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August 24, 2016

California: Judge Persky Recuses Himself from Another Case
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In California, Judge Aaron Persky has recused himself from another
sexual crimes case, amid the ongoing controversy over his lenient
sentencing of former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner. In June, Persky gave
Turner a six-month jail sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious
woman behind a dumpster, saying he was concerned a longer prison
sentence would have a "severe impact" on the Stanford University
swimmer. Persky has also sparked controversy over his 2015 decision to
give Robert Chain a four-day prison sentence, after Chain pleaded guilty
to possessing child abuse images. Persky has now stepped down from
Chain's case, which has a hearing on Thursday over whether Chain's
charge will be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. More than 1
million people have signed a petition demanding Persky be removed from
the bench.


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