AIKEN - An Aiken man will serve a six-year sentence for committing sex acts with a teenager last year.
William Tripp pleaded guilty this afternoon in General Sessions Court to criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the second degree in General Sessions Court this afternoon, said Assistant Solicitor Brenda Brisbin.
In July and November 2009, Tripp admitted to having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl. The victim's mother asked Judge Cothran to lessen Tripp's sentence because she said her daughter called Tripp several times, and was "partly to blame," Brisbin said.
The prosecution asked for 10 years; however; noting the 20 year age difference between the victim and Tripp. The victim is also a special education student and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder she said.
The victim's family learned of the relationship in July when the victim went missing for several days, Brisbin said. She had been living with Tripp and his family.
Circuit Judge Ferrell Cothran sentenced Tripp to six years, requiring that he serve 85 percent of the sentence.
He must also register as a sex offender.
She's a special ed student with bipolar problems and her own mother asked for leniency because she called her abuser on the phone a couple of times? Sheeeeesh.
parents=jail, abuser=backwoods, young lady=a caring/safe home
The mother knows her daughter better than you do, I think she did a very decent thing.
Tripp is a predator only in the case of easily available special education children. Corgimom, you have the strangest attitude toward social behaviors. I wonder if your children notice, my guess .....
Sounds like the mother needs to be arrested too...for being an imposter...a real mother knows her primary responsibility is to protect and care for her children..not plead for their abuser.
Well, I am sure the prosecutor talked to her before bringing charges and while the case was pending to get her perspective in deciding what charge to bring and how vigorously to prosecute so she certainly had some input there, which is fine...but this plea to the judge seems most unusual. The only time I have seen anything like it is occasionally you will get a murder victim's family who are enchanted by the notion of Christian forgiveness who will oppose the death penalty, but that's it. (And, yes, I am a lawyer (retired) though I was a human being first and foremost and write all my comments from that perspective, not as a lawyer!)
Actually I do not understand you justus...would you care to elaborate?
Bettyboop, I rarely understand Justus4, but I assure you he means to say that if the defendait was a minority, then the sentence would be harsher, and the police, prosecutor, nor Judge would allow him any chance to defend himself, simply because of the color of his skin. I pray that one day Justus4 will have surgery to open his eyes to see the many colors of the world, and realize that everything is not as black and white as he sees it. As of yet my prayers have been unanswered. Of course I would say for Justus4 to wake up and smell the coffee, but he would deem that a racist remark as well.
I too have wondered about justus4's thinking. I could care less what color a person is. If they've done wrong,then I think that they should be punished. Sad thing is, justus is probably raising his children with the same racist thoughts. He'll cause THEM to miss knowing some really good people because of HIS attitude. Shame on him
I have ta agree with corgimom, And I add, Bipolar disorder is a special need, but it’s not like you see or even notice it until you witness an episode. He could have had no Idea about this. In addition, a lie from the girl, 15 is REAL close to 16, the LEGAL age of consent…
All I will say in this matter is that GROWN men should not be with under aged children of any age. Now, the flip side to that is that there should be punishment for these fast tail girls who are willingly out there to be had as well.
SC law is designed to protect these little hot booty girls, ***"SC CONSTITUTION SECTION 33. Age of consent. -- No unmarried woman shall legally consent to sexual intercourse who shall not have attained the age of fourteen years. (1999 Act No. 3, Section 1, eff February 16, 1999) " ****then the law conflicts itself by saying ****"It is unlawful for a person over the age of fourteen years to wilfully and lewdly commit or attempt a lewd or lascivious act upon or with the body, or its parts, of a child under the age of sixteen years.****
Does she have bi-polar because of Social Security reasons or is she just a brat? Obviously she needs special education because no obviously can control her, but she probably had a texting device, a computer game system and a cell phone. I wonder how long she would be bi-polar if the taxpayers wern't paying for her?
I meant to add. Why isn't the mama being jailed for aiding and contributing to child abuse/endangerment. She obviously knew what was going on and knew of it for quite a while.
The MAN should have known better. They should have charged the Mother of the victim with neglect- what an idiot to allow her CHILD out of her sight knowing that she has special education disabilities and knowing that she was telephoning a MAN.
Pudding: its not a contradiction; the first law you cited stated a female UNDER the age of 14 could not engage in sex, period. The second law you cited stated that a person OVER the age of 14 couldn't engage in sexual activity with someone who was UNDER 16.
Suzy, So over 14years old can say yes, but who could they have sex with?
Suzy - No contradiction????
So a girl over 14 can have sex. But if you are over 14, you cannot have sex with someone under 16. So, a 14-16 year old female can consent to and have sex with who?
1- A male 16 or over. No then he's over 14 and she's under 16.
2 - A male under 14. No - the female is a person over 14.
I agree with Pudding. Am I missing something or does the law make no sense?
I would suppose Tripp was going for an easy target. The victim was a special education student, and the man should have known better. He was taking advantage of the young girl, and did not think he would get caught. Hopefully the 4 years or so he spends in jail will include a little cell time with Big Bubba. This man is scum.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
