Sexual assault is a serious crime under any circumstances, but when a person in a position of power abuses their authority to commit assault, it can be particularly heinous. While sentencing varies in these cases from a slap on the wrist to spending years in jail, some cases result in sentences almost as shocking as the crime themselves.
Abuse of Power
In the case of Daniel Holtzclaw, the consequences of committing sexual assault were greater than he could have ever anticipated. The former Oklahoma City police officer was accused of sexually assaulting and raping multiple African American women. This spanned over a period of years, with the earliest reported incident occuring in December of 2013. A woman accused Holtzclaw of forcing her to perform oral sex while handcuffed to a hospital bed. In June of 2014, a woman named Jannie Ligons filed a complaint claiming that Holtzclaw sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop.
With a clear pattern emerging, investigators worked with the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office to discover the breadth of Holtzclaw’s misdeeds. They found 13 different women willing to testify that Holtzclaw sexually assaulted them. Investigators believed that he chose to assault them because he thought they wouldn’t report him due to their drug and crime ridden past.
The Awaited Trial
On August 21st, 2014, Holtzclaw was arrested and charged with 36 different offenses including first-degree rape and sexual battery. During a trial that lasted a little over five weeks, the jury was presented with substantial DNA evidence backing up the womens’ claim of abuse. The defense argued that his DNA was only there due to secondary transfer. This means it came from a third party person or object containing Holtzclaw’s DNA and ended up at the scene.
Despite the defense’s argument and grilling of the accusers’ and their criminal backgrounds, the jury delivered a guilty verdict on 18 of the 36 charges. He was sentenced to 236 total years in prison. This caused him to burst out in tears, captured on video seen below.
Reactions to the sentencing ranged from those who applauded the ruling, to those who voiced support for Holtzclaw.
While Daniel Holtzclaw is currently in prison serving his 263 year sentence, he has continued to appeal his case. His petition for a writ of certiorari to the US Supreme Court was denied, despite concerns raised by some forensic experts. The trial has been the subject of much controversy and debate. It shines light to those who swear to protect and serve and instead abuse their powers.
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