A Montana judge who recently sentenced a former teacher to 30 days in prison for raping a student defended his sentencing, claiming the 14-year-old victim, who later committed suicide, was "older than her chronological age" and "as much in control of the situation" as her teacher, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Protesters in Billings -- where the crime took place -- are calling for Montana District Judge G. Todd Baugh to resign, according to the Times. The victim, Cherice Moralez, died in 2010 just a few days before her 17th birthday.
Area residents are outraged after Baugh sentenced Stacey Dean Rambold, 54, to 15 years in prison for one count of sexual intercourse without consent, but then quickly shortened the sentence to 31 days, with one day served. The prosecutors asked for 20 years in prison with 10 years suspended.
Baugh defended his choice of sentencing after deciding that the victim was a troubled teenager and remarked that she was "as much in control of the situation" as Rambold. The Associated Press reported the girl's mother, Auliea Hanlon, screamed at the judge before she exited the courtroom.
Baugh apologized for his comments to the Billings Gazette, saying he "made some really stupid remarks."
"I don't know how to pass that off. I'm saying I'm sorry and it's not who I am," Baugh said. "I deserve to be chastised. I apologize for that."
Sheena Rice, an organizer calling for Baugh's resign, said it's important that the judge understands the full effect of what he said.
"Judges should be protecting our most vulnerable children...not enabling rapists by placing blame on victims," she said.
Rambold was charged in 2008 with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent after Moralez reportedly told a church counselor about the sexual assault. Jay Lansing, Rambold's lawyer, said his client has suffered enough since he lost his job and positive reputation in the community. He declined to comment on Wednesday about the judge's comments.
