CA--Victims appalled by child rapist’s light sentence
For immediate release May 27, 2018
Statement by: Melanie Jula Sakoda, Volunteer East Bay Leader for SNAP, the Survivors Network, 925-708-6175, [email protected]
A convicted California child rapist has been sentenced to just 90 days of house arrest and five years of probation. According to the news report, Lyle Burgess will not even be required to register as a sex offender.
We are deeply disturbed by this all too lenient sentence. A child has been given a life sentence. Other children may well be at risk by the decision to forgo sex offender registration. We call on the court and prosecutors to explain publicly why a man who raped a five year old girl has received punishment more appropriate for a purse snatcher than a child molester.
This, like the light sentence awarded to rapist Brock Turner by Judge Aaron Persky, shows the need to educate those who are part of the legal system on the long term effects of sexual assault. These heinous crimes deserve consistent, appropriate sentencing.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - Melanie Jula Sakoda (925-708-6175, [email protected]), Tim Lennon (415-312-5820,[email protected]); Becky Ianni (703-801-6044,[email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director