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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
A judge will decide within the next week whether jailed sex offender and Penn student Kurt Mitman will be allowed to return to campus, though any release from prison will likely be accompanied by additional security.
Last week, University officials discovered that Mitman, a first-year Economics graduate student who is serving a jail sentence on child-molestation charges, was commuting to class from a Bucks County prison as part of an academic-release program.
At a hearing last Wednesday, County Judge Theodore Fritsch suspended Mitman's academic release and gave the county Men's Community Corrections Center until Jan. 31 to draft a new release proposal that would provide for more monitoring provisions if Mitman were allowed to return to classes, said Richard Fink, Mitman's attorney.
According to School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions Coordinator Patricia Rea, Penn officials met yesterday to discuss Mitman's status with the University, though spokeswoman Lori Doyle said Tuesday that the University will abide by the court's decision.
"That's at the judge's discretion at present," Doyle said.
Philadelphia criminal attorney Patrick Artur said Bucks County District Attorney Diane Gibbons has always opposed academic-release privileges for sex offenders and will likely ask Fritsch either to limit Mitman's privileges to the Bucks County area or to keep him in prison for the remainder of his sentence.
Gibbons could not be reached despite repeated attempts for comment.
Artur added that one of the issues prosecutors are likely to scrutinize is the fact that Mitman attends school in Philadelphia.
In a city so large, he said, there is a risk of losing control over Mitman's activities.
Another consideration is that Philadelphia is outside of the Bucks County court's jurisdiction, Artur said.
Fink said he believes Fritsch may allow Mitman to return to campus under increased security and with possible conditions, including monitored phone conversations and prohibition from contact with minors.
Last week, University officials discovered that Mitman, a first-year Economics graduate student who is serving a jail sentence on child-molestation charges, was commuting to class from a Bucks County prison as part of an academic-release program.
At a hearing last Wednesday, County Judge Theodore Fritsch suspended Mitman's academic release and gave the county Men's Community Corrections Center until Jan. 31 to draft a new release proposal that would provide for more monitoring provisions if Mitman were allowed to return to classes, said Richard Fink, Mitman's attorney.
According to School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions Coordinator Patricia Rea, Penn officials met yesterday to discuss Mitman's status with the University, though spokeswoman Lori Doyle said Tuesday that the University will abide by the court's decision.
"That's at the judge's discretion at present," Doyle said.
Philadelphia criminal attorney Patrick Artur said Bucks County District Attorney Diane Gibbons has always opposed academic-release privileges for sex offenders and will likely ask Fritsch either to limit Mitman's privileges to the Bucks County area or to keep him in prison for the remainder of his sentence.
Gibbons could not be reached despite repeated attempts for comment.
Artur added that one of the issues prosecutors are likely to scrutinize is the fact that Mitman attends school in Philadelphia.
In a city so large, he said, there is a risk of losing control over Mitman's activities.
Another consideration is that Philadelphia is outside of the Bucks County court's jurisdiction, Artur said.
Fink said he believes Fritsch may allow Mitman to return to campus under increased security and with possible conditions, including monitored phone conversations and prohibition from contact with minors.
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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