was made public over the weekend by a Stanford law professor who wants Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky removed from office over the sentence.
The letter has inflamed critics already outraged that Persky sentenced Brock Turner to six months in county jail and three years' probation after the victim read an emotional statement in court.
Turner must also register as a convicted sex offender for the rest of his life.
"His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve," the father wrote. "That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life."
A jury in March found Turner guilty of the January 2015 attack, which was interrupted by two students who saw him assaulting a partially clothed woman behind a dumpster on campus.
Turner tried to flee, but the students tackled him and held him down until police arrived.
The court statement from the victim, who was so intoxicated that she did not wake up until hours later, got widespread attention. Turner also was intoxicated.
"My independence, natural joy, gentleness, and steady lifestyle I had been enjoying became distorted beyond recognition. I became closed off, angry, self-deprecating, tired, irritable, empty," she said.
The Associated Press does not generally identify victims of sexual abuse or assault.
Others also want the judge removed from office. Two petitions on Change.org push for a recall of Persky, who's running unopposed for re-election Tuesday.
Opponents would need to collect nearly 81,000 signatures from registered county voters to force a recall vote of Persky.