Judge reverses decision: Teen convicted of Loudoun Co. high school sexual assaults will not go on sex offender registry

[ScreamingMeMe]

Wtf!

wtop.com/loudoun-county/2022/01/judge-reverses-decision-teen-convicted-of-loudoun-co-high-school-sexual-assaults-will-not-go-on-sex-offender-registry/

The teenager convicted of two assaults at separate high schools in Loudoun County, Virginia, will not have to register as a sex offender after a juvenile court judge reconsidered her initial ruling.

Instead, the now-15-year-old — who was found guilty of two counts of sodomy in a May 28 incident at Stone Bridge High School and a separate incident on Oct. 6 at Broad Run High School — will remain on supervised probation in a locked juvenile treatment facility until his 18th birthday.

0On Jan. 12, Judge Pamela Brooks placed the teen on probation and placed him in a juvenile rehabilitation center until he turned 18 and agreed with the prosecution to put the teen on the adult sex offender registry.

Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj argued that it was for the safety of the community and made an out-of-ordinary request on the grounds that the teen had already been arrested for the May 28 assault at Stone Bridge High School and was on electronic monitoring when he committed the Oct. 6 assault.

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors failed to provide a written motion that they would seek to have the teen placed on the registry before Brooks made her initial ruling. The judge agreed with that, but provided prosecutors a chance to file a written motion and argue for the registry sentence, Thursday morning.

Biberaj said placing the teen on probation in a locked facility, paired with being required to register as a sex offender, “would keep him safe — he’d know where he can go and cannot go, and also keep the community safe.”

In reference to the teen being 15 with a still-developing brain, Biberaj said, “I can’t rest on it being immaturity.”

The teen’s probation officer, Jason Bickmore, opposed forcing him to register as a sex offender, saying studies show teenage sex offenders required to register actually have a higher rate of re-offending. He said the aim of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation, not punishment.

Biberaj did not dispute that requiring the teen to register would have consequences when he tries to get a job. “Will it stifle his successes? Very possibly.”

Biberaj requested the teen be required to register until he turned 30.

The teen had a trio of lawyers: William Mann, Caleb Kershner — who also is an elected member of Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors — and Jonathan Monroe.

Kershner said the teen is being penalized and scrutinized because his case was at the center of “a national media outcry.”

The case featured heavily in now-Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s campaign, and he signed a day-one executive order calling for an investigation into how the incident was handled.

Wtf indeed
ScreamingMeMe
The teen’s probation officer, Jason Bickmore, opposed forcing him to register as a sex offender, saying studies show teenage sex offenders required to register actually have a higher rate of re-offending. He said the aim of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation, not punishment.

Did it not occur to anyone that since the more serious offenders get put on the register it is more likely that serious offenders will reoffend and that it’s not the act of putting them on the register that causes them to reoffend

Does this mean that when he turns 18 he will effectively have a "clean" record.

How many more women is he likely to attack. His offences were very serious for a teenager, do they have evidence that rehabilitation works when your starting point is a background of serious violent sex offences committed at such a young age, it didn't for Jon Venables. He was moved schools and despite a pending police investigation he reoffended as soon as he had the opportunity. I would it be optimistic about successful rehabilitation.

@WorkingClassWoman

Wtf indeed ScreamingMeMe The teen’s probation officer, Jason Bickmore, opposed forcing him to register as a sex offender, saying studies show teenage sex offenders required to register actually have a higher rate of re-offending. He said the aim of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation, not punishment.

Did it not occur to anyone that since the more serious offenders get put on the register it is more likely that serious offenders will reoffend and that it’s not the act of putting them on the register that causes them to reoffend

That could be, but I wouldn't assume they didn't control for that. Especially if it is the case for teens but not adults.

In the US being on registries like this can significantly affect people's lives. It's possible with teens that prevents them from changing their circumstances in a way that prevents reoffending.

They may be better able to hide reoffending if they’re not on the register; but I don’t understand - genuinely, not being unpleasant or trying to pick a fight - by saying teens being on the register “prevents them from changing their circumstances in a way that prevents reoffending”, @SantaClawsServiette.

I’m very aware of the consequences of being a registered sex offender in the States (though they do of course vary by State!) - however, it seems the harmful collateral consequences of being on the registry are not as drastic as is usually stated.

What a terrible choice by the judge - those poor girls have just been failed, again, by yet another adult who was meant to protect them.

In announcing her decision, the Judge said she made an "error" in the initial ruling, and apparently cited studies that “adolescent brains don’t stop developing till age 27.”

www.reduxx.info/post/breaking-judge-reverses-sex-offender-order-in-case-of-skirt-wearing-teen-rapist

Okay. Help me out here.

This child has raped two girls. The judge feels it would be unfair to put this serial rapist on the adult sex offenders' register because that would mean allowing h** adolescent decisions to limit his future and opportunities as an adult.

But girls of the same age are permitted to have elective bilateral mastectomies and so on?

And the lesson is:
Rapists just have to plead trans and they get off.

@NitroNine

They may be better able to hide reoffending if they’re not on the register; but I don’t understand - genuinely, not being unpleasant or trying to pick a fight - by saying teens being on the register “prevents them from changing their circumstances in a way that prevents reoffending”, *@SantaClawsServiette*.

I’m very aware of the consequences of being a registered sex offender in the States (though they do of course vary by State!) - however, it seems the harmful collateral consequences of being on the registry are not as drastic as is usually stated.

What a terrible choice by the judge - those poor girls have just been failed, again, by yet another adult who was meant to protect them.

I think the point is that crimes committed by teens are not necessarily the same as those committed by adults. They may reflect their intellectual immaturity or lack of experience to a greater degree, or they may reflect background or circumstances that have, outside of their own control, contributed to whatever happened.

Which is why the focus on teen in the criminal justice system is more on rehabilitation. There is more scope for them to learn, or to mature, or even to be influenced in more positive ways. Which is better for the kid biy also better for society as a whole given this person is going to have something like another 50 years or more living in it.

Anything that could work against them changing their circumstances - overcoming addiction issues, leaving behind people who are bad for them, getting an education, getting a job, whatever, will make re-offending more likely

I mean - that's why teen offenders are treated differently than adults in general.

@PurgatoryOfPotholes

In announcing her decision, the Judge said she made an "error" in the initial ruling, and apparently cited studies that “adolescent brains don’t stop developing till age 27.”

www.reduxx.info/post/breaking-judge-reverses-sex-offender-order-in-case-of-skirt-wearing-teen-rapist

Okay. Help me out here.

This child has raped two girls. The judge feels it would be unfair to put this serial rapist on the adult sex offenders' register because that would mean allowing h** adolescent decisions to limit his future and opportunities as an adult.

But girls of the same age are permitted to have elective bilateral mastectomies and so on?

And children aged 10-12 can consent to puberty blockers apparently.

See also how a 14 year old girl can’t have the maturity to bring a judicial review but girls the same age can consent to irreversible medical treatments.

It’s almost as if they just make it up as they go along.

Rehabilitation, great.

Literally billions of women would love for this rapist to not grow up continuing to have the mindset of raping and abusing women, not for his sake, but for ours and our daughters. And sons. If rehabilitation could work women would be behind it.

But do they seriously think that in less than 3 years this rapist can be rehabilitated to the point that no one needs to know he is a dangerous sex offender so they can take appropriate precautions?

If they truly believe the argument that young people’s brains are still developing until the age of 27, then that same argument says that he needs forensic rehabilitation in appropriate and supervised ways until he is past 27. To make sure that any “recovery” at age 17 3/4 isn’t a fluke, or worse false.

Arguments about avoiding self fulfilling prophecies are TOO LATE once a man or boy has already become a rapist or sex offender. Those crucial moments were missed years ago.

Where is the emphasis on empathy, remorse, humility, appropriate shame and guilt, reparation, and how to navigate these? For the rest of your life if needs be? Because it’s just too much hard work? Too expensive? And /or because some people will never attain this no matter how much rehab they have?

If someone can’t accept boundaries put upon them which are the appropriate natural and logical consequences to their actions, then surely that is exactly the thinking that makes reoffending likely and the person an implicit and continuing risk.

That person needs to be shown, to understand and accept that they can still live a worthwhile and productive and safe life if they choose it, but just not ever working with women, children and vulnerable people.

Society/ government should be providing appropriate work opportunities for sex offenders who it deems sufficiently punished and who face “prejudice” in the outside world.

It shouldn’t be for unsupported women and children to be used and abused in some people’s wish for a fantastical redemption.