Man Who Raped Daughter Sentenced To 60 Days In Jail

Thousands signed a petition calling for a judge to be impeached after a father who pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping his 12-year-old daughter was sentenced to just 60 days in jail.

According to the Independent Journal Review, Martin Blake, of Montana, pleaded guilty to raping his 12-year-old daughter. Prosecutors initially recommended a 100-year sentence with 75 years suspended. However, Judge John McKeon gave him a much lighter sentence. Kansas City residents built a village of tiny homes so that homeless veterans can have a free place to live: Blake was given a 30-year suspended sentence, which means that he will only serve 30 years if he fails to complete a rehabilitation program. The convicted rapist was also given 60 days in jail, 17 of which he had already served.

According to the Washington Post, Judge McKeon defended the sentencing by pointing to a loophole in a state law.

The law reportedly allows those arrested for incest involving somebody under the age of 12 to avoid prison time if an evaluation finds that psychiatric treatment “affords a better opportunity for rehabilitation of the offender and for the ultimate protection of the victim and society.” Kansas City residents built a village of tiny homes so that homeless veterans can have a free place to live: The judge said that the law is an attempt by the state of Montana to “encourage and provide opportunities for an offender’s self-improvement, rehabilitation and reintegration back into a community.”

The judge said that Blake did not have a felony record and that he had a job. He also noted that the victim’s mother and grandmother sent in statements defending Blake. “I do not feel 25 years in prison is necessarily the best way for the defendant copay for what he has done,” the victim’s mother, who once walked in on Blake raping her daughter, wrote in her statement. “The defendant made a horrible choice. He needs help – not to spend 25 years locked up. He is not a monster, just a man that really screwed up.”

The victim’s grandmother wrote in her letter, “What he did to my granddaughter was horrible, and he should face consequence. And I certainly never want it to happen again to anyone. But his children, especially his sons, will be devastated if their dad is no longer part of their lives.” Deputy Valley County Attorney Dylan Jensen noted that while there were letters defending Blake, nobody spoke on behalf of the victim during the hearing. Following the sentencing, a petition was launched on Chance.org, which called for Judge McKeon to be impeached.

According to the Washington Post, the petition is seeking 25,000 signatures before it is sent to Lindsey Grovom, Chief Clerk of the Montana House of Representatives. “A father raped his daughter multiple times and will only serve 60 days of jail time,” the petition reads, in part.

“Judge John C. McKron sentenced 40-year-old Martin Blake to only 60 days of incarceration and probation for the admitted, multiple rapes of his 12-year-old. Judge McKeon even gave Blake credit for the 17 days served while awaiting trail, meaning he will only serve 43 days for the brutal sexual assault.” Sources: IJ Review, Washington Post / Photo Credit: Change.org