Sentence Reduced For Anne Arundel Convicted Child Rapist
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There's outrage by the family of a young girl who was sexually assaulted. On Tuesday, a judge in Anne Arundel County reduced the sentence of the admitted rapist.
Adam May was in court during the controversial decision.
In 2009, a 7-year-old girl was abducted from a playground in Crofton, then raped by David Raszewski, who was 17 at the time. Now, after a conviction and an appeal, Judge Ronald Silkworth and two others ruled the original sentence was too strict. They reduced the 50-year-sentence to 20 years with 5 years probation and required sex offender therapy.
"That's completely unfair," said the victim's mother.
"He lured my daughter into her house, then he sexually assualted my daughter for several minutes," said her father.
"And then sent her out the door with two dollars," the mother added.
WJZ is not identifying family members to protect the victim.
"A lot of times she'll just be looking off and I'll say what are you thinking about. And she says the bad man, that's what she calls him," said her mother.
"Anybody who has taken time to get to know my client knows there's something not right about him," said Spencer Gordon, defense attorney.
Defense attorneys successfully argued Raszewski had untreated behavioral issues. They say his autistic condition played a role in the crime.
In a statement, the state's attorney writes to say, "We are disappointed is an understatement."
The victim's family is concerned Raszewski will strike again.
"The next time, and there will be a next because he'll be in his 30s when he gets out, that next child will not be as lucky," said the victim's mother.
At least two experts say Raszewski is a high risk to offend again. With good behavior, he could be released on parole in as a little as 10 years.
The judge's decision cannot be appealed.
