Man Who Sent Apology Sentenced for Rape
By KRISTEN GELINEAU
AP
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (March 16) - A man who sexually assaulted a University of Virginia student in 1984 and apologized to her two decades later as part of the Alcoholics Anonymous program was sentenced to 18 months in prison Thursday.
William Beebe, 42, pleaded guilty in November to one count of aggravated sexual battery for his attack on Liz Seccuro.
William Beebe, 42, pleaded guilty in November to one count of aggravated sexual battery for his attack on Liz Seccuro.
Charlottesville Circuit Court Judge Edward Hogshire ordered a 10-year prison sentence with all but 18 months suspended, as long as Beebe performs 500 hours of community service related to issues of sexual assault and alcohol abuse on college campuses. Prosecutors had recommended two years.
"I'm not trying to excuse my behavior, but I was a different person then," Beebe said. "I have a purpose, and that gives life meaning. I didn't have that then."
After the hearing, Seccuro shared a long hug with her husband. Outside court, she said she thought the sentence was "very fair."
2007-03-16 05:16:49 · 11 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
He is taking responsibility for a wrong he commited. He is trying to right his past mistakes, which is a very honorable thing to do. I am sure that when he decided to apologize he knew it could go to court and he would receive punishment. His sentence seems fair to me since much of it was commuted into community service.
2007-03-16 05:24:06 · answer #1 · answered by Nepetarias 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
After weighing and Measuring that story...... a person have to move on in life and in order to do just that you have to accept
the decision made, because he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual battery, and got 10 yrs prison sentence and 500 hrs community service yet still does not justify what he did, he scared Liz Seccuro for life and she will find it hard to live with that stain of knowing that William Beebe sexually Abused her, that is a painful feeling of humiliation and distress caused by the consciousness of pure wrong behaviour, she was ripped of her pride and dignity how can she regain that,
and yes he was trying his hardest to excuse his behaviour, people don't change they go through phases in life which is a stage in a persons psychological developement, and only now he has a purpose and which gives real meaning to life pardon my french (what crap that comes out of a rapist mouth and think that God is a sleeping man) he sure has some repenting to do, that is a matter of speech coming from Liz Seccuro, thinking that it is fair, what a humble human being........May God be with you always Mrs Seccuro........
2007-03-16 16:41:48 · answer #2 · answered by Brie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She should also be made to work in order to repay at least some of the £150,000 that were wasted with the police investigation. That money could have been spent on a worthy cause. Edit: There is a difference between a criminal who starts an investigation by making a false accusation and one who comes in an investigation that has already started and lies. The difference is pretty obvious to me: the one who started the whole thing is directly responsible for the money spent. Furthermore, this woman is despicable. I have all the sympathy for victims of rape and I would like the rapists to get longer sentences. They usually are too short. However, this woman does not have any sympathy for victims of rape, otherwise she would not have done such a thing in the first place. She would have thought that there are women out there whose lives are destroyed by that horrible act of extreme violence and humiliation that is rape. She would have realized that what she has done detracted from the real victims of rape. And any woman with an ounce of empathy would think about the real victims. Since she was a f***king inconsiderate and selfish b**ch to begin with, I have no sympathy whatsoever for her. I think what she showed was sociopathic behavior and frame of mind: do whatever you want as long as it benefits yourself and you show your power and control over others. In fact, not very different from what a rapist thinks. And even though some are clearly exaggerating by equating rape with a false accusation, she is still guilty of a terrible thing. I will reiterate: I have no sympathy for such a person.
2016-03-29 01:42:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it isn't right. Too much time had passed.
The steps read:
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Had he realized the statute of limitations froze when he left the state, it wouldn't be in his best interest to do what he did.
Also there is nothing in the 12 steps that says his apology couldn't have been anonymous.
From the rape to the apology he was an idiot.
2007-03-24 05:10:20 · answer #4 · answered by eddie9551 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Punishment if done with anger only re-creates the cycle of criminality. Penitentiaries are meant for folks to "repent", do penance, re-think their actions and come out a better person. Its not about fair, fair would be the 10 year sentence. Its about victim and criminal both being able to move on and be better folks. As long as the victim has anger they are imprisoned by it. We should know justice and punishment, but as humans we also have enlightenment, which is to transcend anger and heal. If you can accept with penance the consequences of your actions then perhaps you will be shown mercy and in forgiveness and consciousness, we all can move on and do better. I am glad to hear this story, he can now forgive himself as he came clean and she can move on, knowing he had remorse enough to face his evil deed!
2007-03-24 02:48:20 · answer #5 · answered by LTZCHU 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This isn't a easy question to answer. Each individual has different feelings about what happened to them and how they would feel in their heart if their attacker apologized many, many years later. If she was happy with this decision then it was a good one. I'm not sure how I would feel. I want to believe that I would react the same way but I don't know.
2007-03-16 06:28:34 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Too lenient a penalty for the crime ...and he should have been severely fined as well.
By the way, how much time did Tyson get for his alleged rape (6 years)? How much time was Kobe threatened with (10 years)?
Another example of how to screw the system and why any person loses faith in the legal system and "justice". This is anarchy clearly revealed....courts are lotteries.
2007-03-16 05:32:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately any punishment at all is so rare victims of this particular crime are grateful for their attackers receiving any at all. It is a shame that it took so long for him to accept responsibility and step up to the punishment but I for one believe it is more valuable since he is admitting rape to be a crime something many still believe it is not. I hope that his example creates opportunity for other such men to take responsibility for the crimes of their past and help to create stronger laws to protect the victims.
2007-03-16 05:27:20 · answer #8 · answered by Walking on Sunshine 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the victim is happy with the sentence I don't think much else matters.
2007-03-16 05:29:23 · answer #9 · answered by xxx 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since the victim herself said she though it was "very fair" who am I to second guess her. She is the only one with a dog in this fight.
2007-03-16 05:20:37 · answer #10 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋