Jack Schaap blames health, financial woes for his relationship with teen (PDF attached)

[Jim]

Ex-Ind. megachurch pastor seeks minimum sentence

Comment w the article:

Somehow, in Jack Schaap’s logic, depression, stress, and financial trouble lead to child molesting. I cannot quite work that out, as I know plenty of men who suffer many things and yet never molest children.

My response: Doesn’t make sense to me either!

Agreed 100%. Was going to say the same thing but you got to it first. I hope the judge gives this molester the maximum sentence.

The most common man-made covering for sin is an excuse. Proverbs 28:13

"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan

The lawyer’s request is for less than the 10 year statutory mandatory minimum sentence. (p 1 of the PDF)

Comes now Jack Allan Schaap, by counsel Paul G. Stracci and Alison L Benjamin of Thiros & Stracci, and submits his memorandum in aid of sentencing with the attached sentencing letters, all in support of the parties’ recommendation that the Court impose upon him a below-guideline sentence of 120 months (the statutory mandatory minimum sentence)

Amen! There should be nothing but maximum sentences served for all crimes small or large. Mercy has no place in a courtroom!

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I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say this, Alex. Do you really mean in all cases everywhere? What makes you so… unbending?

[Wayne Wilson]
Amen! There should be nothing but maximum sentences served for all crimes small or large. Mercy has no place in a courtroom!

__________________

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say this, Alex. Do you really mean in all cases everywhere? What makes you so… unbending?

I am unbending for the same reason the person I quoted is unbending. And I do not think I have heard anyone say it either, I was simply magnifying the principle contained in the quoted material. By now the point I was making should be clearer.

By now the point I was making should be clearer.

It’s probably me, but I missed what happened that made your point clearer. I think the person you were quoting was hoping this Schaap fellow would get the maximum sentence. You surprised me by stating you don’t believe mercy ever belongs in a courtroom. That’s a fairly extreme position, and seems… lacking in mercy. You don’t believe there should ever be a cause for mercy or a reduced sentence ever…correct?

Thanks, Alex, I didn’t pick up on that. it didn’t seem like you!

How is Ann being merciless?

She said: “I hope the judge gives this molester the maximum sentence.”

There’s a minimum mandatory sentence of 120 months (PDF document). And there is I suppose a maximum sentence.

Ann is not requesting anything out of line.

Schaap earned whatever sentence is he is receive.

[Alex Guggenheim] Wayne, I was parodying the merciless attitude of the person I was quoting. It should always be a judicial element.

I think that Ann’s point was that someone who claims stress as a reason for a reduced sentence isn’t someone who deserves mercy in the courtroom. Certainly the judge should be able to exercise mercy based on the circumstances. But the circumstances here seem to suggest that Schaap should receive no mercy in his sentencing.

[jim]

How is Ann being merciless?

She said: “I hope the judge gives this molester the maximum sentence.”

There’s a minimum mandatory sentence of 120 months (PDF document). And there is I suppose a maximum sentence.

Ann is not requesting anything out of line.

Schaap earned whatever sentence is he is receive.

[jcoleman]

[Alex Guggenheim] Wayne, I was parodying the merciless attitude of the person I was quoting. It should always be a judicial element.

I think that Ann’s point was that someone who claims stress as a reason for a reduced sentence isn’t someone who deserves mercy in the courtroom. Certainly the judge should be able to exercise mercy based on the circumstances. But the circumstances here seem to suggest that Schaap should receive no mercy in his sentencing.

Thank you gentlemen. That is exactly what I meant and do not think that the statement implied in any way that judges should never show mercy.