Judge praises rapist at sentencing while victim listens
Provo, UT (KUTV) — Fourth District Court Judge Thomas Low had glowing praise for a man who was convicted of molesting two female relatives while they stayed at his home three years ago.
“The court had no doubt that Mr. Vallejo is an extraordinarily good man,” Low said just moments before sentencing Keith Vallejo to prison for sexually abusing the two females. “But great men, sometimes do bad things,” Low continued.
During the sentencing, Low appeared to be emotional as he read the sentence. His praise came as at least one of the victims, Julia Kirby, sat in the court room.
“For him to say that in a court room in front the victim who was abused and raped by this man, that he is a great person, to me was unacceptable and unprofessional,” she told 2News by phone.
Turner Bitton, with The Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said when a person in a position like Low’s praises the predator, he essentially blames the victim.
“At the end of the day, we’re still going to tell you that your perpetrator was a good person, they made mistake and somehow it was still your responsibility,” Bitton said.
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