Abe Satterfield Takes Plea Deal In Sexual Assault Case, Gets Minimal Sentence

She basically gave me every reason why the victim was at fault (she was drinking, she was a tease, it takes two to tango, etc.) and all of the typical bullshit you hear from people who don’t want to believe that something/someone they like could be capable of something so reprehensible. I remember asking her if it had been my sister in the same situation if she would still feel the same way and basically got the answer, “yes.” My grandmother is a warm, considerate and honest woman. This refusal to face ugly truths doesn’t say so much about my granmother’s conscience but more about people’s reluctance to question their beliefs and, by extension, themselves. Too many people feel that through exposing a crime like this, they become tainted by extension. I’ve always painted Iowans with a broad brush as being typically hard-working, pragmatic, honest and stubborn. Unfortunately, those last two qualities can create conflict with one other in situations like this. I hope that the District Court comes down hard on Everson as a sign that morals and laws are applicable to all, regardless of celebrity. Iowa as a state and a university has long been ahead of the curve in regards to women’s rights. If this farcical treatment of violence towards women continues, that history should be all but forgotten.

But in everywhere I practice (at least 9 counties and going up), the County Attorney will speak to the victim and ensure they are agreeable to the plea before it is ever accepted. I have never — EVER — seen a County Attorney strong-armed into a deal that his / her victim wasn’t also agreeable to. It seems light to you and me, sure, but we can’t be sure of what happened in all those closed-door meetings with the victim, with Satterfield (agreeing to testify against Everson, which is huge), etc.

and I think it bears repeating.

We don’t know what evidence they do or do not have in this case. Life ain’t like CSI where some stray hair outside the door magically turns into a hi-def video of the assault and a defiant confession by the end of the episode.

The victim’s testimony is important, but the Duke LaCrosse team might want to discuss that subject with you.

Rape/Sexual Assualt is a serious matter. It should be persued rapidly and adequate resources. While we can look at the matter from a high level and say “not enough is being done”, to make armchair prosecutor second guesses about one particular case gets kind of dicey.

$625 and probation? Are they fucking kidding me?

but what can be done about it? I’m one of the few people here (it seems) who isn’t a lawyer, and legally everything seems like its on the up and up.

Unfortunately, I think the things that rightfully piss so many of us off so much are endemic to rape and sexual assault in America today. Rape often comes down to “he said she said” and many (most?) victims are hesitant to face their accusers in court.

So maybe we should focus on the systemic issues that irritate us. Trying to pin this outrage on JoCo or ICPD seems to exonerate similar agencies elsewhere by extension. Unfortunately, this campus and this community are more common in how rape and sexual assault are treated than they should be. Does that excuse it? No. Should we hold our DA and PD to higher standards than this and not accept reversion to the mean? Yes. Am I going to be incredibly pissed off when some Cyclone fan or someone else gets sanctimonious and tries to make Iowa City out as Sodom of the Cornfields? Hell yes.

I am a brother, and I would hate to have a situation anywhere close this happen to my family.

On the other hand, when you have the amount of booze and hormones running through an area as small as IC/Coralville, bad stuff can and will happen.

Clearly, immediate castrations for all the convicted is a start. Then proceed to make all women wear burqas. Finally, make it like the movie “Demolition Man” where all fluid transfers must be done in a government lab. This plan should solve all problems.

(Sorry if I am too sarcastic here, but it is a difficult topic, and it makes me hope that wiser people than me are making the important decisions.)