Stacey Dean Rambold: Montana Rapist Given One Month Rape Sentence Now Faces 10 Years In Prison

Stacey Dean Rambold is a former Montana school teacher who was given a one month rape sentence by a judge, only to have the court overturn this decision. Rambold now faces 10 years in prison.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, a Texas judge said a raped teen was not a real victim since she wasn’t a virgin, and only gave a 45-day rape sentence to the 18-year-old rapist.

In the fall of 2007, the rape victim was a 14-year-old named Cherise Morales and a student in one of Rambold’s classes at Billings Senior High in Montana. Morales told a church group leader about the rape, and Rambold was charged in 2008 with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent. Despite the fact that Morales killed herself in February of 2010, the judge in the case handed down only a one-month rape sentence.

According to Montana Judge G. Todd Baugh, Stacey Dean Rambold was given “the right kind of sentence” for having sexual relations with Morales. Judge Baugh claimed the rape victim was “probably as much in control of the situation as was the defendant,” and apparently the girl’s physical appearance played a factor in the judge’s decision. These comments led to public outrage, and eventually the decision was overturned, leading to Baugh’s one-month suspension and the decision to retire at the end of 2014. The case then resumed under a new judge.

The Billings Gazette reported that Rambold made brief remarks to the family where he apologized for what he had done.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Cherice’s family and pray that they can find peace. The same goes for my family. I only hope that they can find the end of this as well — and heal,” Rambold said. “I’ve worked hard trying to do everything I can to become a better person. I’ve gone through counseling. I go to church, and working, but I’m not perfect.”

Cherice’s father, John Moralez, said, “I wish this on nobody. My daughter is not with us. I can’t stand up here and hate the man. I just don’t think 30 days is enough. I just want justice to be done.”

The mother, Auliea Hanlon, said that she believes the rape played a role in Cherise’s suicide.

“Stacey Rambold’s actions were definitely a factor in her decision to take her life,” Hanlon said. “If you have a daughter, go home and hug her because I can’t hug my daughter no more.”

The final decision in the case had Rambold facing a possibility of 15 years in prison while the defense wanted only two years. Judge Randal Spaulding credited Rambold with time served and reduced his maximum 15-year sentence down to 10 years.