Perv Pastor Gets Tougher Sentence. Your opinion? (1 Viewer)

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Man Who Tried to Hook Up With 12-Year-Old Girl Gets Extra-Tough Sentence Because He’s a PastorNovember 14, 2014
As much as I loathe child-soliciting creeps like youth pastor Deric Peacock, I’m not entirely sure it’s a sound application of legal principles to give him a tougher sentence than a non-clergy perp.

Deric Peacock, 30, was sentenced to serve five years in prison … by [Virginia] Circuit Court Judge Marcus Long. Peacock had online communications in which he exposed himself and said he fantasized about having sex with what he thought were a 12-year-old girl and her mother, but both were in fact a Christiansburg Police Detective.

Long sentenced Peacock to a total of 20 years, but suspended 15. The five-year sentence is 18 months above the high end of usual guidelines in such cases, county Commonwealth’s Attorney Mary Pettitt said. [The judge] agreed to go above guidelines because of Peacock’s role as a minister.

However, being a hypocrite is not, in and of itself, a jailable offense. And what about the bedrock principle of equal treatment under the law?

Why do you agree or disagree with the sentence the judge imposed?

 

[T Bell]

If you're in an official position of power/authority/privilege vis-a-vis the child you're exploiting (e.g. children, youth counselors, teachers, etc.), then I have no problem with an enhanced sentence for a pastor in a similar relationship so long as it's in line with the sentences being handed down in parallel cases with people in secular positions.

 

[Oink Oink the Pig]

It just goes to show you can't judge a zebra by his stripes.

 

[siffoin]

By nature - predators are opportunistic. And there is no easier or more opportunistic venue for a sexual predator than a church. I'd go so far as to say most churches have at least one member in an active leadership role who is sexual predator lurking and/or feasting on the congregation. When they get caught they plead for "forgiveness"...the foundation upon which the church is built. Whatever punishment society wants to bring upon them cannot be too harsh.

 

[johnnycakes]

"I am presently unable to response responsibly to this poll because I am too intoxicated."

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

By nature - predators are opportunistic. And there is no easier or more opportunistic venue for a sexual predator than a church. I'd go so far as to say most churches have at least one member in an active leadership role who is sexual predator lurking and/or feasting on the congregation. When they get caught they plead for "forgiveness"...the foundation upon which the church is built. Whatever punishment society wants to bring upon them cannot be too harsh.

But that's not the question.

 

[SacramentoBob]

A preacher named Peacock who exposed himself online to a "12-year old girl" in the town of Christiansburg. Almost too good to be true.

 

[jonessed]

If it's consistent with what a teacher, police officer, group leader, etc. would recieve I am OK with it. It shouldn't be tied at all to religion.

 

[siffoin]

By nature - predators are opportunistic. And there is no easier or more opportunistic venue for a sexual predator than a church. I'd go so far as to say most churches have at least one member in an active leadership role who is sexual predator lurking and/or feasting on the congregation. When they get caught they plead for "forgiveness"...the foundation upon which the church is built. Whatever punishment society wants to bring upon them cannot be too harsh.

But that's not the question.

Well he was sentenced to 20 years, but only has to serve 5. That seems like he got off easy to me. Regardless: His sentence was at the high end of what would be typical in a case like this...but it doesn't sound like it was 3 standard deviations above the norm. Every case presents a unique set of issues that is why they are "judged." I believe this guy was treated fairly and equally given the paragraph of information I know about the case, and some of this judgement was based off the position of moral leadership HE CHOSE to represent to the community.

 

[Fennis]

That seems like he got off easy to me.

 

[Fennis]

I voted undecided

 

[jon_mx]

If you're in an official position of power/authority/privilege vis-a-vis the child you're exploiting (e.g. children, youth counselors, teachers, etc.), then I have no problem with an enhanced sentence for a pastor in a similar relationship so long as it's in line with the sentences being handed down in parallel cases with people in secular positions.

If it was an actual sexual assault/molestation where he used his position, absolutely. But this was an online sting where he was not using his position. It could have been entrapment. Hopefully there were no real life victims that this guy attacked.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I have no problem with 5 years in this sort of case. I'm more surprised that the average sentence is so light.

Edit: Furthermore, I'm fine with the extra penalty imposed because the guy is a minister. Pedophiles seek out these sorts of positions because it gives them access to kids. That's an aggravating factor IMO and the same would be true if he was a teacher or camp counselor or something similar.

 

[GroveDiesel]

The only outrage I would have in this case is if other people in positions of authority and access to kids aren't being given similar sentences. And no because it's discriminatory, but because they should be getting those creeps away too.

If anything, it seems light to me. Although, I guess there wasn't actual physical interactions thank goodness.

 

[Zow]

In my state, as some have alluded to, there is a statute permitting harsher sentences for defendants if they are in a position of authority. Assuming this state had some similar legal mechanism, I have zero problem with it.

Plus a judge probably has discretion within the sentencing guidelines.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

A preacher named Peacock who exposed himself online to a "12-year old girl" in the town of Christiansburg. Almost too good to be true.

If they made a movie they would change the names just to make it more believable.

 

[proninja]

No problem with it at all.

 

[Christo]

His choice, his burden.

 

[proninja]

James 3:1 - Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Because who doesn't love an out of context prooftext?

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

I have no problem with 5 years in this sort of case. I'm more surprised that the average sentence is so light.

This.

 

[Pastor]

James 3:1 - Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Because who doesn't love an out of context prooftext?

I agree completely. Even if it is out of context. They shouldn't have been so easy on him actually. But I would also think they would do the same type of punishment for a teacher.