this is appalling

[bryce]

anyone else find this more than just a little lenient? (and notice the concerning irony of the last paragraph of the article?):


Convicted rapist allowed to stay at UNT
Some students upset that he will remain until sentencing


07:38 AM CST on Thursday, November 6, 2003

By MATTHEW ZABEL / Denton Record-Chronicle

DENTON – A man who pleaded guilty last month to first-degree rape in Oklahoma has been allowed to finish the fall semester at the University of North Texas before he is sentenced, an Oklahoma prosecutor said Wednesday.

Some students were upset to learn through a published report in the North Texas Daily student newspaper Wednesday that Micheal Stephen Mann, 27, remains on campus.

Mr. Mann and his attorney, Larry Monard, could not be reached for comment.

Samantha Sewell, president of the UNT chapter of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, said the university should at least send letters to students letting them know that an admitted rapist is on campus.

Mr. Mann's victim said she called the North Texas Daily to warn Denton women about him.
She said she met Mr. Mann in 1997 at a party of University of Central Oklahoma college students . She said that she accompanied him to his apartment, several doors down from the party, and that he held her in his bedroom and raped her.

According to court records, Mr. Mann went on trial for the assault in February, but a jury failed to reach a verdict. A retrial began Sept. 29.

Connie Pope, Oklahoma County assistant district attorney, said prosecutors planned to call two women who accused Mr. Mann of sexually assaulting them in separate incidents in May 1998, although he was acquitted in both cases.

He decided to plead guilty, she said, and District Judge Jerry D. Bass scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15.

Judge Bass could not be reached for comment.

In his guilty plea, Mr. Mann asked for a five-year suspended sentence and 90 days in county jail, according to court records.

Ms. Pope said she was satisfied with the recommendation of 90 days in the Oklahoma County jail and the requirement that Mr. Mann register as a sex offender for 10 years after his release.

The conviction could have carried a punishment of five years to life in prison.

Citing federal privacy laws, university officials would not say Wednesday whether they were investigating Mr. Mann's case or whether they would punish him.

"Our code of conduct allows us to remove a student for a violation of our university policies," said Elizabeth With, associate vice president for student development.

Dr. With confirmed only that Mr. Mann was a student.

Kelley Reese, a university spokeswoman, said Mr. Mann enrolled at UNT in May 2002 and is majoring in applied technology and performance improvement, a corporate training program in the College of Education.

Before that, he attended Texas Woman's University for spring 2002, said Roy Kron, a TWU spokesman.


Denton Record-Chronicle city editor Annette Fuller and Edmond (Okla.) Sun staff writer David Hartman contributed to this report.

E-mail [email protected]

[Wasabiak]

Originally posted by bryce

Before that, he attended Texas Woman's University for spring 2002, said Roy Kron, a TWU spokesman.

What??? How could he be in a women's college?

[Glengoyne]

On first blush it looks like a case of date rape that was difficult to prove. Heck even the victim thought 90 days was sufficient. Since he pled to the offense, it doesn't seem too appalling to me. Heck I find it more appalling that they were going to be able to have women testify that he had assaulted them, when he had been aquitted of the charges.

Now this guy is most likely a scum bag, but he doesn't sound like a serial rapist to me.

[JeeberD]

Originally posted by Wasabiak
What??? How could he be in a women's college?

Men can attend TWU if they wish to do so (but not a whole lot do).

Hmmm, not sure how I feel about this whole thing.