Over the last few months we have been following the case of the former Stanford University swimmer and Olympic hopeful Brock Turner. It was a case that caught national attention, not because it was sexual assault on a college campus, a recurring tragedy that occurs at colleges all over the country, but due to the fact that Turner received such a light sentence for the crimes for which he was found guilty.

If you have been following this story, it is likely that you became aware of the fact that the state of California has much stiffer sentences for those convicted of rape, compared to those convicted of sexual assault. This was made particularly evident by the Stanford case, when Turner was looking at a maximum of 14 years in prison for the three felony sexual assault convictions, the judge only gave Turner six (6) months in county jail and three (3) years of probation.

Turner’s slap on the wrist spurred national debate and led to California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) to introduce AB 701 to widen the scope of the state’s definition of rape. Assemblymen Evan Low (D-Campbell) and Bill Dodd (D-Napa) introduced AB 2888 which would prohibit a judge from handing a convicted sex offender probation in certain crimes.

Last week, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 701 and AB 2888, The Los Angeles Times reports. While the Governor has been trying to move away from mandatory minimum sentencing laws in California, he felt that the legislation was necessary.

“Nevertheless, I am signing AB 2888, because I believe it brings a measure of parity to sentencing for criminal acts that are substantially similar,” said Brown. 

Ronald G. Brower is a criminal defense attorney in Southern California. Based out of Orange County, Attorney Brower has represented individuals charged with crimes in state and federal court.

Contact the Law Office of Ronald G. Brower online or by telephone at 714-997-4400.