Man strangles and sexually assaults a woman, gets no jail time and doesn't have to register as a sex offender. Prosecutor calls it a "pass". Thoughts?

Question

Justin Schneider, a man from Alaska, was at a gas station when he noticed a 25 year old woman. He ended up asking her if she needed a ride, she said yes, but instead of driving her to her destination, he took her to a dead end street. There he tackled her and proceeded to strangle her while saying "you're going to die". The woman lost consciousness and Schneider masturbated on top of her.

Once she regained consciousness, Schneider handed her a tissue and told her that he "needed her to think that she was going to die so that he could get off". The woman was so traumatized by the event that she could barely speak, but managed to report the assault to police who then arrested Schneider. With the charges Schneider faced, he could have ended up in jail between 5 to 99 years. However, he accepted a plea deal and is not going to jail at all for what he did. He also does not have to register as a sex offender, but does have to go through sex offender counselling. Prosecutor Andrew Grannik made the plea deal because of Schneider's lack of a prior criminal record, and he felt like he would respond well to rehabilitation. Grannik also claimed that Schneider had already faced enough punishment due to the fact that he lost his job over this assault - calling that his "life sentence".

In a nutshell, Schneider got a slap on the wrist for strangling a woman to the point where she lost consciousness and believed she was going to die, masturbated on top of her, and has to go through a little bit of counselling because of what he did.

"But I would like the gentleman to be on notice that this is his one pass," Grannik said in court about the lack of punishment.

What are your thoughts on this? Is anyone starting to understand why it's so hard for victims of sexual assault to press charges and go through the pain of having to recount what happened during long legal proceedings, when the attackers repeatedly only end up getting a slap on the wrist?

DJB72 · Accepted Answer

I remember a case in the UK a few years ago where something similar happened and less than a year later the perpetrator had escalated to where he killed his next victim over the course of several days and raped her repeatedly both before and after she was dead.

There is absolutely no way justice has been served here. He admitted his actions. Even without jerking off on top of her, the fact he choked her to unconsciousness - which can take upwards of 3 minutes of manual strangulation - is a horrific assault alone and he should be jailed for that at least.

A lack of prior record is not a reason to not jail him. Many serial killers have no prior record. A high-functioning sociopath could even run for public office and claim they could walk down a busy road shooting people and not lose votes and a broken society that's lost its moral compass might even elect him as their 45th president instead of jailing him for hate speech...

madhatters4 · Accepted Answer

you are very right about how this is a prime example of why pressing charges or going public with abuse is still not occurring as much as it needs to be.  getting a pass? what the actual fuck is that

xHoneyxBeex · Accepted Answer

So he pleaded guilty but because of the plea deal, he only has to do some counseling? That's so disgusting and my heart hurts for the victim. I can't imagine what she went through and how she is feeling. It makes me sad to hear about cases like this where it seems like justice was not served.

That being said, there are plenty of other cases I read about where the criminal was found guilty and got proper jail/prison time. My gripe about the justice system is that it's not consistent. The same crime can be committed, both people can be found guilty, and receive two completely different punishments due to plea deals and individual people's opinions. I guess maybe it comes down to what the prosecution can actually prove? I'm not a legal expert by any means, it just doesn't make sense to me. I just feel that there needs to be more consistency regarding sentencing, especially for horrible crimes like this. :(

snowangle · Accepted Answer

Wow so everyone gets one pass. Christ.  I feel for the woman. I would not feel safe at all, knowing my attacker was still on the streets.

PoliceLivesMatter · Answer

I’m sure there’s more specifics on this case but from what I read, it seems like due process took its course and there are always going to be people on both sides that feel differently about the results. Now, due process doesn’t necessarily mean justice, but this man who has done this act against that woman, has gone through the legal system fair and square. I’m not sure if Schneider was intentionally trying to kill this woman or not, perhaps the intention to kill her would be an extra aggravating factor, Im not exactly sure. Either way, we don’t always like the decisions that come out from the legal system.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

This appears to be a horrible example of justice. However, citing a horrible example of injustice does not prove that the system is broken. There are thousands of cases where justice is well served, the sentence fits the crime, and the victim is vindicated. Unfortunately, the media does not report those cases very often.

CoffeeWC · Answer

It's still a serious offense, and should be treated like so. Too bad the judge didn't punish him. I wouldn't be surprised if the judge was fired because of this decision.

Cammy137 · Answer

Horrific!

Anonymous · Answer

Have you ever tasted!. The wrong!.

I am not taking Justin's side here!.
But making a point using his example!
Because I think I am in a similar boat.
( although I don't share such life threatening desires, what i share does not come in categories of socially normal)

Sexual satisfaction is like a hunger!.
Instincts take over to find satisfaction!.
I will simplify this with an example!..

You are in a room and there is a living Apple that can walk and talk!.
( eating this apple is wrong and illegal)
And a stinky piece of healthy bread!..
This bread can satisfy your hunger!.. But you cannot eat it unless you fool your Nose!. By smelling that apple!..
Apple was scared you would eat him even though you did not have those intentions since you know it's wrong!..
But you grabbed it smelled it, fooled your nose ate the bread!.. And satisfied your hunger!..
All the apples in court of apples will see your dangerous!.
But you know!.. End of the day!. That is what you needed!..

It's just like that for Justin!..
In my words!. I will say it as
" Brian is complex!.. And in Justin's case it programmed itself to find sexual satisfaction in what he did!"

People like me and Justin!.. Have a daily battle to fight against how our brain is programmed!.. We can't give into.. How we were programmed by cruel world around us!..
Honestly someday I fear I could end up like Justin!.. In my own way!. But then I have came across women like you lumos!..
It's honestly like looking at Hope!.. That pulls us from the edge!.. And gives us courage to fight the way we are programmed!..
I know you might think!..
You have very short talks with me!..
It's like a drop in the ocean,..
But for the one who wants to fight its enough for us!..

Also in case of Justin!.. He does not deserves jail!.. But he needs a course to help him reprogram his brain through a mental health institution!.. And needs someone to give him hope!.. Like a superman!..
Or a supergirl in my case!..

Inbox · Answer

As someone in Law school, I feel that those not familiar with the justice system typically take things out of proportion:

1) The case is fresh, so the case info isn’t public yet, but let’s assume everything you’re saying is true.

2) Sexual assault may not apply because his actions don’t constitute sexual assault, but regular assault definitely.

3) Charges are dependent on jurisdiction (every state is different). Alaska seems to be a more lenient state and the reasons at least to me are unknown at the moment.

4) Courts look at the utilitarian model when punishing a criminal: can this person return as a productive member of society (this is just one way)? Apparently, the court thought so.

5) Hate to say this, but the prosecutor did his job to the letter: when a criminal is found guilty, a judge gets additional info (known as the PSR report) about the criminal’s financials, jobs, background (info not shown at trial) in order for the judge to make a more appropriate sentence - courts are typically lenient when a criminal has a lack of a criminal background.

6) The prosecutor isn’t wrong about his “life sentence” because few employers will hire him (as is the common problem with ANY criminal - this a possibility the court takes seriously when they charge ANY criminal).

7) Like you I disagree, he should’ve at least had some jail time, but as you’ve read above, there’s a ton of factors that go into sentencing a criminal.

+++ Lastly, if you or anyone else think that it’s a gender problem - please don’t. I’ve read many cases where women and men don’t get the justice they deserve because the law system is impressive, but not perfect. +++

dangerDoge · Answer

This verdict is obviously quite absurd. I don’t know if I’d go so far as to use this as a representation ot the entire justice system, but if any good has come out of it, it is that the dude’s life is more or less still facing punishment regardless... possibly even more substantial than if he went to jail for 5 or whatever years/registered as a sex offender.

I mean, these headlines were at the very least national (and given that you’re hearing about it outside of the US) — even international. It’s like Brock Turner, or Casey Anthony. The case has been publicized quite extremely. Legally speaking, they may not be viewed as guilty, but the mass public thinks different.

All it takes is half a google search of the person and the name will pop up with their past, not to mention the photo is out there too. Yeah... good luck getting any decent job. Good luck with your future relationships. Good luck going anywhere without stares, death threats, hate, and what have you. Their life as they know it is done. Registered sex offenders are thrown into a findable database, but even they aren’t necessarily as easy-to-find as a high profile case like this.

You can have a criminal past or a sex offense registration without people particulary knowing. However, people know about this case, and the fact that most think it is unfair ruling means it just infuriates them more and makes them dislike the accused more too.

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

If you're implying that this is why Christine Ford has memory gaps, then I'd have to say it's apples and manchineels from the story above.

Kavanaugh's friends and planner book from 1982 place him as being very clearly never at the party.

His old friend Chris Garret, with the same hair, was the host of the party and rented the house!

Ford also claims to have been shoved, but no sex ever happened. And called a friend on a cell phone. Except, the first handheld cell phone didn't come about on the market for another two years! Actress #3 claims to have been there, but she was a college student then. Why is she seducing high school boys? She also mentioned quaaludes, which were restricted in 82 and banned in 84. So who was Garret' s drug dealer, and how do you prove that?

Also, the pain of slander and harassment over slander coming from multiple misled individuals is far worse than one single sexual assault. Because one at least ends. The other, might never.

The only sensible reason a woman would not recount what happened, nor report a crime right away, is if family were threatened.

That didn't stop Daisy Coleman, and they burned her house down in retaliation!

Meanwhile, Keith Ellison isn't even getting so much as a slap on the wrist for what he his to his girlfriend! She's been very vocal about it and unafraid, and has a mountain of evidence. However, Feinstein doesn't give a damn about that woman, because helping her seek justice won't prevent a new face in the Supreme Court from overturning Roe.

DNC money laundering through baby murder has become a god and a sacrament to the party. Overturning Roe is therefore blasphemy in their eyes, as it cuts them off from Moloch and Mammon.

That's the only reason they seek to destroy Kavanaugh. Hissy fits and KKK BS didn't work, so they play the rape card.

It's all to stall to protect Roe. They don't actually give a damn about rape victims. They proved that by funding ISIS.

lightbulb27 · Answer

Disgusted...
Washington Post article stated 2 years prison with 1 year suspended which was the maximum under Alaska law. I don't have all the facts, but looks too light to me.

Not only is the dude sick but apparently smart as I suspect he would have known that kind of action had minimal penalty... which means he was calculating... Or maybe he just got lucky and didn't touch her in the way that would have escalated the crime. I'd guess calculating, not some sudden decision based upon drugs. Thus, a very dangerous person...

For one treatment methodology, watch the old movie "Walking tall" and how the bad guys were treated. he needs that and then some really good counseling with an assessment of how screwed up and correctable he really is before release, not just a judge making a decision.

Law makers and judge need replaced or volunteer for a canning so they can understand the victims feelings.

no prior criminal record... but wonder how many others paid the price first without him being caught? plenty...

brennanhuff · Answer

That's are justice system for you. I'm so fucking tired of these plea deals, which often used for people doing horrible things Who should not get a god damn pass. Judge's cutting deals, like it's a damn game. Rapists, murderers, pedophiles, molesters, this is not a fucking deal. Horrible crimes deserve big time punishment. He did a horrible thing and he's also a danger to society. Don't think he won't desire to do such a thing to someone again. He's shown he's a dangerous person and not mentally stable. Fuck this liberal shit

ATuairiscean · Answer

3 words come to mind and since young people on site I will just say "FFS" - Guy should be retried for any crime they could think off, definitely registered and get at least 10 years. Prosecutor should be fired and disbarred.

Bananaman177 · Answer

Women who falsely accuse men of rape "get a pass" all the time. So how can you complain when this guy "gets a pass."  Fair's fair, ain't it? Hell what could be fairer than fair?

SjE78 · Answer

sickening, I can pretty much guarantee that his life will be worse than in prison, he will have to look over his shoulder

but I agree with what @PoliceLivesMatter

and the legal system has to go on by what evidence there is, the system is not perfect...
and if any reasonable doubt there is a chance that the guilty party could get away
wrong as it maybe... the situation can go the other way too and the victim could be found to be guilty
has happened over the years where many who are the victim have been persecuted and treated as guilty as those who had committed teh crimes

rjroy3 · Answer

They argued he had "time served" as he was under house arrest during the timeframe it was being settled in the court:

"Anchorage police said Justin Schneider, a 34-year-old former air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration, choked the woman until she lost consciousness and then masturbated on her in August 2017, KTVA reported.

He was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison with one suspended after pleading guilty to one count of felony assault. He will serve no time behind bars because he received credit for time served wearing an ankle monitor at home with his family after his arrest."

Not saying it's right. Clearly it's a fucked up injustice. Just pointing out what they said. I have to wonder who he is connected with that allowed him to be let off. People like this tend to only get away if they have some kind of connection. He worked in Federal Aviation, which leads me to believe he knows someone who was willing to help.

zaxxx · Answer

Idiots everywhere. Americans are so bad at preventing crime, US law system actually generates crime instead stopping it. Next time when he decide to go beyond control and he kills a women judges and attorneys on his case who released sociopath should do a 40 years to life sentence together with him because they participated in killing and rape by releasing a sick and mentaly unstable individual. In Yugoslavia we had millicia instead pilice and crime was lowest, because what they did to rapists and sociopaths is they would first build a case with evidence, if this kind of sick individual ends up guilty he would be executed with a bullet in the head. Because Yugoslavia was not willing to use tax payers money for criminals that did not deserve to go to prison because of their crime. This should be returned back as an option, and sexual assaults will drop.

Celtero · Answer

"Is anyone starting to understand why it's so hard for victims of sexual assault to press charges and go through the pain of having to recount what happened during long legal proceedings, when the attackers repeatedly only end up getting a slap on the wrist?"

So this is your whole point. To that, I say: okay, don't report it then.

Feminists could be making themselves useful for once and taking action to get this judge impeached or protest his decision at least, but I'm sure they've got their hands full with the whole, "believe all women" stuff going on with Kavanaugh's false accusers in order to keep a republican out of the SCOTUS.

N192K001 · Answer

Alaska is a "stand your ground" State allowing for concealed carry. This one reason the 2nd Amendment exits, to protect citizens when police aren't present.

Also, it baffles me that useless sports and cheer-leading are the enforced P. E. when, in some countries in Asia, martial arts like (Muay Thai or Arnis/Escrima/Kali) that can save lives, are taught for P. E.

The system has failed her. While she personally elected to not carry a even a small pistol, she should have been taught in school how to protect herself. In the end, the sociopath should have been convicted by the court, or else injured by strike (s) and/or by bullet (s)… or killed.

Sixgun77 · Answer

Several things here. First, I think he got way too light of a sentence. He should have gotten jail time in my opinion. Second, women should still be reporting sexual assault as soon as they possibly can. I understand it can be humiliating and difficult, but it needs to be done.
There are different degrees of sexual assault, right? I don't know what the legal criteria for it is, or if jerking off on someone meets that criteria.
I don't know what the sentencing guidelines for the things he did ARE, but I feel like they ought to be changed if his sentence meets them.

Goodwifie · Answer

I will not be surprised at all if he ends up murdering his next victim.  You can't fix a person as evil as he is.

Anonymous · Answer

That's crazy. The prosecutor should be fired.
This man should not be on the street. Next time he may decide it's easier to kill his next victim and dump the body. Alaska is a vast barren wilderness bodies may not be found for decades

Man strangles and sexually assaults a woman, gets no jail time and doesn't have to register as a sex offender. Prosecutor calls it a "pass". Thoughts?

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