Mont. teacher's one-month rape sentence overturned
BILLINGS, Mont. - The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned a one-month sentence that was widely condemned as too lenient for a high school teacher convicted of raping a 14-year-old student.
The court ordered a new judge to re-sentence Stacey Dean Rambold, who has been free since completing the one-month term last fall.
Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said that according to state sentencing laws, the decision means Rambold must serve a minimum of two years in prison.
The high court's decision cited in part the actions of District Judge G. Todd Baugh, of Billings, who suggested the young victim shared responsibility for her rape because she had some control over the situation.
Rambold's attorney, Jay Lansing, was traveling and not immediately available, his office said.
Baugh appeared to show sympathy for the defendant and agreed with Lansing's recommendation that Rambold receive a 15-year sentence with all but one month suspended. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year term with 10 years suspended.Baugh also sparked outrage by pinning some of the responsibility in the case on the victim, Cherice Moralez, whom the judge described as "older than her chronological age."
The teen committed suicide in 2010 before Rambold went to trial.
A disciplinary complaint against Baugh from the Judicial Standards Commission is pending with the state Supreme Court. Justices said that will be dealt with separately.
The disciplinary complaint pending before the high court would have Baugh removed from the bench for alleged bias.