Alleged Female Rapist Gets No-Jail Plea Deal

(Norman, Oklahoma) A 22-year-old woman charged with raping a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of outraging public decency, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to a hand slap. April Dawn Cole received a three-year deferred sentence, a $200 fine, and $200 in victim's compensation. Defense attorney Steve Stice said she didn't want to risk going to trial so she took the misdemeanor plea.

Cole took an Alford plea where she admits that there was sufficient evidence to convict her while maintaining that she did not commit the crime. By convicting Cole of a misdemeanor equivalent to a traffic ticket, Special Judge Reg Gaston demonstrates what makes him "Special." In offering a no-punishment resolution to the case, prosecutor Victoria Gillispie seems to be special also. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that both the judge and the prosecutor are on Cole's Christmas card list.

Frankly, I'm part of the public and my decency has been outraged by the decision of the court. Consequently, somebody should go and apply slaps to the hands of Gaston and Gillispie.

Imagine what would happen if a man allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl and there was enough evidence to convict. Would he walk?