Connections.Mic
8.11.6 | Claire Lampen
Austin James Wilkerson, a student at University of Colorado, Boulder, was convicted of raping "a helpless young woman" — but will not serve time for it, a judge ruled on Wednesday. Wilkerson took advantage of the fact the woman was drunk, promised her friends he'd care for her and instead, sexually assaulted her.
Wilkerson's crime would typically earn him four to 12 years in prison, according to the Guardian. In Colorado, his term could've been longer — he would've stayed in prison until "deemed fit." Instead, Judge Patrick Butler sentenced him to two years of work release and 20 years probation.
Which is to say, the 22-year-old won't be going to prison — he'll be attending school (he's currently suspended) or going to work, and returning to the county jail at night.
"I've struggled, to be quite frank, with the idea of, 'Do I put him in prison?'" Butler said, according to Boulder's Daily Camera. "I don't know that there is any great result for anybody. Mr. Wilkerson deserves to be punished, but I think we all need to find out whether he truly can or cannot be rehabilitated."
