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Long opinions affirming very long federal child sex abuse sentences

By Douglas A. Berman

Any concern that federal judges are too lenient when sentencing those who abuse children sexually should be allayed by some very long sentences affirmed in two long circuit court opinions today.  From the Second Circuit, we get US v. Jass, No. 06-4899 (2d Cir. June 16, 2009) (available here), which affirms a 65-year sentence on a woman involved in the sexual abuse of two adolescent girl.  (Her boyfriend, who was the father of one of the victims, got a sentence of 115 years.)  From the Eleventh Circuit, we get US v. Sarras, No. 08-11757 (11th Cir. June 16, 2009) (available here), which affirms a 100-year sentence on a man involved in the sexual abuse of his step-daughter.  Both cases cover interesting sentencing issues following a long discussion of various other legal issues and after reporting the sordid facts of the crimes...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on June 16, 2009 (boomark / email).