Man who raped four teenagers gets no jail time, judge says: 'Incarceration isn't appropriate'

[musette_sf]

Source: Washington Post

A New York man who pleaded guilty to rape and sexual abuse for assaulting four teenage girls during parties at his parents’ home will not face jail time after a judge on Tuesday sentenced him to eight years probation.

Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III said he “agonized” over the case of 20-year-old Christopher Belter, who was accused of committing the crimes when he was 16 or 17. Belter pleaded guilty in 2019 to a series of felony charges that included third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse, as well as two misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse.

Although Belter faced a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, Murphy concluded that jail time for the man “would be inappropriate” in a ruling that shocked the courtroom.

“I’m not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case because there was great pain. There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case,” Murphy said, according to WKBW. “It seems to me that a sentence that involves incarceration or partial incarceration isn’t appropriate, so I am going to sentence you to probation.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/17/newyork-christopher-belter-rape-probation/

---

Slouching Towards Gilead

[Sherman A1]

1. Disgusting

He should have served every damn day of the maximum sentence available for his crimes.

[CrispyQ]

2. What the hell?

"There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case."

But incarceration isn't appropriate?

[AllyCat]

45. But he prayed and that gave him the answer

That the demon he worships doesn’t like women either.

[dchill]

69. He prayed to the blond, blue eyed misogynistic Jayzus.

[Hulk]

50. "He prayed over it".....??

We are becoming as dark ages crazy as the jihadists extremists.

Get your bat shit crazy religious crap OUT of our government.

The judge should be thrown out.

[Deuxcents]

3. What? He's a repeat offender

Just what would be “appropriate “ for this judge to consider harsher punishment?

[Initech]

4. That is some bullshit!

So between this and Rittenhouse, does that mean that rape and murder are basically legal now?

[musette_sf]

13. Well, rape has been eliminated from Texas.

There are only Godly men who generously donate their holy seed whenever and to whomever they so desire, and Godly vessels who should be grateful to be filled with the holy seed of ANY Godly man.

Blessed be the meek. Blessed be the silent. Blessed be the fruit. May the Lord open.

[Lonestarblue]

30. I'm sure Abbott is busily erasing rape statistics from state records.

I hope his statement comes back to haunt him next year.

[Paladin]

34. Back off Texas. This is a NY travesty.

Save your Texas-bashing for an appropriate thread. Trust me, you won't have to wait very long.

[musette_sf]

35. Former Ft Bend and Harris Cty resident here

The comment was about Scabbott declaring an end to rape, not to Texas in general.

[Paladin]

37. Doesn't read that way.

Of course, that's just the opinion of a life-long Texas Democrat. So make of it what you will.

[txwhitedove]

40. I agree with you, many things turn too quickly to Texas bashing. Friends, it's not the

State, it's those stupid repubs in office.

[SCantiGOP]

43. and how did those Repubs get into office?

n/t

[Paladin]

46. Not all of us get to live in liberal strongholds like South Carolina.

(Sarcasm simile, because some will require it.)

[SCantiGOP]

72. No sarcasm

We both live in hopeless redneck kingdoms, with small chance of reprieve anytime.

[Paladin]

73. Agreed. And yet we still try. (nt)

[cannabis_flower]

62. It would be nice

If all the goobers that live in Gohmert and other bumfuck Egypt parts of Texas would vote for Democrats. Those of us who live in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio are embarrassed by some of our fellow Texans. It would be nice if some of the people moving to Texas would move somewhere besides these Democratic strongholds and then we could get rid of people like Gohmert. As it is eventually, the Democratic strongholds may get big enough to win statewide elections in Texas. Until then all those of us in Houston and other less red areas can do is continue to vote and roll our eyes at the yokels.

[txwhitedove]

66. Sadly elected by stupid Republicans. I'm in Houston area, definitely more progressive.

[Torchlight]

70. This life-long Texas Dem didn't read into as you did.

And just took it at face value.

[Initech]

41. Yeah it must be nice to be a right wing white Christian male.

As long as you're that far to the right, you can do pretty much anything and get away with it!

[Rebl2]

5. Remove

Him from the bench NOW!

[musette_sf]

6. you know what to do

Niagara County District Attorney
[e-mail]

Judge Murphy
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[bringthePaine]

7. the judge should be removed from the bench - I know a refuKKKchicken when I see one...

[turbinetree]

8. You prayed.....

[bluestarone]

16. EXACTLY!!

WTF???

[JudyM]

17. Normal judicial deliberation step taught in all the best law schools. Also, "boys will be boys"

defense had to be weighed in behind the scenes since it couldn’t be argued in open court.

[Tommymac]

31. The decision needs to be overturned. Religion is NOT a part of Our governing principles.

Prayer has NO PLACE in a courtroom.

Law, Legal Statutes and process does. Nothing else.

Me thinks the ACLU needs to get involved.

And this 'judge' needs to be thrown off the bench - impeached and convicted.

New York (rightly) got rid of a Governor for sexual abuses...

[turbinetree]

32. Exactly........

[Skittles]

76. disgusting

what a bunch of crap

[BlueJac]

9. From what I've seen this year criminals walk..

It must be some new law that says RAPE, MURDER, INSURRECTION, is no big deal! WTF is happening to this ONCE GREAT country?

[diverdownjt]

23. And all from the so called "Law and Order" party....

[quakerboy]

59. ** as long as you are white, preferrably rightwing

Of course, being fair to history, it has usually been exactly so in this "once great" country, we just kept it more common knowledge and less in the news.

[Ocelot II]

10. The guy is going to do it again. This was not a one-off involving drunk teenagers,

it seems to have been a deliberate setup so this kid could rape girls. And he's an admitted porn addict. He's got some serious problems, and betting kroner to krugerrands he'll reoffend. Of course that will violate his probation but that won't help the women he rapes.

[ancianita]

11. Probation for four felonies equals sexist rule of law made of, by and for men.

“I’m not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case because there was great pain. There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case... It seems to me... "

[steventh]

12. rich white rapist upstate NY

Hmph. Outrageous. But not surprising.

One of the victims was throwing up in the bathroom after the sentencing. Hmph.

I can't get behind Washington Post paywall. My source of info:

https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/lewiston-man-who-previously-pleaded-guilty-to-rape-receives-no-jail-time-sentenced-to-eight-years-probation

[mahannah]

14. Castration would be appropriate.

[GopherGal]

36. For the judge or for the rapist? (n/t)

[Ray Bruns]

38. Yes.

[malthaussen]

15. What the actual fuck.

Grandstanding judge makes it all about him: "Oh, how I agonized and prayed, before I decided the dirty little sluts got what they deserved!" Oh, wait, I'm extrapolating again.

Although frankly, the maximum 8 years the defendant could have gotten for raping four girls seems just a *bit* too little. But sure as hell more "appropriate" than probation!

-- Mal

[JohnSJ]

18. At Stanford in California, a judge who pulled that crap was recalled

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/06/05/617071359/voters-are-deciding-whether-to-recall-aaron-persky-judge-who-sentenced-brock-tur

[irisblue]

24. Rapist Brick Turner is working in Ohio

https://www.voxbliss.com/brock-turner-now/

snip-"Turner works for a cooling technology company in his native Ohio
As of 2021, Turner works for a cooling technology company in his native Ohio. Per The Daily Mail, Brock’s entry-level job earns him $12 an hour. Turner lives in his parent’s home in Bellbrook, Ohio, and drives a 2008 Chrysler.

A source speaking to The Daily Mail revealed that Brock is a reserved character. “He worked in shipping and receiving and he is now in quality control,” the source said.

“He’s been with us for just over two years. He’s really quiet and polite. He doesn’t say much and he’s not really chatty with anyone. He just keeps his head down and does his job, no problems.”
More there

[lonely bird]

19. Probation?

Well, shit, he’ll never do it again for sure.

Yeesh.

[irisblue]

20. It gets worse, from the article.

"...Belter, of Lewiston, N.Y., will have to register as a sex offender as part of his sentence. Murphy told Belter in court that the probation sentence would be “like a sword hanging over your head for the next eight years.” The judge did not elaborate on why he did not impose jail time."

snip--"...“If Chris Belter was not a White defendant from a rich and influential family, in my experience … he would surely have been sentenced to prison.”

Barry N. Covert, Belter’s attorney, declined to comment. After the sentencing was handed down, the defense attorney told reporters that Belter regretted what he did as a teen.

“He is tremendously remorseful for what he has done,” Covert said, according to the Buffalo News. “There are clients who are never able to empathize with their victims no matter how much counseling they receive. Chris isn’t one of them.”

last snip..."“During the rape, he told her to stop being such a baby. She focused her attention on the leaves of the plant as she cried during the attack,” Murphy wrote, according to the News. “The Defendant told her that, if she stopped resisting, it wouldn’t hurt as much.”


The article does mention that his parents are up on charges as well and " helped groom the women"

[Fla Dem]

21. Elected position, Registered Democrat

Even Dems can be total disgraces. Also look at one of his accomplishments...."he developed a domestic violence program that became the model for the rest of NY".

I think someone got to him.



https://trellis.law/judge/matthew.j.murphy.iii

[Floyd R. Turbo]

22. Who the fuck did he pray to?

[Percy]

25. This is heartbraking.

How is this evil idiot a judge?

[CousinIT]

26. Male privilege and patriarchy.

Disgusting.

[onenote]

27. Judge is retiring in January

Mandatory retirement at age 70. In the election held earlier this month to replace him, a Republican defeated the Democratic candidate.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

28. If you watch the video reporting the initial changes you will fully understand

https://www.wkbw.com/news/lewiston-teen-charged-with-rape-at-home-where-parents-are-accused-of-hosting-booze-fueled-parties

[Whiskeytide]

80. Yep. $. Lots of $. n/t

[appleannie1]

29. Reminds one of the 'Honorable' SC Justice Kavanaugh

Cohen represents one of the victims and is outraged with the sentence. Cohen says there were "zero consequences" for violating his previous probation.

“He is privileged. He comes from money. He is white. He was sentenced as an adult, appropriately — for an adult to get away with these crimes is unjust,” Cohen remarked.

Cohen noted how difficult it was for his client to hear Belter will not go to jail.

“I believe she’s in the bathroom throwing up, right now, excuse me," described Cohen before leaving the courthouse.

[Smackdown2019]

33. Where in the heck were the parents?

This party that had Four rapes when he was 16 is a bit unbelievable. The parents were naive in their assumption that their 16 year would be okay alone at their place... I am assuming on a weekend, since that is when parties usually occur.... Parents inner gut would let make one feel... don't trust your house to your 16 year old...


Of course! This is only half of the problem... the 16 year old raped.... WTF!

[jmbar2]

39. They were also involved.

They were participants, providing booze and a party house. They created the setting for him to do it.

I read they are also hosts of female exchange students. The parents are still facing charges.

[Tumbulu]

44. I wonder if the plan is to come down harder on the mon and step dad

who seemed to be fueling the catastrophic “parties” .

Especially since the kid is now with his dad. Could be more to this that is easy to see in headlines and reporting.

[Smackdown2019]

55. Throw the book at the parents!

Sad that the parents signal this to be an okay thing for the offender; nevertheless the parents should be held for the unlawful acts committed.

[lagomorph777]

42. I agree; incarceration isn't appropriate.

Something much harsher is appropriate.

And then incarceration for the judge.

[diverdownjt]

47. Till Jesus come home...AMEN

[Hekate]

48. Serial rapists start young and they don't stop unless they are made to stop...

Now excuse me while I go vomit.

[Bettie]

51. And frankly, our judicial system

doesn't seem interested in stopping them most of the time.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

77. Lock rapists up forever and..

Cut thier dicks off and the balls too.

That way you take away thier weapon and tone down the testosterone.

Snip,snip asshole.

[VarryOn]

81. Add child molesters to that program, too! Nt

[I_UndergroundPanther]

84. I agree

Molesters cant be cured and they won't stop until they are forced to stop.

I'd definately be ok with castrating them compleatly and giving them estrogen shots by force if nesesary to
To dim thier twisted urges.

So yeah lock them up forever in general population.

[Sapient Donkey]

49. This guy will harm more people in the future

[FakeNoose]

56. Maybe not - he was only 16 when this was going on

The boy's Mom and stepfather were supplying booze to the underage kids, and looking the other way when sex was going on their house. So who's really to blame here? The parents of course.

Also why are the parents of the girls off the hook? Don't the girls' parents know or care when their daughters are going to unsupervised parties with alcohol and boys? My parents raised 7 girls (plus 2 boys) and they watched us like a hawk during our teenage years. Why aren't today's parents taking responsibility for their kids any more? There's a lot of blame to go around in this story, it's not just the boy.

This boy is now living with his Dad, and hopefully there's still time to rehabilitate him. The girls will need rape counseling of course, and one hopes their parents are taking their responsibility more seriously. I don't know what's going to happen to the boy's Mom and stepfather, their trial hasn't started yet.

[Wahyee]

78. None of the other blame rises to the level of serial rape

The guy is a menace to society, not a victim, and should be incarcerated.

[yardwork]

83. Most sixteen year olds don't rape people. Those who do usually don't stop.

They especially don't stop when their behavior is excused and rationalized.

And, teen girls who go to parties don't deserve to be raped and it's not their fault if they're raped - even if they were drinking. Rape is a violent crime, not "kids being kids."

[Joinfortmill]

52. No words. Just a primal scream.

[milestogo]

53. Chemical or surgical castration, perhaps?

I prayed over it.

[Ferrets are Cool]

54. Just ONE more reason gods should never be consulted in criminal cases.

[dlk]

57. I'm guessing the trauma suffered by the victims never crossed this judge's mind

Or, perhaps, he was remembering his own youth. It’s difficult to imagine the thought process for giving a pass on jail time for a serial rapist who was more than old enough at the time of his crimes to know right from wrong.

[gopiscrap]

58. that's bullshit

[C Moon]

60. "Help me decide. He's white. I can't throw him in with those people of color I put in there."

god (waking up from a nap): Godly yawns, "Boys will be boys."
"Thank you lord!"

[muriel_volestrangler]

65. It's "16 or 17" because there were multiple crimes over 18 months

The crimes took place between February 2017 and August 2018 at Belter’s parents’ home in a wealthy neighborhood of Lewiston, a few miles outside Niagara Falls. During that time, three 16-year-old girls and a 15-year-old girl were assaulted in four separate incidents, according to the judge.

The “party house” label at Belter’s family home was fueled by his mother, Tricia Vacanti, now 50; his stepfather, Gary Sullo, 56; and Jessica M. Long, 42, a family friend, who allegedly supplied teen girls with alcohol and marijuana, according to state police. The three adults, who police say helped groom the women for sexual assaults by Belter, have pleaded not guilty in Lewiston Town Court to misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and unlawfully dealing with a child. None of them responded to requests for comment Wednesday.

The criminal was already placed on probation, but broke the terms:

In 2018, Belter, then 17, was charged with first-degree rape, third-degree rape and sexual abuse for the assaults. As part of a plea deal, Belter pleaded guilty in 2019 to lesser felony charges of third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse. The judge at the time, Sara Sheldon, placed Belter on two years’ interim probation and gave him the chance to apply for youthful offender status in his sentencing, which would have lessened the maximum prison time and allowed him to not register as a sex offender.

Sheldon, who has since retired, predicted Belter would struggle to comply with the restrictions placed on him in his initial probation — and she was proved right. Belter acknowledged in court last month that he had violated his probation by installing software on his personal computer that allowed him to view pornography, which was restricted. Belter had told his probation officer that he had been watching porn since he was 7 years old, the News reported.

[Aristus]

63. He must be a good swimmer or something.

Those guys seem to get off easy...

[lark]

64. Hope the judge gets his karmic due for this assholery.

I hate repug misogynistic idiot judges who have determined women/girls have no value and rape means nothing because it's men hurting worthless folks. Who csres what the law and sentencing guidelines are, the judges don't care about the law - only helping right wing white rapists. That's the repug mind set when it comes to white men raping. Minorities are given no such lenience.

[rpannier]

74. Post 21 of the thread has him as a Democrat

[TexasBushwhacker]

67. At least he will be a registered sex offender

Hopefully for life.

[SergeStorms]

68. I can't add to anything that's already been written here.....

so I'm just going to bang my head against the wall.

[pansypoo53219]

75. living in a man's world. what did the VICTIMS WANT?

[Luciferous]

79. No, what's inappropriate is raping teenage girls! Wtf?! And of course he "prayed on it" 🙄

[truthisfreedom]

82. Mixing religion with justice is inappropriate.

Someday we’ll have secular government.