Mentally Disabled Teen Gets 100 Years in Sex Case
Thursday, June 11, 2009
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moms are talking about
Associated Press: Attorneys and advocates are questioning why an 18-year-old East Texan with profound mental disabilities was sentenced to 100 years in prison in a child sex abuse case.
After a neighbor found Hart fondling her 6-year-old stepson in September, the East Texas teenager pleaded guilty to five counts, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.
Hart has an IQ of 47 and was diagnosed as mentally disabled as a child. He never learned to read or write and speaks unsteadily. Despite being a target of bullies, he was courteous, well-behaved and earned money by doing chores for neighbors, supporters said. His parents say he'd never acted out sexually.
"He couldn't understand the seriousness of what he did," said his father, Robert Hart. "I never dreamed they would think about sending him to prison. When they said 100 years -- it was terror, pure terror, to me."
Aaron Hart pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated sexual assault and indecency by contact, and his case went to a jury for punishment. Jurors had the option of probation, former attorney Ben Massar told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
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Email6 comments so far | Post a comment now >>
I can not believe that he was sentenced to prison. He does not belong there at all. I feel bad for the child he did this too, however my heart breaks to think of what he will have to endure in prison. What a messed up system we have.
- Wendi
This boy does not belong in jail. With is IQ, he probably doesn’t even know what he did is wrong. I don’t understand our court system, there is a case in another state where a man who was found guilty of having sex with a five yr old and fondling her six yr old brother was sentence to 1 yr in jail - and this was his 3rd sexually offense that he has been found guilty of. And that state he lives in has the “Jessica Law” and he should have rec’d the manatory 25 years!
- chris
As the mother of two children with special needs, I can’t imagine why this young man got such a lengthy sentence. Like Chris said, it makes no sense that someone who is a repeat sexual offender can get such lenient sentences, and someone who clearly has mental issues gets the book thrown at him-it makes absolutely no sense. I feel so bad for him and his family. I would be terrified.
- Jessica
I believe anyone who hurts children in a sexual way should get life in prison becouse you cant rehabilitate those type of people. Clearly in this case this 18 year old isnt just anyone he has some major mental issues and although I think he should be placed somewhere it should be for help not punishment… I wonder if it was ever looked into as to why the mentally disabled teen was left alone with the 6 year old in the first place.
- Mel
How can anyone with an IQ of 47 be allowed to confess or even enter a plea of guilty? Next they will be putting dogs in prison for humping some kid’s leg. America is getting really stupid about what constitutes sexual abuse and what does not. Some common sense is required here, not emotionally charged jurors. And what about the mother of the 6-year-old who allowed her child to be left unattended? Maybe this crazy jury should find her guilty of child neglect.
- Victoria Suominen
All you have to do is realise what state this trial was held in and then you will know why he got the 100 year sentence. Their justice is either black or white, no inbetween allowed. This boy does not deserve the sentence that was handed down. He needs professional help to understand what he did was wrong.
- john scheidt
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