2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: News
Jailed sex offender's fate still unknown
Judge to decide by Jan. 31 if grad student can return to campus
Clint Cohen
But even if Mitman is allowed to return to Penn, he may become an outsider to the University community.
"We as a nation have gone bananas with sex crimes," Artur said, adding that Mitman is more likely to face threats and hostility since his sex-offender status has become common knowledge.
But for Mitman, publicity from the incident has already led to rejection from his immediate community.
The incident "has already immersed him in enough publicity that he's getting harassed at the prison," Fink said.
He added that Mitman may be able to resume a normal life on campus when the Penn community stops seeing his presence as a risk.
Students "will probably start ignoring him pretty quickly because he isn't a danger," Fink said.
Mitman pled guilty in March 2005 to involuntary deviate sexual-intercourse charges with a 14-year-old boy and was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in prison.
He began attending Penn in September 2006 after enrolling in the academic-release program.
"We as a nation have gone bananas with sex crimes," Artur said, adding that Mitman is more likely to face threats and hostility since his sex-offender status has become common knowledge.
But for Mitman, publicity from the incident has already led to rejection from his immediate community.
The incident "has already immersed him in enough publicity that he's getting harassed at the prison," Fink said.
He added that Mitman may be able to resume a normal life on campus when the Penn community stops seeing his presence as a risk.
Students "will probably start ignoring him pretty quickly because he isn't a danger," Fink said.
Mitman pled guilty in March 2005 to involuntary deviate sexual-intercourse charges with a 14-year-old boy and was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in prison.
He began attending Penn in September 2006 after enrolling in the academic-release program.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Philadelphia Resident
posted 1/25/07 @ 10:20 AM EST
This is dispicable. Why is this guy being run over hot coals just to attend Penn? Last I checked, there are no 14 year old boys (or girls) attending Penn, so I don't understand the threat that he is posing to the community. (Continued…)
Not so fast...
posted 1/25/07 @ 2:45 PM EST
Mitman is NOT "a guy who has served his time". He is still in prison, just being allowed out during the day to go to school. He has NOT completed his sentence yet. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 1/25/07 @ 4:06 PM EST
The particulars of Mitman's case does bother me (and I say this without knowing much details). A 22 year old had sexual relations with a 14 year old. This is a very gray area, we aren't talking about the harshness of a 40 year old man going after a 14 year old boy. (Continued…)
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