Judge Reverses Teen’s Rape Conviction, Rules 148 Days Was Enough Time

A judge in Illinois reversed an 18-year-old man’s sexual assault conviction after deeming the 148 days he spent in jail, “plenty of punishment”.

Drew Clinton turned 18 nearly two weeks before sexually assaulting a 16 year old girl.

Cameron Vaughan, 16, went to a graduation party at her friend’s house on May 30. She later woke up to Clinton raping her and a pillow case over her head. Clinton claimed the encounter was consensual. However, Vaughan recalls asking him to stop multiple times and pushing him off of her prior to getting raped.

Clinton eventually gets arrested and has a bench trial in October. A county judge, Robert Adrian, convicts him of sexual assault and explains how the charge carries a minimum sentence of four years in prison.

Clinton spends 148 days in jail before his sentencing hearing on January 3. During Clinton’s sentencing, Judge Adrian announces that he is changing his verdict to not guilty and Clinton would not be going to prison. To everyone’s disbelief, Judge Adrian then rules that the 148 days Clinton spent behind bars was “plenty of punishment”.

The judge, still vouching for Clinton, explains Clinton had no prior criminal history. He then criticized the parents at the graduation party for allowing minors to drink and wear their “underwear” to swim.

Judge Adrian received backlash for reversing Clinton’s conviction and victim-blaming during the sentencing. He has not publicly commented on the controversy surrounding the case.