Forgiving is critical for our emotional well-being but to what extent do you forgive someone?
Forgiveness might seem challenging, in part because it’s often misunderstood. You might believe forgiving someone means:
- Forgetting what happened
- Implying the pain they caused was no big deal
- Automatically resuming your previous relationship
In reality, forgiveness simply means choosing to let go of your anger, hurt, and desire for vengeance.
You might accept that what happened is now in the past, recognize that people make mistakes, and begin cultivating compassion instead.
However, in what way do you extend your mercy toward others? Even thou you were sexually abused and even violently assaulted helplessly. Being nice is a good thing. It actually is a desirable human trait. We can forgive and forget but while it is great to be nice, giving too much is dangerous.
Just like what the 96-year-old who was brutally sexually assaulted and leaving her hospitalized did and instead of giving the justice she deserved, it was all thanks to her response that the judge ultimately let her sexual abuser off with community service!
According to MLive, Dejon Dejor Lynn, 25, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, allegedly forced entry into the home of his 96-year-old neighbor and sexually assaulted her.
The police said that the incident took place on August 4, 2020. A man assaulted the woman after breaking in through her window. Authorities said that Lynn, who resides in the same apartment complex as the woman, was the target of a trace operation by the Michigan State Crime Lab and neighborhood police.
It took a couple of days to apprehend him, however. Lynn wasn’t home when cops executed a search warrant at his residence but they later found him at a Belleville home, investigators said.
The elderly woman was treated at a hospital, and released, in a report by The Detroit Free Press. She is said to be doing well, all things considered.
However, instead of a well-deserved prison sentence, Lynn was facing a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree home invasion and being held in the Washtenaw County Jail with no bond but thanks to the absurd justification offered by the judge and his senior victim, Lynn would be walking away free.
The public frequently feels that justice was not done when a judge sentences someone to a light sentence for a particularly heinous crime. However, some may question whether it was a merciful endeavor or dangerously misplaced compassion when the victim demands that the offender be given leniency.
For the disturbing attack, Lynn was given a sentence of five years of probation and 100 hours of community service. Amazingly, the victim and Washtenaw County Trial Judge David Swartz concurred that they didn’t want to see another man “lost” to the criminal justice system and that they thought he could be rehabilitated outside of prison.
Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Amy Reiser said at the sentencing hearing, “(The victim) said she didn’t want to make a victim impact statement, but she’s told us she hopes he can be rehabilitated and won’t continue this behavior in the future, She expressed she didn’t want him to be lost in the prison system.”
Instead, he won’t serve any time behind bars and will instead perform roughly the same amount of community service as is required for some misdemeanor offenses, the appropriate sentence, based on Lynn’s conviction, would have ranged from 45 to 75 months in jail, with a maximum sentence of 6 years and 4 months.
Lynn, he claims, is grateful for his second chance and is determined not to re-offend, although Lynn declined to make a statement during his sentencing, his attorney opted to thank the court for its leniency.
Lynn’s attorney Samuel Bernstein said, “(Lynn) is certainly not unaware of the consideration he is receiving from both the victim and the court in this matter, He is motivated to do right and fulfill all his requirements while on probation.”
The court has also ordered him to complete a sex offender treatment program, which will determine whether or not he has been rehabilitated. Lynn will be required to register as a sex offender, but it is unknown which tier he will be assigned to or how long he will be on the registry.
Sources: Taphaps, lickondetroit, Mlive
