The headline says it all: “Sexual Assault Victim Must Pay Her Attacker Spousal Support”
A San Diego judge ordered Crystal Harris to pay $1,000 a month in spousal support to her ex-husband — just as soon as he finishes up his six year prison sentence for sexually assaulting her. As 10News reports, “The entire assault was caught on tape and what it captured was enough to convict Shawn Harris of a felony — forced oral copulation.”
So why is a victim being forced to pay her attacker? According to Judge Gregory Pollock, it’s because Crystal Harris brought home six figures worth of bacon while Shawn Harris was unemployed.
“I can’t look at a 12-year marriage where one side is making $400 a month, the other side is making over $11,000 and say no spousal support,” Pollock said in court. “That would be an abuse of discretion.”
It sounds like a miscarriage of justice, but the law is written so that it only excludes attempted murderers from the right to receive spousal support. Another case of a bad law forcing a bad judgement (or a judge unwilling to exercise his discretion in a case that cries out for it).
If the Tea Party gets their way, all of America will be like this. This is a perfect example of what the conservatives call: good old fashioned American values. Not a partisan issue my Aunt Matilda! Vote Democrat and vote for justice.
Comment by Steve — November 4, 2011 @ 15:55
Ah, I suspect it’s more a case of a terribly drafted law: most of the Tea Party types would probably prefer an exception that prevents men from receiving spousal support from their wives. (Because no “real man” would ever accept it anyway, amirite?)
Comment by Nicholas — November 4, 2011 @ 17:13