CA--Victims blast Orange Co. judge over rapist’s sentence

For immediate release: Wednesday, April 8

Statement by Joelle Casteix of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434, [email protected])

We are outraged that an Orange County judge reduced a child rapist’s sentence, claiming the criminal “did not appear to consciously intend to harm (the victim) when he sexually assaulted her.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/kevin-rojano-child-rapist-sentence-reduced_n_7019762.html   

Kevin Jonas Rojano's crime, the judge says “is not typical of a predatory, violent brutal sodomy of a child case,” and for that reason, Judge M. Marc Kelly reduced his sentence.

Already, we suspect, other child molesters are planning to seek leniency just because their assaults were less brutal than others or in some other way “not typical.” That’s just wrong.

A “gentle” rape has as many life-altering and devastating impact as a “violent” rape. It makes no difference whether a victim stumbles across a predator’s path or is actively pursued by a predator.

It’s arrogant of a judge to claim to know another person’s intent. Second, it’s irresponsible of a judge to use his own speculation to help a predator spend less time in prison.

One can debate how many years a predator like Kevin Jonas Rojano should spend behind bars. But his intent isn’t debatable. Unless he’s mentally deficient – and no one suggests that he is – he surely knew he was doing wrong and hurting her.

We call on Judge Kelly to reverse himself – if it’s not too late – and explain his callous and hurtful move.

We also call on anyone else who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by Rojano to come forward. It’s crucial that other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers speak up so Rojano might be charged and convicted again and receive a more appropriate sentence.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We were founded in 1988 and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy 314-566-9790, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003, [email protected], Barbara Blaine 312-399-4747, [email protected]