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Roger Bentley

Next week Roger Bentley will be sentenced for the murder of ten year old Jetseta Gage. The convicted sex offender will walk into a court room, facing a possible sentence of two mandatory terms.

Bentley had previously asked for a new trial, with his lawyers declaring that the evidence the jury used to convict him did not prove he had murdered the girl.

Jetseta was found stuffed into a bathroom cabinet of an abandoned mobile home in March of 2005. Bentley was also found in the mobile home. The Cedar Rapids girl had been sexually abused and died of asphyxiation, after being taped with a bag over her head.

In a court order dated Feb. 16, Grady issued a warning to those presenting victim impact statements at Bentley’s Feb. 24 sentencing .

“This court orders that any persons presenting a victim impact statement in the sentencing herein be prohibited from predicting or advocating for or threatening the assault, sexual assault, or murder of the defendant,” Grady wrote in the order. “Further, any assaultive conduct toward the defendant in the courtroom is strictly prohibited.”

He went on to say that anyone doing so would be immediately removed from the courtroom, arrested and prosecuted.


Victims impact statements have also had a raw edge to them. Emotionally filled with a mix of emotions from anger to pain to sometimes even forgiveness. Victims, and/ or their families often sit quietly by the sidelines as trial play out in front of them. Their ability to express their feelings openly has always been saved for impact statements. And I'm sorry, but ever one in a while- you just need to tell the monsters that they will burn in hell. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the need to remind them of what they can look forward to after being their new life in prison. For anyone to take away the ability to express completely human desires for this deviant predator to suffer the same torture as his victim did- is wrong.

Gage's family may not be able to tell him in open court exactly what they wish too, but no judge can stop the rest of us from openly saying that this man needs to feel the pain and anguish that he caused her. No one can stop society from loudly proclaiming that his life in prison should be filled with continuous torment by other prisoners. And no one can stop us from wishing him a speedy trip to the deepest depths of hell.
WHO TV - Des Moines: Judge orders Gage relatives to avoid threats against Bentley
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Comments

Anonymous said…
who does this judge think he is? Gage's family should be able to say the truth, tell the Court exactly what they think. Last time I checked, Iowa is one of the 50 States in The United States, there is such a thing as "freedom of speech"
17/2/06
Anonymous said…
That is so wrong. A victims family deserves to be able to say what they feel in an impact statement, especially in a case a such as this. That monster took the most precious thing possible, an innocent little child. I think the judge has seriously crossed the line with this type of order. A childs life and the family's right to see her grow up has already been taken away from them as it is - the right to legally confront Jetseta's killer shouldn't be!
18/2/06
Anonymous said…
I can't even begin to explain how wrong this judge is for restricting the statements. Last month,I had to write an impact statement...I was told to just explain how I really felt,how the loss of my sister has affected my life,etc. I hope none of you ever have to find out how hard that was,not to mention gutwrenching. Had I not been able to write my statement unrestrained,I wouldn't have been able to"tell the truth". I am furious...Lilo,you think this is something we should devote a few words to or not??? I will not stand for someone suffering like this to be silenced.
18/2/06
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