A young woman gets drunk at a party, passes out and is raped. Another woman sees the rape in progress. A young basketball player is arrested, goes to trial and gets a short sentence. Sound familiar?
This case has remarkable parallels to the Stanford case in which the rapist was sentenced to six months in jail for the rape of an unconscious woman. The rape I’m referring to, however, happened in Durango in 2013, and the athlete received a 90-day sentence. The prosecuting attorney who accepted this outcome, asserting that the rapist was remorseful and therapy would help him more than prison, was Christian Champagne. The judge voiced his opinion that the rapist should serve a longer sentence.
Champagne believes that rehabilitation is an appropriate social answer for sex offenders when the overwhelming evidence in research studies shows that sex offenders are almost impossible to rehabilitate. Also, in his seven years as an attorney, Champagne has had three cases resulting in mistrials, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in retrials.
Ben Lammons has been an attorney in Colorado for 21 years, has never had a mistrial and has successfully tried cases at all levels of the court system. He doesn’t hesitate to advocate for – and receive – stiff sentences for offenders whose crimes warrant them. He believes in rehabilitative treatment for offenders who will benefit. He has experience both as an assistant district attorney and as the chief prosecutor for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe; he knows how to supervise others while managing large budgets. A vote for Ben Lammons is a vote for integrity, proven legal skill and good stewardship. The 6th Judicial District needs Ben Lammons.
Luri Owen
Bayfield
