Current Events > Man who raped 4 girls gets no jail time, sentenced to probation instead.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Man who raped four teenagers gets no jail time, judge says: Incarceration isnt appropriate

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 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 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.

Im 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 isnt appropriate, so I am going to sentence you to probation.

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.

Steven M. Cohen, an attorney for one of the victims, denounced the judges sentencing, saying to reporters Tuesday, Justice was not done here. He told The Washington Post on Wednesday that his client, who was joined by some of the other victims in the courtroom, was deeply disappointed in the sentencing.

My client threw up in the ladies room following the sentencing, Cohen said. 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, Belters attorney, declined to comment. At the sentencing hearing, the defense attorney said 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 isnt one of them.

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

Maybe it's just me, but I find what the judge said (about praying) highly inappropriate in a court setting.

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Yea this makes no sense. I think some shady deals were made between the rapists family and this judge

Wow, a PoS gets off with no downside.

This is the justice system some will argue in favor of.
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St0rmFury posted...

Im not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case

Ahhhh so he's a moron
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investigate every case he's ever had, and don't give him another one until you're done.

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Bad things should happen to that piece of fucking garbage judge and the rapist he let walk free.

I'm confused how this even happens

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itachi15243 posted...

I'm confused how this even happens

zero oversight and even less accountability

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Dang, thought this would be the UK or Canada

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I read the article. Apparently, he feels remorseful for what he did, so jail time would be inappropriate... But a previous judge placed him on a 2 year probation, that he violated multiple times. No repercussions for that? Can we throw this judge in jail along with the rapist?

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Paladins on this site arguing that vigilante justice is never the right thing. Yeah, this "justice" system is working just fine!

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Cristopher Belter. Okay.

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St0rmFury posted...

Maybe it's just me, but I find what the judge said (about praying) highly inappropriate in a court setting.

It's not just you. If god were worth a damn then we wouldn't need a justice system. Keep that shit out of the court room.

Though to be fair, the rapist would be killed in prison.

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pleaded guilty

gets no jail time

fuck that

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NoxObscuras posted...

I read the article. Apparently, he feels remorseful for what he did, so jail time would be inappropriate... But a previous judge placed him on a 2 year probation, that he violated multiple times. No repercussions for that? Can we throw this judge in jail along with the rapist?

Gross. I thought it was going to be one of those roundabout "well we can't let what he did as a minor hurt this adult who said he's sorry" things. But nah, apparently the guy's just a piece of shit and is going to reoffend and that'll be on the judge.

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Sounds about White.

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VioletMassacre posted...

You cant blame the whole system just because this judge is an asswipe.

I agree. Though often times justice hinges on which judge presides over the trial.

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Hopefully the judge loses their seat like the one from the Brock Turner trial.

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VioletMassacre posted...

You cant blame the whole system just because this judge is an asswipe.

You really can, when the justice system allows stuff like that to happen.
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VioletMassacre posted...

You cant blame the whole system just because this judge is an asswipe.

The system allowed this to happen, thus it is literally the fault of the system.

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Yes you can blame the whole system when men of color get thrown in jail over petty shit

Guide posted...

The system allowed this to happen, thus it is literally the fault of the system.

You're crazy if you think the justice system or any system for that matter will operate perfectly and efficiently every single time.

It's far better than any alternative. Realistically speaking.

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Wii_Shaker posted...

You're crazy if you think the justice system or any system for that matter will operate perfectly and efficiently every single time.

It's far better than any alternative. Realistically speaking.

There are two fallacies in your response. Can you figure them out?

Asking the audience, Dora the Explorer style.

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Guide posted...

There are two fallacies in your response. Can you figure them out?

Asking the audience, Dora the Explorer style.

Just be a man and type a rebuttal.


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The problem is the inept judge, not the justice system. Saying the system is what's at fault here implies that the rapist would've gotten the same sentence from any other judge.

Unless of course your argument is that inept or corrupt officials are a problem in the system, which is very true, but still doesnt make the justice system itself wrong.

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Well really, biggest failure of the justice system is the Sackler family walking free.

Wii_Shaker posted...

Just be a man and type a rebuttal.

Ay, quick: I never said (or thought) the thing you said I'd be crazy to think, and unless you've run simulations off of Cephalon Simaris, can you be certain of no better alternatives?

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Guide posted...

Ay, quick: I never said (or thought) the thing you said I'd be crazy to think, and unless you've run simulations off of Cephalon Simaris, can you be certain of no better alternatives?

Enlighten me. Please.

My point is that a justice system is better than no justice system and far more practical than any alternatives that I am aware of.

For the record, I disagree with the judge in this case and don't believe this perv should be let off with just probation and that justice has been served.

I never signed up for nerd semantics.

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Wii_Shaker posted...

Enlighten me. Please.

My point is that a justice system is better than no justice system and far more practical than any alternatives that I am aware of.

For the record, I disagree with the judge in this case and don't believe this perv should be let off with just probation and that justice has been served.

I never signed up for nerd semantics.

You are discussing politics, on Gamefaqs, on Current Events..


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Rather than blame the entire system, all you have to do is blame the part of the system that gives local judges carte blanche to accept bribes behind the table like this without any systems of quick acting oversight to instantly investigate him and shut him down.

The judge needs to be investigated.

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So he prayed and God told him to let a rapist get off free?

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St0rmFury posted...

Im not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence

Judges who say this shit should be immediately disbarred

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Translation: I went to church to think about whether or not to accept the bribe. In the end, the fat wallet weighed more than my conscience.

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St0rmFury posted...

Im not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case because there was great pain

This comment alone should be immediate reason to disqualify the judge and re-try the case. Religious crap has zero place in a criminal trial.

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Sounds about white. Did he rape due to affluenza?

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Turbam posted...

So he prayed and God told him to let a rapist get off free?

the lord works in mysterious ways

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Tyranthraxus posted...

Im not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence

Judges who say this s*** should be immediately disbarred

this

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did he take time to yell at the victims for leading this poor innocent man astray by dressing like whores?
because im willing to bet money thats something we really wants to say

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Any public figure caught praying or talking about praying to god needs to either step down or be removed from their position.

God does not exist and god does not guide you in ensuring justice is served.

Fucking ignorant moron.

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Death penalty

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this is more just a pet peeve, as I dont want to come across as defending this piece of shit.

but its misleading to say man, 20, guilty of raping teenagers when both he and his victims were 16 at the time

Im sure being a youth (although tried as an adult) at the time of the assaults played into this

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I got tagged in this topic and I'm curious why. The message is gone now. >_>

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Looked up photo. EXACTLY what I expected a rapist who is getting off easy to look like.

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Well when justice does not prevail we can always say no system is perfect but that does nothing for the victims.

I hope these two horrible people are in gods hands now as the judge claims.

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Sayoria posted...

Looked up photo. EXACTLY what I expected a rapist who is getting off easy to look like.

Post it, coward.

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SadHumanBeing posted...

Post it, coward.

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A maximum sentence of 8 years on 4 sex crimes? Were a couple of those misdemeanor rape? Wtf.
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Sayoria posted...

I expected a football player, tbh.

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