Texas Judge Jeanine Howard is receiving severe criticism for sentencing a rapist to 45 days in prison and community service, CNN reported.
Instead of handing down a 20-year prison sentence, Howard decided that the 14-year-old victim's sexual history was enough to prove the defendant "is not your typical sex offender."
Sir Young, 20, admitted to raping the girl in her high school. Despite his guilty plea, Howard told The Dallas Morning News that the victim "wasn't the victim she claimed to be" since she had three other sexual partners and previously gave birth.
Rape victim advocates are scared that Howard's sentence will discourage victims from coming forward.
"We're certainly concerned about the message that's being sent to victims of sexual assault," Andrea Moseley, chief prosecutor for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, told CNN.
"We expect that our victims will be protected and that their reputations will be protected and that they will feel safe in coming forward and reporting these crimes."
The type of community service Young was ordered to fulfill -- 250 hours at a rape crisis center -- is also drawing criticism.
The center later said he was not welcome to volunteer with them.
"Just having a criminal defendant in the office could be a triggering affect for many of our clients," said Bobbie Villareal, director of the Dallas Rape Crisis Center. "It's just not appropriate."
Young's attorney, Scottie Allen, told CNN's "New Day" that Howard's sentence was justified.
"What we have here is an 18-year-old high school student who was very talented, very gifted," Allen said, adding Young had scholarship offers from a "couple of universities."
Allen also claimed the victim agreed to have sex with Young, just not on campus, and "upon making this bad judgment, he admitted that he proceeded over her objections to stop, and he admitted that to the police."
"We don't think that he qualifies as your typical sex offender. This is not somebody who has preyed on some young kids or unsuspecting people."
