PRESCOTT (AZ)
The Daily Courier
By MIRSADA BURIC
The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT An articulate letter from the victim pleading with the court not to sentence former Rabbi David Lipman to prison for molesting her warranted him lifetime intensive probation on Thursday.
Yavapai County Superior Court Judge William Kiger said in his 12-year career as a judge he hasn't dealt with a more unusual and difficult case.
After listing all mitigating factors, Kiger read portions of the letter in which the victim said, "Don't punish me Š by sending (the defendant) to jail."
She said sending Lipman to prison would make her regret that she ever came forward with the accusations against him.
"I have never had this articulate presentation," Kiger said, explaining how the court has to listen to what the victim has to say in addition to fulfilling societal expectations when deciding "what is the just and right thing to do."