Utah judge cites defendant’s ‘privilege’ in ordering no additional time [after 112 days of time served] for 2 felony counts of child sex exploitation

essentialsaltes said:

.....During the hearing, the judge referred to the time Hoffman had already spent in jail, saying that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.”

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essentialsaltes said:

Aidan Hoffman, 22, was sentenced Tuesday in Grand County after pleading guilty to two felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, Hoffman possessed and distributed multiple images of children being raped and sexually abused.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Don Torgerson twice cited Hoffman’s “privilege” as he ultimately decided not to require him to serve any additional jail time or pay a fine, despite prosecutors asking for prison.

During the hearing, the judge referred to the time Hoffman had already spent in jail, saying that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.”

Click to expand...

essentialsaltes said:

Aidan Hoffman, 22, was sentenced Tuesday in Grand County after pleading guilty to two felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, Hoffman possessed and distributed multiple images of children being raped and sexually abused.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Don Torgerson twice cited Hoffman’s “privilege” as he ultimately decided not to require him to serve any additional jail time or pay a fine, despite prosecutors asking for prison.

During the hearing, the judge referred to the time Hoffman had already spent in jail, saying that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.”

Click to expand...

DaisyDay said:

Huh. I would have thought that coming from privilege was deserving of more punishment rather than less.

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essentialsaltes said:

Aidan Hoffman, 22, was sentenced Tuesday in Grand County after pleading guilty to two felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, Hoffman possessed and distributed multiple images of children being raped and sexually abused.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Don Torgerson twice cited Hoffman’s “privilege” as he ultimately decided not to require him to serve any additional jail time or pay a fine, despite prosecutors asking for prison.

During the hearing, the judge referred to the time Hoffman had already spent in jail, saying that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.”

Click to expand...

essentialsaltes said:

Aidan Hoffman, 22, was sentenced Tuesday in Grand County after pleading guilty to two felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, Hoffman possessed and distributed multiple images of children being raped and sexually abused.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Don Torgerson twice cited Hoffman’s “privilege” as he ultimately decided not to require him to serve any additional jail time or pay a fine, despite prosecutors asking for prison.

During the hearing, the judge referred to the time Hoffman had already spent in jail, saying that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.”

Click to expand...

Aryeh Jay said:

Oh come on, privilege has its benefits. Epstein wasn't flying common folk to his island.

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DaisyDay said:

He was if they were young, pretty and malleable.

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Bradskii said:

The judge's comments were clumsy. No doubt about that.

I don't think that a sentence should be used for retribution (although if I was the father of one of the children then I'd be planning my own retribution). But it can be used as a warning: 'Do this again and you can expect an even heavier sentence'. That doesn't always work. So as the man had been seeking treatment and if he was genuinely ashamed and contrite about what he'd done then there are other options.

That said, a heavy sentence is also meant to deter others. And this doesn't do that.

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