In court filing, Schaap blames underage victim, wants out of prison

[He] should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts 26:20

It is a risky strategy that may backfire with U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano, who sentenced Schaap last year and would hear the new petition, according to veteran local defense attorneys.

“Judge Lozano may give him more time,” said one lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous.

Current situation:

he isn’t eligible for release until April 20, 2023.

“Judge Lozano may give him more time,” said one lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous.

That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard on this matter.

Schaap’s argument:

Jack A. Schaap, 56, is asking a federal judge to overturn his 12-year sentence “due to the aggressiveness of (the girl) that inhibited impulse control …”

“No doubt exists that (Schaap) should have resisted (her) advances, but (Schaap) submits his actions did not serve to destroy (her) in the manner that often occurs when underage individuals are victimized.

Translation:

“She was such a bad girl that I didn’t really corrupt her. She was already involved in sex anyway.”

The state’s position:

“The government submits that any 16- to 17-year-old girl placed in the victim’s vulnerable shoes and showered with attention and affection from (Schaap) whom she practically been taught to worship would have ended up in exactly the same position as the victim in this case, in love with (Schaap), the ultimate hypocrite.”

For all of us who debated whether Jack Schaap expressed genuine repentance before … I think it is crystal clear now (that he had not / has not)

From one of the leaders in the church: “he is taking responsibility for that now with his prison term,” Lapina said. Really? He’s putting all the blame on the girl and excusing himself. Obviously if he had his way, he would be freed immediately. He is not taking responsibility by being in prison, he is suffering the just reward for his sin. Is this not the kind of thinking that allowed Schaap to stay in power so long?

I pray that someone will present the Gospel to Jack Schaap and that he will repent of his sin and trust Jesus Christ as his Savior. As long as he continues to cover his sin with excuses, I’ll continue to believe that he is unregenerate.

[Ron Bean]

I pray that someone will present the Gospel to Jack Schaap and that he will repent of his sin and trust Jesus Christ as his Savior. As long as he continues to cover his sin with excuses, I’ll continue to believe that he is unregenerate.

That is the real tragedy. He thinks he knows what the gospel is, but what he holds to is a perversion of the gospel. Mass deception.

So sad…..my heart breaks…I agree with you Ron (of course we agree alot…lol). But this is so sad…I cried when I read the article

So much for Schaap’s past acceptance of responsibility and expressions of remorse. This leaves him sounding like just another crook who at sentencing disingenuously tried to impress the judge enough to get a break.

I am interested by suggestions in the article that Schaap faces the risk of a longer sentence. I do not know exactly how that works, but I know that the sentencing guidelines have a reduction for acceptance of responsibility:

§3E1.1. Acceptance of Responsibility

(a) If the defendant clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense, decrease the offense level by 2 levels.

If the judge did find earlier that Schaap qualified for such a reduction, I can see how that would now be at risk.

I think Schaap qualifies as a reprobate