The short version: a grandfather learned that his granddaughter was being molested. Grandpa shot the molester and killed him. For this, Grandpa got 17-20

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/10/23 ... in-prison/

Given the circumstances, was the length of punishment appropriate?

No that does not deserve such a long sentence. I'd settle for probation in that case. People don't take sex crimes seriously enough

Agree with Eris. If I were the grandpa, I'd be fine with the 17-20 as an exchange. But I'd hope for less.

Seems like a very long sentence.

Casper man accused of murder allegedly confessed at a church service in January to shooting and killing a man, according to an affidavit in the case. Olinza Headd faces a felony charge of second-degree murder for the Jan. 13 death of Eugene Hogan III.

On Jan. 14, Casper police officers searched Headd’s apartment in connection to the case, according to court documents, but released him from custody at that time. He was arrested Friday by Casper police, and remains in the Natrona County Detention Center. According to multiple witnesses who spoke with police in the days following, Headd allegedly stood up following a Jan. 17 church service and announced publicly that he had shot and killed a man.

https://billingsgazette.com/casper-man- ... de4ed.html

Olinza Headd was originally charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Eugene Hogan III on Jan. 13, 2021. Headd admitted during sentencing that he had acted “upon heat of passion” in the shooting, believing that Hogan had sexually assaulted a family member. As no details or proof of the alleged assault were available to Headd at the time of the shooting, prosecutors were successful in suppressing it as a means of defense.

https://oilcity.news/crime/court/2022/1 ... slaughter/

Headd should have contacted police if he felt his granddaughter was molested.

While I understand the need for justice, it also feels harsh considering he was acting out of pain and trying to protect his family.

Don't know the history behind the guys trial and incarceration but the obviously the guy left too much evidence. He should have go off with a light manslaughter charge IMO.

Yeah, that long of a sentence seemed pretty harsh to me, given the circumstances.

From what I understand, at least he shouldn't have any problems from the other inmates for what he did, given why he did it. They probably believe he shouldn't even be in jail. Even the most hardened criminal doesn't like child molesters.

Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Law. I get why he did it. I have granddaughters. The thing to ask, and to know would be, is it was worth it.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog ... eed-punish

Were I the judge looking at this particular case, I might've given him 2-3 years, if that, and as Eris said, it'd been probation. Sex crimes, especially against children, are among the worst deeds one can commit. I'd be more like the judge who didn't act against the father who charged at Larry Nassar in the courtroom. The judge admonished him never to do anything even close to that again, but declined to press charges or otherwise act against him. When you're defending your family from a known molester, and apparently the molester was indeed known to be one in this case, that puts a totally different spin on things.

papajim2jordan wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 10:13 am Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Law. I get why he did it. I have granddaughters. The thing to ask, and to know would be, is it was worth it.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog ... eed-punish

I’ve been pondering this as well since the OP and the link on the psychology of revenge made points I’ve been contemplating as well. Our need for revenge and the concept of proportional retribution. I was also intrigued by the idea that men were more likely than women to seek revenge even though women might think or want it as well. An element of temperance in women appears to be greater. I don’t really have an answer to the OP’s question on the sentence and it’s fairness at this point. I’ve often thought of the courtroom proceeding and verdicts that have been publicly displayed centered on the victim’s families need to satisfy the need for revenge and often their dissatisfaction with the outcome. Perspective from the family’s point of view versus the court’s perspective, proportional retribution as it’s developed into law. I’m bothered by a few previous comments that reference our right to self defense and defending our families. I fully support the right to defend against a threat of violence or a presently occurring act. Revenge is an act that occurs after an act has occurred. This I find problematic since it draws on the elements I’ve discussed. At this point it may never be possible for me to comment further on the sentence, but it brings me back to the last comment in the post I responded to, was it worth it. Only grandpa can answer that and he will have 17-20 years to reflect on it.

This is the reason we have child protective services, every state has a compelling interest in protecting children. The evidence was conflicting,

At Headd’s sentencing hearing, Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen said the girl told a child forensic interviewer that she wasn’t touched sexually. She later told Itzen’s office that she was.

Hogan is dead, he can't defend himself. Children lie, in the 1980s there was the famous McMartin pre-school child sex abuse hysteria case in Manhattan Beach, CA, it ruined many lives. That's why there are now child forensic interviewers to aid prosecutors.

Headd’s family members told him before the killing that Hogan, a live-in boyfriend to Headd’s daughter, had been molesting his granddaughter, according to court documents. Headd snapped.

Headd's family is also culpable, they could have anonymously called CPS and reported Headd's daughter and Hogan.

The goal of punishment should be proportional to the crime. It's a deterrence not only to the offender but to others and protects the public at least while the offender is incarcerated. And there is a hope that the offender will be rehabilitated and not offend again.

highdesert wrote: Sun Oct 27, 2024 8:29 am This is the reason we have child protective services, every state has a compelling interest in protecting children. The evidence was conflicting,

At Headd’s sentencing hearing, Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen said the girl told a child forensic interviewer that she wasn’t touched sexually. She later told Itzen’s office that she was.

Hogan is dead, he can't defend himself. Children lie, in the 1980s there was the famous McMartin pre-school child sex abuse hysteria case in Manhattan Beach, CA, it ruined many lives. That's why there are now child forensic interviewers to aid prosecutors.

Headd’s family members told him before the killing that Hogan, a live-in boyfriend to Headd’s daughter, had been molesting his granddaughter, according to court documents. Headd snapped.

Headd's family is also culpable, they could have anonymously called CPS and reported Headd's daughter and Hogan.

The goal of punishment should be proportional to the crime. It's a deterrence not only to the offender but to others and protects the public at least while the offender is incarcerated. And there is a hope that the offender will be rehabilitated and not offend again.

This is also bothersome. I recall some cases from decades ago as you noted when a child lied and the resulting reactions were not good. Unfortunately in this case there is no fixing if a lie has been committed. Revenge is a poor arbiter of truth.

sikacz wrote: Sun Oct 27, 2024 9:43 am

highdesert wrote: Sun Oct 27, 2024 8:29 am This is the reason we have child protective services, every state has a compelling interest in protecting children. The evidence was conflicting,

At Headd’s sentencing hearing, Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen said the girl told a child forensic interviewer that she wasn’t touched sexually. She later told Itzen’s office that she was.

Hogan is dead, he can't defend himself. Children lie, in the 1980s there was the famous McMartin pre-school child sex abuse hysteria case in Manhattan Beach, CA, it ruined many lives. That's why there are now child forensic interviewers to aid prosecutors.

Headd’s family members told him before the killing that Hogan, a live-in boyfriend to Headd’s daughter, had been molesting his granddaughter, according to court documents. Headd snapped.

Headd's family is also culpable, they could have anonymously called CPS and reported Headd's daughter and Hogan.

The goal of punishment should be proportional to the crime. It's a deterrence not only to the offender but to others and protects the public at least while the offender is incarcerated. And there is a hope that the offender will be rehabilitated and not offend again.

This is also bothersome. I recall some cases from decades ago as you noted when a child lied and the resulting reactions were not good. Unfortunately in this case there is no fixing if a lie has been committed. Revenge is a poor arbiter of truth.

Yes, vigilante justice isn't justice.

Grandpa deserved the sentence. When you take the law into your own hands and kill someone, you get life, which is what the sentence will be for him. He should have let the law act. The rule of law is the rule of law.

CDF

You are allowed (in many states) to use deadly force in a child molestation case depending, and I would say if the child in in danger or else you are when witnessing it. Your not allowed to just go after the perpetrator after the fact.

Deadly force can be used to prevent:

Murder
Manslaughter
Sexual assault
Child molestation
Kidnapping
Sexual conduct with a minor
Armed robbery
Aggravated assault
Arson of an occupied building
Illegal entry into a building or car to commit theft or a felony
While the Stand Your Ground statute is similar to the Castle doctrine, it gives people more rights to defend themselves. The basic meaning is that people are not legally obliged to retreat from public or private property to avoid threat. Deadly force is permitted even if no attempt to retreat has been made.

However, this doesn’t mean that deadly force is automatically appropriate in every situation. Even for the situations listed above, there may be other ways of dealing with them. It is important to use judgment when assessing the situation rather than shooting first and asking questions later.