(Stamford, Connecticut) In June 2005, 31-year-old athletics coach at Eagle Hill School, Beth Raymond, was charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student and risk of injury to a minor. Eagle Hill is a school for learning-disabled children ages six to 13. Since last year, Raymond's case has taken several turns (see here and here). She initially pleaded not guilty.
In the latest development, Judge John Kavanewsky sentenced Raymond to 18 months in prison.
Last week, from GreenwichTime.com:
Raymond pleaded no contest to one count each of second-degree sexual assault and violation of a protective order and was sentenced to eight years in prison, suspended after 18 months, with credit for time served. A no contest plea means she neither admits guilt nor contests the charges.The two accidents produced mental problems which, apparently, prompted the judge to suspend most of her sentence. The prosecutor agreed that Raymond had brain damage but stated the condition didn't rise to the level of a defense. I'd agree.
She also was sentenced to 15 years of probation, and must register as a sex offender in Connecticut upon her release for a minimum period of 10 years.
If she tries to contact her victim again, the suspension of her sentence will be lifted and she will have to go back to prison to serve her full sentence.
The neurological problems were found when Raymond's lawyer requested an evaluation of her.
Attorney Michael Meehan told Kavanewsky that although Raymond has a master's degree in education, her mental capacity and judgment was impaired by a downhill skiing accident and a serious automobile crash in the late 1990s.
Notably, the 12-year-old victim's parents, through their attorney Eugene Riccio "objected on the record to the judge allowing Raymond to plead no contest, and told Kavanewsky the victim's family felt the jail term was too light." Since Raymond gets credit for time served, I estimate that she only has about six months left behind bars.
Tip: Don Morgenstern
No comments:
Post a Comment