VICTIM BLAMING
Luis A. Bola?os
Director at GET BIT Investigations / Law Enforcement Expert / Victim’s Advocate
I was asked by community leaders in the city of Seymour, Missouri to give this article titled “Vilified for transparency?” and authored by Dan Wehmer a good read. I happily obliged. The author, Mr. Wehmer, is the Citizen’s editor, publisher and owner (webstercountycitizen.com). Mr. Wehmer conducted this interview of the county prosecutor Ben Berkstresser. I only had to get to the third and fourth sentences of this article to clearly understand the intent of the writer.
The third and fourth lines state:
"Not because of the highly controversial plea agreement with a pair of Amish brothers who admitted to having sex with their sister, who was 12 years old when the acts started."
Mr. Wehmer and Webster county prosecutor Ben Berkstresser are the perfect poster children as to why the term “victim blaming” has come to fruition over the years. Both (amazingly) may NOT be aware that an adult can NOT legally obtain consent from a child for sexual intercourse. If any adult has sexual intercourse with a child…..it’s called RAPE.
The two brothers did NOT “have sex” with their 12 year old sister. They RAPED their 12 year old sister……on at least six (6) different occasions. Their admission to “Having sex with their sister” is legally an admission to RAPING their 12 year old sister. The use of the word “acts” is an extremely poor attempt to soften and minimize and/or purposely refrain from using the word “Rape” and obnoxiously reeks of victim blaming.
On September 8th, a judge, along with the full support and recommendation from county prosecutor Ben Berkstresser, sentenced Aaron and Petie Schwartz, two Amish brothers from Seymour, Missouri, to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service. The two brothers must also pay $250 to law enforcement and are required to write an apology letter to the Amish community.
Webster County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin J. Berkstresser stated to the press that he offered a plea deal for lesser charges of third degree child molestation because of lack of evidence and cooperation by everyone involved. (This is in spite of the FACT that the 12 year old victim was impregnated during one of the rapes committed by her brothers, and actually gave birth to his child.) Mr. Wehmer admits he has had an on going relationship with the county prosecutor for 20 years. This may explain why this unique audience/interview was granted in the first place.
Mr. Wehmer fondly states and fondly reminisces, that he would have picked Benjamin J. Berkstresser as his first choice of who would coach his children’s ball team. Maybe Mr. Berstresser is capable of that. Who knows. What I do know is that Webster County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin J. Berkstresser should NOT be the first choice when it comes to who should protect your children and your community from sexual predators….also known as “rapists”. He had an opportunity to do just that. He failed miserably.
The title of the article should truly read:
"Vilified for Victim Blaming"
Our investigation continues.......
Respectfully,
Chief of Police (Retired), Redlands Police Department, CA & Director (Retired), Industry Solutions, Esri
4 年I wish all I could say is WTF but this is an outright travesty of justice. You are absolutely correct that they didn’t “have sex” with their sister, they RAPED her multiple times. The prosecutor is protecting 2 sex offenders and shouldn’t be in the position he currently holds.