Source
r/Advice•
OracleOperator

The person who raped me filed for an appeal o a 25 to life sentence. What’s next?

I am one of many victims, due to the court procedures I wasn’t really made aware of the number of victims or their names. I know it’s more than I can count on my fingers. After a year of getting therapy for PTSD and testifying in court this appeal came within a month of sentencing. I haven’t even legally been made aware by the court system yet that the appeal was filled. I’m just so exhausted mentally and want so bad to get back to feeling like a normal human being. I just don’t know where to begin again after finding this out. Any advice would be worth something to me at this point. I’ve struggled for so long opening up about this to family and friends being able to ask for help on here is good because anytime I try to discuss this I just break down and get so worked up I can’t even speak.

Posted Feb 25, 2018, 6:28 PM UTC

109
A-Deo-et-Rege•

If there's an appeal, there's a hearing, so as a victim and "An interested party" you can surely attend and speak.

You need to decide if your participation worth it to you, some folks "get back to being a normal human" by attending and speaking at these hearings, others by working in therapy. There's no right answer here, just what works for you.

10
OracleOperatorOP•

Your right, that’s the problem I need to really analyze and decide if I can handle it or not. I’m afraid if the other victims don’t show or I don’t he’ll get a smaller sentencing than 25 to life. Which was the sentence given a month ago. Even though I testified my advocate read a letter on my behalf during sentencing for me because I was super exhuasted mentally. This is a person who has been convicted of 8 counts of rape, 7 counts of kidnapping, 7 counts of extortion, 1 count of compelling prostitution and 1 count of gross sexual imposition. I have no real understanding of how the appeal process works and don’t know how I’ll take it if he’s given a lighter sentence. A part of me wants to call up the local news station and just plaster his mugshots all over town and see if there are more victims because I’m just so angry inside. The detective who worked the case had evidence of many more women but they couldn’t be identified.

2
A-Deo-et-Rege•

You've been traumatized, and you need to heal. One of the things that is often most beneficial is a sense of control, among the many things taken from you was that. I get it.

Convicts apply for an appeal not so much b/c there's been some judicial misconduct or some obvious violation of their rights in the trial process, but simply b/c they d not like the verdict. That's not grounds for a successful appeal, nor is it likely to alter the sentence given the multiple counts of pretty hideous acts he's been found guilty of, there are sentence guidelines, and the judge is fairly bound to adhere to them.

What might help here is a chat with the DA who prosecuted the case, tell hi m your concerns and let him/her explain the process and probable outcome. That way, you get the info (and reassurance) you need w/o necessarily exposing yourself to that vulnerability all over again.

1
chemouseyModerator•

Sorry you have to deal with this. The system can really re-victimize the victims over and over again through appeals and probation hearings. I would urge you to remain active in your attackers persecution to keep him behind bars; but I understand if you feel drained and want to walk away from the situation to get back to a normal life, or as close as you can get to normal given your experiences.

I don’t know how any of this process works in regards to you though. Hang in there, best wishes.

1
OracleOperatorOP•

Thank you. It’s really tough to try and reach out to other people for advice face to face. I finally decided to ask on here because I just felt better about being anonymous. I want to feel like I’m able to stand up for myself and participate in this appeal process I just don’t know how. And the moment I finally finished with my therapy this happens, and I feel like I’m just going backwards now instead of foward.

1
excaligirltoo•

I am not sure what country you are in, but in the US appeals, especially with a sentence of that magnitude, are pretty much automatic and most all fail. And they are limited as to what they can claim.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Focus on your healing.

1
alexela805•

If you are one of many then you can be sure that hes going to be convicted, and maybe even harder since the jury will know he doesnt regreat since you know, hes appealing.

However this man is lower than scum and the fact that this happened to you is absolutely terrible. Just remember that you are not alone and if you are exausted by the fact that you have to testify again ( which you are rightfully so, appeals are a part of the justice system that can be very disgusting) juste remember that your efforts, your help, sets exemples for other women that went or are going through what you are living, your testimonny helps make the world a better place.

I don't know if what I said is any help, but the only advice that I can give you is to not give up, for your sake and the one of others.

0
OracleOperatorOP•

Thank you for your kind words. I’m trying so hard to keep my head up I just don’t even know what to think let alone where to begin. I’m just afraid this process will be drugged out like the court proceedings were. I was supposed to be set up with this private fowarding mail system through the UPS to keep him from mailing me from jail and that hasn’t been completed yet and the same for an other program called SAFE where the state prision is supposed to monitor who he contacts to make sure it’s not the victims. It really discourages me into believing that the protection offered will be completed and suffice if he’s just going to be able to sit in a county jail while waiting for this appeal.

1
alexela805•

I'm no lawyer, so what im about to say may be false, but sounds to me that if he got 25 to life, and there are many victims, then the case is pretty solid and the proofs are there. But again its up to you to decide wether you can handle it, testifying for some helps, knowing that you can make a difference and what-not, however you have been through alot, and not going wouldnt make you a bad person. And if I understand right he's able to contact you while in jail ? Thats seriously fucked up, I hope that the regulations will be put in place soon so the letters stop.

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