Strict outcome · Comparison Pair · Sexual violence
Ordinary defendant: 3y imprisonment for non-consensual contact
Harm
Single victim, no prior record
Sentence
3y
Court
District Court
Guideline
2y 6m – 3y 6m
Comparison thesis
Same statute, different defendants — ordinary defendant: 3y prison + monitoring. Public figure: suspended.
Strict outcome · current case
3y
3y prison + 5y electronic monitoring + registration
Ordinary defendant: 3y imprisonment for non-consensual contact
Ordinary citizen · Harm: Single victim, no prior record
Lenient outcome
2y
2y prison, 3y suspension + community service
Public-figure defendant: suspended sentence for similar offense
Public official · Harm: Single victim, settlement reached
Sexual-violence guideline ranges are tight, but courts apply 'social contribution' and 'no prior record' as mitigators only the powerful can credibly claim — producing systemic gaps even within identical statutes.
Case summary
A non-celebrity defendant convicted of forcible indecent acts under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act received 3 years of actual imprisonment plus a 5-year electronic monitoring order, registration, and treatment program — the typical mid-range outcome under the Sentencing Commission's guideline.
Disparity flags
Sources
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