In looking at this article, I couldn't help but first think of the Ian Watkins rape scandal. Watkins, the former lead singer of the band Lostprophets, is serving a long stretch in England for numerous sexual offenses against children, one of which included a sexual offense against a one year old girl. It was almost as if these children he engaged in horrific activities towards were gifts to him.
In the case I'm looking at, a Maine woman watched and allowed as her boyfriend sexually assaulted her developmentally disabled relative, a 14 year old girl. Later, at his urging, she joined in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/disabled-teen-sexually-assaulted_n_5168329.html
In February, 59 year old Donald Cass pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual assault. He will spend four years in prison, which hardly seems to fit what he did. He created a nightmarish two months for this 14 year old girl. First, Cass assaulted the unnamed girl on at least three separate occasions as Holly Morrison, his 34 year old girlfriend, watched. He used sexual objects in which to assault her, and when Morrison questioned him regarding the sexual assault on the first occasion, he assured her that everything he was doing was normal. As far as I can tell, his assurance was good enough for her!
It makes me wonder if Morrison had some developmental delays herself. That, or she allowed the man to perpetrate these sexual acts against her 14-year-old relative because she feared losing him. It baffles me how she couldn't know that what she was doing was wrong.
Morrison, after being indicted herself this past week, had the following to say in a sworn affidavit released earlier this week. In it, she described her role in the sexual abuse she was a part of.
The 14 year old girl went to police approximately a month and a half after the sexual assault began, but not before it got worse. Morrison, who now faces 3 felony counts of gross sexual assault herself, moved from allowing the assaults to participating in them. According to the police report filed by the 14 year old girl, Morrison assisted Cass' behavior by insisting that she get into bed with Morrison and Cass. Another day, Morrison insisted that the girl shower with her and Cass.
So there you have it. Morrison is a 34 year old woman who reportedly has nothing wrong with her. She was left, for whatever reason, as the caretaker for the 14 year old girl at times. Not only did she fail to provide a suitable environment for the 14 year old girl to be in, she allowed her boyfriend to sexually assault her. Later, she was a participant in sexually assaulting her. Presumably, she had the trust of the girl, and she took advantage of it in the worst possible way.
Cass got 4 years in prison, which leaves me curious as to what Morrison will receive. She's already acknowledged that what the 14 year old is saying is true, so I imagine this will never go to court and will be plea bargained down. And while Cass' behavior was reprehensible, I can't help but wonder if Morrison's was worse. I'm not saying that it was, but I wonder, to be honest. Morrison had the authority to say no, one would think, yet she allowed herself to be convinced that what Cass was doing was normal. Later, be it by more convincing from Cass or of her own volition, she actively participated in the assault.
It's interesting to me as well that the entire time he had Morrison were "together"(5 years), Cass was married. When he disappeared on the weekends, he told his wife he was on hunting trips or various other outings with his male friends.
Cass was a predator, for sure. But Morrison was the gatekeeper, and allowed Cass in. Not only this, but she became a predator herself. One could argue that Morrison would never have acted had Cass not prompted her, but that's in the world of ''would have, should have, could have.'' What matters here is that Morrison was trusted to watch out for the well being of a 14 year old girl. Instead of doing so, she did something worse then neglect. She allowed and later, participated in unspeakable sexual acts against her.
In this situation, who is worse here? Cass or Morrison?
Cass got four years in jail(with 4 more suspended). Should Morrison get more or less?
If you were the parent who trusted your sister or cousin to watch your disabled(developmentally)child, and found out this was going on instead, how would you react? Would trusting the justice system be enough for you?
I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more coverage, to be honest. Other online newspapers that I've read were sparse with details as well. Hopefully, I've provided enough information here that if you choose to answer the questions, you can do so feeling informed. But the questions are just a "jumping off" point, you don't have to answer them. Feel free to discuss this in whatever way you want to.
In the case I'm looking at, a Maine woman watched and allowed as her boyfriend sexually assaulted her developmentally disabled relative, a 14 year old girl. Later, at his urging, she joined in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/disabled-teen-sexually-assaulted_n_5168329.html
In February, 59 year old Donald Cass pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual assault. He will spend four years in prison, which hardly seems to fit what he did. He created a nightmarish two months for this 14 year old girl. First, Cass assaulted the unnamed girl on at least three separate occasions as Holly Morrison, his 34 year old girlfriend, watched. He used sexual objects in which to assault her, and when Morrison questioned him regarding the sexual assault on the first occasion, he assured her that everything he was doing was normal. As far as I can tell, his assurance was good enough for her!
It makes me wonder if Morrison had some developmental delays herself. That, or she allowed the man to perpetrate these sexual acts against her 14-year-old relative because she feared losing him. It baffles me how she couldn't know that what she was doing was wrong.
Morrison, after being indicted herself this past week, had the following to say in a sworn affidavit released earlier this week. In it, she described her role in the sexual abuse she was a part of.
I'm sorry, but this makes no sense to me. If you believe something to be wrong and all the lights are on upstairs, how do you let someone convince you that sexually assaulting someone else-let alone your own family member you're supposed to be caring for-is "normal?" It baffles me.
The 14 year old girl went to police approximately a month and a half after the sexual assault began, but not before it got worse. Morrison, who now faces 3 felony counts of gross sexual assault herself, moved from allowing the assaults to participating in them. According to the police report filed by the 14 year old girl, Morrison assisted Cass' behavior by insisting that she get into bed with Morrison and Cass. Another day, Morrison insisted that the girl shower with her and Cass.
So there you have it. Morrison is a 34 year old woman who reportedly has nothing wrong with her. She was left, for whatever reason, as the caretaker for the 14 year old girl at times. Not only did she fail to provide a suitable environment for the 14 year old girl to be in, she allowed her boyfriend to sexually assault her. Later, she was a participant in sexually assaulting her. Presumably, she had the trust of the girl, and she took advantage of it in the worst possible way.
Cass got 4 years in prison, which leaves me curious as to what Morrison will receive. She's already acknowledged that what the 14 year old is saying is true, so I imagine this will never go to court and will be plea bargained down. And while Cass' behavior was reprehensible, I can't help but wonder if Morrison's was worse. I'm not saying that it was, but I wonder, to be honest. Morrison had the authority to say no, one would think, yet she allowed herself to be convinced that what Cass was doing was normal. Later, be it by more convincing from Cass or of her own volition, she actively participated in the assault.
It's interesting to me as well that the entire time he had Morrison were "together"(5 years), Cass was married. When he disappeared on the weekends, he told his wife he was on hunting trips or various other outings with his male friends.
Cass was a predator, for sure. But Morrison was the gatekeeper, and allowed Cass in. Not only this, but she became a predator herself. One could argue that Morrison would never have acted had Cass not prompted her, but that's in the world of ''would have, should have, could have.'' What matters here is that Morrison was trusted to watch out for the well being of a 14 year old girl. Instead of doing so, she did something worse then neglect. She allowed and later, participated in unspeakable sexual acts against her.
In this situation, who is worse here? Cass or Morrison?
Cass got four years in jail(with 4 more suspended). Should Morrison get more or less?
If you were the parent who trusted your sister or cousin to watch your disabled(developmentally)child, and found out this was going on instead, how would you react? Would trusting the justice system be enough for you?
I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more coverage, to be honest. Other online newspapers that I've read were sparse with details as well. Hopefully, I've provided enough information here that if you choose to answer the questions, you can do so feeling informed. But the questions are just a "jumping off" point, you don't have to answer them. Feel free to discuss this in whatever way you want to.
