BILLINGS, Mont. – The mother of a 14-year-old rape victim said a Montana judge was “covering his butt” after he apologized for saying her daughter was “older than her chronological age,” as prosecutors said Thursday that the judge may have erred in giving the rapist only 30 days in prison.

The comments from District Judge G. Todd Baugh in a case involving a teacher raping a student have drawn widespread condemnation from across the country.

The 71-year-old judge tried to quiet the firestorm with his Wednesday apology, but calls for his resignation resounded during a Thursday rally on the lawn of the Yellowstone County Courthouse.

The victim’s mother, Auliea Hanlon, rejected Baugh’s apology because he has continued to stand by his decision to give a relatively light sentence to former Billings Senior High School teacher Stacey Rambold.

“He’s just covering his butt. He wouldn’t have said anything if people hadn’t spoken up,” Hanlon said. “He didn’t reverse his decision, so it’s irrelevant.”

Hanlon’s daughter, Cherice Moralez, killed herself before Rambold’s case came to trial.

Prosecutors originally sought a 20-year sentence with 10 years suspended. Baugh’s sentence ordered Rambold to serve 15 years, with all but 31 days suspended and a one-day credit for time already served.

Prosecutors, who have concluded the sentence may not have been based upon the right guidelines, have 20 days to appeal.

Baugh has said he does not intend to resign, but “deserved to be chastised” for his comments about the victim.

The judge also said during Monday’s sentencing hearing that Moralez had as much control of the situation as Rambold.

He later told reporters that what he said was wrong, irrelevant to the case, demeaning of women and not reflective of his beliefs.

Baugh said the sentence was based on Rambold’s violation of an earlier deal he made with prosecutors, rather than the original crime.

 

Copy the Story Link