Policy

Montana Judge Says He Regrets Saying 14-Year-Old Rape Victim Was "Older Than Her Chronological Age"

Sentenced rapist to 30 days in jail, victim later killed herself

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A Montana judge said he regrets controversial comments he made when he sentenced a former teacher to only 30 days in jail for raping a 14-year-girl who later committed suicide.

District Judge G. Todd Baugh has been the subject of widespread backlash after he said in a Billings, Mont., court that the victim was "older than her chronological age" and "as much control of the situation" as the teacher, according to the Billings Gazette.

"I don't know what I was thinking or trying to say," Baugh later told The Billings Gazette. "It was just stupid and wrong."

Though he voiced regret for his choice of words, however, he stood by the 30-day jail sentence.