General Discussion

joeybee12

(56,177 posts) Mon Feb 16, 2015, 01:54 PM Feb 2015

Homeless Ohio woman walked miles to face rapist in court

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A homeless woman who was raped while sleeping under a bridge last year sometimes begged for bus money or walked up to 8 miles over the past year so she could face her attacker in court.

Her determination to be in court helped win a conviction against the man, said a police officer who investigated the case.

"He was counting on her not showing up," said Columbus police detective James Ashenhurst. "If it wasn't for her cooperation, he would have walked."

Paul Hubert, 54, pleaded guilty to rape before the case went to trial and was sentenced Feb. 10 to three years in prison.

http://news.yahoo.com/homeless-ohio-woman-walked-miles-face-rapist-court-164014580.html

Very brave woman.

16 replies

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Highlight:

Homeless Ohio woman walked miles to face rapist in court (Original Post) joeybee12 Feb 2015 OP

What kind of prosecutor would not have helped her get a ride to the trial? djean111 Feb 2015 #1

And just the prosecutor. Where is the Victim's Advocacy Ilsa Feb 2015 #3

gave her bus passes, according to the article. she's still homeless though. i'd think they'd ND-Dem Feb 2015 #7

Hope she got a ride home. Best solution...the news story brings people to her rescue. n/t libdem4life Feb 2015 #2

she doesn't have a home. that's why she was vulnerable to rape. ND-Dem Feb 2015 #8

Allow me to rephrase...Hope she gets the help she needs, including a home even if temporary. libdem4life Feb 2015 #10

THREE YEARS. Is that all? Triana Feb 2015 #4

Duh, court doesn't care about women. lark Feb 2015 #6

Probably get out early for "good behavior" progressoid Feb 2015 #9

Yes, being in jail surrounded by armed guards has that effect on behavior. While they're in there... freshwest Feb 2015 #14

yeah. law has to rethink the punishment for these crimes. against children as well. pansypoo53219 Feb 2015 #11

Not surprised about the sentence length Autumn Colors Feb 2015 #13

Wow ismnotwasm Feb 2015 #5

Jesus, don't they have Victim Advocates in Ohio? Is that state the Third World, or something? MADem Feb 2015 #12

A strong and determined woman. sheshe2 Feb 2015 #15

Only 3 years? Catherine Vincent Feb 2015 #16

djean111

(14,255 posts)

1. What kind of prosecutor would not have helped her get a ride to the trial?

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:09 PM

Feb 2015

Seems strange she would have to go through all of that.

Ilsa

(61,697 posts)

3. And just the prosecutor. Where is the Victim's Advocacy

Reply to djean111 (Reply #1)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:12 PM

Feb 2015

group or dept in all of this? Did she refuse help? Why couldn't they make sure the rapist goes to prison by helping her?

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)

7. gave her bus passes, according to the article. she's still homeless though. i'd think they'd

Reply to djean111 (Reply #1)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:20 PM

Feb 2015

help her get housing.

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)

2. Hope she got a ride home. Best solution...the news story brings people to her rescue. n/t

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:10 PM

Feb 2015

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)

8. she doesn't have a home. that's why she was vulnerable to rape.

Reply to libdem4life (Reply #2)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:21 PM

Feb 2015

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)

10. Allow me to rephrase...Hope she gets the help she needs, including a home even if temporary.

Reply to ND-Dem (Reply #8)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:49 PM

Feb 2015

Triana

(22,666 posts)

4. THREE YEARS. Is that all?

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:15 PM

Feb 2015

Pfft. And yes, like others have said where was the victim's advocacy in this - wherever it came from? She should have been at least provided a ride to court to face the dirtbag.

lark

(23,147 posts)

6. Duh, court doesn't care about women.

Reply to Triana (Reply #4)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:19 PM

Feb 2015

They especially don't care about raped women. They are treated like dirt, and held responsible for the man's actions way too often.

progressoid

(49,996 posts)

9. Probably get out early for "good behavior"

Reply to Triana (Reply #4)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:26 PM

Feb 2015

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

14. Yes, being in jail surrounded by armed guards has that effect on behavior. While they're in there...

Reply to progressoid (Reply #9)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 05:29 PM

Feb 2015

Whenever he gets out, I hope she has a safe place to stay by then.

pansypoo53219

(20,993 posts)

11. yeah. law has to rethink the punishment for these crimes. against children as well.

Reply to Triana (Reply #4)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:56 PM

Feb 2015

Autumn Colors

(2,379 posts)

13. Not surprised about the sentence length

Reply to Triana (Reply #4)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 04:00 PM

Feb 2015

I was an alternate juror on a case where this guy in his 40s molested TWO young sisters (daughters of his then girlfriend). The mom had taken the girls and moved to another state after having this guy arrested. Both girls testified. He had 4 counts against him total and they tried him for all crimes against both girls in one trial. He was found guilty on all charges. I agreed with the verdict based on everything presented by both sides at trial, but I was horrified to find out that he was only sentenced to a total of 5 years!!!

ismnotwasm

(41,999 posts)

5. Wow

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 02:17 PM

Feb 2015

The 47-year-old woman said she made it to about a half-dozen court hearings by getting bus passes from prosecutors or panhandling for bus fare. At least twice, she walked to courthouse — a journey that took about three hours, she said.

That was one determined woman. The homeless have very little resources.

MADem

(135,425 posts)

12. Jesus, don't they have Victim Advocates in Ohio? Is that state the Third World, or something?

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Mon Feb 16, 2015, 03:52 PM

Feb 2015

A good victim advocate would help a person get transportation. This isn't a civil lawsuit, this is a criminal case. Where in hell was the prosecutor's office? Why weren't the cops finding ways to get this woman a damn ride?

I'm not heartened by this story, I'm appalled. Ohio needs to step up their damn game.

sheshe2

(83,875 posts)

15. A strong and determined woman.

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Tue Feb 17, 2015, 12:11 AM

Feb 2015

Bravo to her.

Catherine Vincent

(34,491 posts)

16. Only 3 years?

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Tue Feb 17, 2015, 12:57 AM

Feb 2015

Wow. But at least that something right?

Someone in that area should start a gofundme page for her.

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