According to reports, the judge reportedly went against the protocol in saying that 148 days the 18-year-old man had already spent in jail since following his October arrest was enough. The judge reportedly issued the reversal last Monday. The victim immediately left the courtroom and cried in the bathroom after learning the defendant’s conviction had been thrown out.
Judge Robert Adrian previously found the 18-year-old man from Illinois, Drew Clinton, guilty of one count of criminal sexual assault during an October bench trial, according to reports. Illinois state policy mandates a minimum of 4 years sentencing if found guilty.
Judge Adrian reportedly said:
“Mr. Clinton has served almost five months in the county jail, 148 days. For what happened in this case, that is plenty of punishment. That would be a just sentence.”
The 18-year-old man, Drew Clinton, was convicted of sexually assaulting 16-year-old, Cameron Vaughn, at a graduation party last May. At the time it was noted the teen girl had been intoxicated, according to reports.
Prosecutors said Clinton reportedly faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 4 years. Judge Adrian’s decision came after the defense attorneys filed two post-trial motions and the judge ruled prosecutors failed to prove their case.
Judge Adrian also said tat the adults at the party were to blame for the victim’s assault. He said they abandoned their parental duties and suggested that sexual assault is what happens when parents hold parties for teenagers, and they allow coeds and female people to swim in their underwear in their swimming pool.
“They allow 16-year-olds to bring liquor to a party. They provide liquor to underage people, and you wonder how these things happen. The Court is totally disgusted with that whole thing. Mr. Clinton, you’re going to be released. Go home if you still have one.” Judge Adrian said.
The victim went public with her story and shared her emotional reaction when she learned Adrian was set free.
Vaughn reportedly said:
“I woke up at my friend’s place with a pillow over my face so I couldn’t be heard and Drew Clinton inside of me. I asked him to stop multiple times and he wouldn’t. I finally got off the couch and pushed him off of me and he jumped up and just started playing video games as if nothing had happened.”
The victim immediately left the courtroom and cried in the bathroom after learning the defendant’s conviction had been thrown out.
The victim’s father reportedly said:
“It’s worse now than it was [before], because not only does she not have her justice, but now she feels like she spoke up for nothing, and you know that hurts. Now she wishes she wouldn’t have even said anything.”