Judge Lets Rapist Off Because Victim Was 'Inviting'

A convicted rapist got off without any jail time last week, when a Canadian judge declared that he’d merely been a “clumsy Don Juan” led on by an “inviting” victim, reports the Winnipeg Free Press. When the man, Kenneth Rhodes, met his eventual victim and another woman outside a bar, they were wearing tube tops, high heels, and lots of makeup, Judge Robert Dewar pointed out, adding, “They made their intentions publicly known that they wanted to party.”

Rhodes, the women, and another man then went into the woods; Rhodes and his victim kissed. When they were alone, he forced himself on her. At his trial, Rhodes pleaded not guilty, saying he thought the woman had consented. Dewar didn’t allow the defense then, but said it was relevant to sentencing. Dewar added that he didn’t mean to blame the victim: “I’m sure whatever signals were sent that sex was in the air were unintentional.” (More rape stories.)