A former California mayor has been sentenced to six years in prison for molesting an 11-year-old girl.
On Tuesday, David Cook, 55, was found guilty of molesting the victim, who was referred to as “Jane Doe,” over the course of two months. Judge Robert LaForge in Sonoma County Superior Court decided to hand Cook the sentence based on impact statements from the victim, her stepmother, and father, as well as Cook’s wife and legal team.
“The suffering [Jane Doe] has endured is heartbreaking, She is not the same person she was before [Cook] molested her…and she wonders if she can ever trust any man again the rest of her life.” The girl’s stepmother said.
Her stepmother also said that the victim has been suffering from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and nightmares since the incident took place and so are they.
The victim’s father said that her demeanor changed from “a happy young girl to one filled with anger and pain.” The victim also feared that Cook would “do this to others.”
According to the Sonoma Index-Tribune:
Cook has been out on $250,000 bail since the morning after his arrest on Oct. 27. In April, he entered a “no contest” plea to the felony charge of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.
His sentence could have ranged from probation to eight years in prison, but the judge was moved by statements delivered in person by victim Jane Doe, her stepmother, and her father as well as statements by Cook’s wife, Deputy District Attorney Andrew Lukas, and Cook’s defense attorney, Chris Andrian. Cook did not speak on his own behalf.
Cook’s wife addressed the courtroom and stated that the financial impact of her family would be strenuous on her family, even though Cook was injudicious.
She said, “What David did was wrong, But I am in a really a hard spot here because if he goes to jail, I’ll have no source of income which will be devastating to me and our children.”
“I hope his punishment won’t punish me and my family anymore,” She added.
Former Sonoma Mayor David Cook sentenced to 6 years for child molestation <BR>https://t.co/wLQVUsL9dj
— GeckoMom (@Sewardesque) July 29, 2021
Both LaForge and Assistant District Attorney Andrew Lucas commented on Cook’s “lack of remorse” throughout the trial.
Lucas said, “Cook repeatedly engaged in acts of molestation of the 11-year-old child, the nature and seriousness of this crime and lack of remorse warranted a prison sentence, not parole.”
Cook’s attorney asked for probation, arguing his client had accepted responsibility and was “amenable to treatment”.
Thankfully Judge LaForge didn’t see it that way, and after taking all statements and testimony into account, said, “(Cook) never once said he was sorry and that struck me as I read all of the reports (prepared for the court),” saying, “he focused on how all of this was affecting him.”
As he prepared to hand down his sentence, “When it comes right down to it, she was 11 years old,” LaForge said.
A six-year sentence seems far too lenient for such a heinous crime but considering the lawlessness we’ve witnessed over the past year, especially where democrats are involved, it comes as a welcome surprise.
Sources: 100percentfedup, Sonomacounty.ca.gov, Sonomanews, Newsweek
Another Democrat with a rèsumè enhancement?