Child sex abuser sentenced to 120 years; judge calls victim a 'hero'

Although tragic, there are aspects of this article that give me hope: "(expletive) him and his running club."

Image courtesy of KSL

I’ve been writing my missive for this week, and put everything aside when this story popped onto my screen:

https://www.ksl.com/article/50978124/child-sex-abuser-sentenced-to-120-years-judge-calls-victim-a-hero

Here is the PDF, for easy reference:

Child Sex Abuser Sentenced To 120 Years; Judge Calls Victim A 'hero'

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First, without question, this is an ATROCITY! This should not have happened. However, in spite of the fact that this article is about the reporting of human evil and crimes against humanity, there are some small positive elements of this piece that give me some hope.

KSL reported it.¹

I love the victim’s mother’s responses to the lame defense attorney’s rhetoric:
”Crimson (defense atty) asked the judge to issue a lesser sentence while bringing up points such as Manning has a lot of family support, he is very active in his running club and was a Sunday School teacher.

"We're just asking for mercy and time. Again, he was only 22, and has every intention of bettering himself in this time that he spends in prison," Manning's attorney said.”

Mother’s Response:
"First of all, (expletive) him and his running club. I haven't run in 10 years because I was on suicide watch," she said. KSL.com is only giving the mother's first name to protect the identity of her daughter.

"I just can't believe I had to sit here and hear how amazing his life is, because ours has not been amazing. We've been through therapy, counseling, six hospitals, three suicide attempts, and that's not mentioning mine," Berkley said.

I cheered when I read the Judge’s terse response to the defense attorney and the Judge’s message to the perp:

“Kouris (Judge) praised her and another boy whom Manning (pedophile) molested in Massachusetts and who traveled to Utah to testify against Manning during the girl's trial, for their courage.

‘Everything that happened to you and happened to (the other boy) is going to be stopped now. You just turned the spigot off," the judge said. "So the first thing I want you to understand is you're a hero. The second thing I want you to understand is that there is absolutely none of this that is your fault. ... None of this is your fault. Period.’"

And, finally, I LOVE what the victim said to the perp:

I was never allowed to find out who I was. And I don't care if he goes running or goes to church groups, because if he uses his Bible-touching hand to touch a little kid, it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything if you believe in God and if you don't drink and don't swear but you touch little kids and you make them think for the rest of their lives that there's something wrong with them and that they will never be loved by anybody because you show them what love is. But it's not love if you're forcing them to lie to their parents, and to lie to themselves. It's not love if you were hurting them," the girl said.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read about a convicted abuser who is “an excellent member of the community, doing good for others, blah, blah, blah…” who gets in front of a judge and his² sentence is waived or lessened because of what a good, upstanding member of the community he is. That list is ridiculously long.³

I’m so sorry these victims (boy and girl) suffered this horrific abuse. My only sliver of hope is that the court and the news is reporting on this atrocity from the victim’s perspective. Acknowledging the victims are heroes, and the entire family has suffered as a result of this monstor’s “bible touching hands.”

1. Amanda Dixon on KSL Radio was the very first local news reporter to interview Carol and I in 1992. I still admire her courage to report the news and lead the way. And, I’m glad KSL lead on this story also.

2. It’s not always a man

3. Check out Floodlit.org for more documented court cases.