Ex-Montana Teacher-Rapist to Be Re-Sentenced (By a Judge Who Doesn't Slut Shame This Time)

Stacey Rambold.

Last August, I wrote about the case of Stacey Dean Rambold who, upon being convicted of raping a then-14-year-old student, was sentenced to serve 30 days in prison by a slut-shaming judge. Cherice Morales committed suicide at the age of 16 in 2010 after being groomed and raped by Rambold, her former high school teacher. Rambold had pleaded guilty to her rape in 2008.

District Judge G. Todd Baugh, who handed down this absurd sentence, had implied that Morales was responsible for her own rape by saying she was "as much in control of the situation" as Rambold and that she acted "older than her chronological age."

Well, on Wednesday, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that Baugh's ruling was too lenient (duh). In fact, Baugh's slut-shaming comments played a role in the court's reassessment of the sentence. As the Washington Times reports, Justice Michael Wheat wrote, "Judge Baugh's statements reflected an improper basis for his decision and cast serious doubt on the appearance of justice. There is no basis in the law for the court's distinction between the victim’s 'chronological age' and the court's perception of her maturity."

So that's good news, at least. This reevaluation is due at least in part to the public outrage that followed Baugh's sentence. Rambold hasn't been sentenced yet, but the fact that this case is being looked at again demonstrates how important it is to talk about these stories when they emerge in local news sources. National attention on social media and demonstrated public outrage can make a difference - it's up to us to use that power for good.