Courtney Havlik thinks so. Her sister's ex-fiance is about to be released after spending 18 months in custody for arranging a meeting on Naperville's Riverwalk with someone he believed to be an underage girl. Does the time fit the crime?
DuPage County authorities think so. In a story published in Sunday's Sun, State's Attorney Joe Birkett adamantly insists his office is tough on sex offenders. He says the Legislature needs to pass tougher mandatory-sentencing laws.
Do you agree with Havlik that tougher sentences are needed? If so, who do think is most responsible for letting sex offenders off easy: prosecutors, judges, law enforcement or lawmakers?
I realize that this topic was posted back in October, but I had to post a comment here after reading both yesterday's and today's editions (Wednesday, January 9, 2008, and Thursday, January 10, 2008). Sadly, my post appears to be the first for this topic.
Here is the text of the article:
== Beginning of article ==
"A Naperville man has been sentenced to four years in prison for the sexual assault of a relative.
Bruce T. Wertelka, 36, of 1413 Fairway Drive pleaded guilty to criminal sexual assault of a family member under 18 years of age, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
In exchange for his guilty plea Tuesday in DuPage County Circuit Court, Judge Robert Anderson imposed the minimum prison sentence, but required that Wertelka serve a minimum of 85 percent of the term.
Additionally, Wertelka will have to register for the rest of his life with the Illinois State Police's sex offender database.
At the time of his 2007 arrest, authorities said Wertelka's victim was a relative, and that the crime was a matter of 'ongoing abuse' occurring for at least three years."
== End of article ==
I am OUTRAGED that this scumbag received the MINIMUM sentence for "ongoing abuse occuring for at least three years." How can this be?
Now, contrast Bruce's sexual assault sentence of just 4 years to Tyshawn Viel's sentence of 3 years for "aggravated battery of a sheriff's deputy whom he kicked in the hand while in custody at the jail" as he awaited his sentencing for an armed robbery of a Marathon gas station. (FYI: This scumbag received 5.5 years for the armed robbery and 3 years for the battery and must serve them consecutively for a total of 8.8 years.)
How the heck is it possible to get just 4 years for the three-year ongoing sexual assault of a family member who is under the age of 18, but be sentenced to 3 years for kicking a sheriff's deputy in the hand? Does this make any sense to any clear-thinking individual???
Something is seriously wrong here!!
justice,
I would agree with you that there are often irrational disparities among criminal sentences.
What if the ex-wife of this so called predator made up the story to get back at him for not giving her enough money? Never thought of that did we.......
This is a very sensitive topic and not something for complete strangers to discuss. There are always two sides to every story. The only people who know the truth are the two involved and God.
I pray that these accusations are wrong. My heart goes out to any child who may have been subject to these wrongful acts.
Young people are very impressionable. I hope that there were no outside influences encouraging this young person to make such accusations. A man's life could be destroyed because of it. And what does that teach our children, the future of this country? That it’s OK to lie just for revenge. It’s sad. Very sad.
And did you ever think that maybe the predator only took the plea bargin as to not put the child through anymore than they'd already been through. Maybe the judge wasn't so convinced he did it afterall.
Comments for story on Naperville man Jan 8,08 Bruce Weetelka This man was guilty the state has substantial evidence against him, why don't you go to court house and read court documents there are public records and then make your comments. I can't believe that someone would be that dumb to enter comments that he was innocent. This was terrible crime he committed I really feel bad for the family member in this article How do think they feel and how much damage was done. Did we ever think of that.