WACO (WBAP/KLIF) – An online petition is calling for the resignation of a Judge who agreed to a plea deal in the 2016 rape case against a former Baylor University fraternity President.
Jacob Anderson’s plea deal allows him to avoid jail time and not register as a sex offender. The plea sparked public outrage. The Care2 petition was started by Baylor alumnus and Texas resident Sarah Byers after news broke that Judge Strother accepted the plea.
“I decided to write the petition because I believe strongly in Mary’s constitutional right to a trial by jury,” Byers told Care2. “This is for the many women who ultimately do not report incidents, and for women in the future who will be afraid to report. I believe it is important for others to stand behind Mary given her courage to report.”
According to Byers’ Care2 petition, Strother and Assistant District Attorney LaBorde were wrong to refuse the alleged victim her day in court.
“Although Judge Strother is not to blame for Anderson’s actions, Judge Strother should uphold his constitutional duty: that Mary receives her day in court with trial by jury,” writes Byers on her Care2 petition. “LaBorde’s unwillingness to allow Mary her day in court betrays fundamental basic human rights and perpetuates a climate in which future victims will continue to report sex crimes at an alarmingly low rate.”
Prosecutors stand by the Judge’s decision, claiming based on evidence the plea was the state’s best chance at justice.
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