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Calif. Aims to Close Brock Turner Loophole

Under new law, he would have faced a minimum of 3 years
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 30, 2016 1:33 AM CDT
California Aims to Close Loophole That Allowed Brock Turner Leniency
In this March 30, 2015 photo, Brock Turner appears in the Palo Alto, Calif., branch of Santa Clara County Superior Court court for a status hearing.   (Gary Reyes/San Jose Mercury News via AP, File)

In response to the anger over the six-month jail term former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner received after sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, California lawmakers Monday passed legislation that would keep such a sentence from being handed down again. The current law calls for a mandatory prison term when a victim is forcibly raped or sexually assaulted—unless the victim was unconscious or very drunk and could not resist, Reuters reports. The new legislation closes that loophole. Had it been in place when Turner was sentenced, he would have faced a minimum of three years. The bill will be sent to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has not said whether he will sign it. Turner is scheduled to be released Friday after serving half of his sentence. (More rape stories.)

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