Reggie Stafford was on trial for raping and sodomizing a 5-year-old girl, then paying the mother for the child’s services. Marc Bennett explains a key moment in the trial, when the defense opened the door to Stafford’s interview with police. It’s evidence Bennett said he couldn’t have brought up otherwise, and even after he could, he had to walk a thin line to avoid a mistrial:
Prosecutor Marc Bennett said a big challenge of child sex abuse trials is having the youngsters testify about the crimes committed against them. This is Part 2 in a series giving a behind-the-scenes look at a trial last week about a mother who had prostituted her daughter to a neighbor.
Last week, I covered a mother and her male neighbor on trial for prostituting the woman’s child. Prosecutor Marc Bennett, a regular guest on Common Law, sat down afterwards to give us an inside look at the trial.
This week offers a series of videos with Bennett’s insights. While the case is repugnant, understanding these crimes is important, because it enables us to better protect our children. And as Bennett explains, the cases are tough on the prosecutor, too:
Previously on Common Law, Kerman Williams was convicted of forgery. He was sentenced to probation — that lasted three days, before he was pulled over on his bike by a Wichita police officer at Market and Orme. He returned to face Judge David Kaufman on a probation violation.
Last week, I wrote an update about drug court and its success in dealing with felony offenders in Sedgwick County. Meanwhile, Deputy David Rank had taken over working security for Judge Joe Kisner’s Thursday sessions. He talked about the challenges of providing security in an environment that prides itself on openness and non-punitive measures. Still, sometimes people have to go to jail.
Oscar Ortiz was one of four men convicted of an armed robbery that netted them $7 last year. Three different judges granted the others probation but prosecutors asked Judge David Kaufman to send Ortiz to prison. Ortiz, supported by his family, told Kaufman that seven months in the county jail was enough for him to know he didn’t want more time behind bars.
In 2006, Kansas legislators passed Jessica’s Law to give harsher penalties for people convicted of sexually molesting children. Public defender Lacy Gilmour argued that, with people now facing 25 years to life in prison, the courts should more closely examine the mental state of the accusers.
The law is so new, however, there are no appellate cases to help guide judges in such requests. Prosecutor Justin Edwards said he’s only seen such motions granted twice in his nine years on the job.
