1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: Every defendant has the rights to what we call allocution. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: They have the right to speak on their own behalf. 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: As a prosecutor, I have seen a lot of defendants 4 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: gift statements, and I have seen it range. I've seen 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: defendants be apologetic and truly apologetic. I've seen some of 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: them apologize to their own families. But in my opinion, 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: his allocution was one of the weirdest allocutions I've heard 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: in my whole career. 9 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 2: I'm Andrea Gunning. This is Betrayal, Season three, episode five. 10 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 2: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania versus Justin Rutherford. The charges against 11 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: Justin Rutherford could put him in prison for decades. Tyler 12 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: was the chief witness against him, so Justin had tried 13 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: on several occasions to persuade Tyler to recant his statement 14 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 2: to detectives. When that didn't work, he concocted a plan 15 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 2: to eliminate Tyler. Justin had sent letters to his godmother, 16 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 2: Nanny Dee, begging her to find someone to murder him, 17 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: and he even solicited a cellmate in County Jail to 18 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: do the job. None of those efforts had paid off. Monday, 19 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: May first, twenty twenty three, at eleven twenty nine am, reading, Pennsylvania, 20 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: two and a half years after Justin was arrested. Stacy Tyler, 21 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 2: their family and friends arrived at the Burkes County Courthouse 22 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania versus Justin Rutherford. Justin sat at 23 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 2: the defense table, dressed in yellow prison scrubs and watched 24 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: his former family file in. I wondered what they were 25 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 2: all thinking in that moment. Here's Stacy daughter, Mikayla. 26 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 3: When I first walked into the courtroom, it was pretty overwhelming. 27 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 3: The door was like a big, heavy door, so you 28 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 3: could hear it creak and open up pretty loudly. And 29 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 3: he kind of turned his head and we made eye contact, 30 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: and then I turned my head away from him because 31 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 3: I was like, don't look at me. 32 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 2: Tyler was taken aback. 33 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 4: I thought, wow, he looks a lot different than I remember. 34 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 4: That doesn't look like him, like he looked like a ghost. 35 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 4: You could definitely tell he had lost some weight, Like 36 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 4: it's almost like, holy shit, I can see what the 37 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 4: monster looks like now. 38 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 5: He turned around and it was one of the first 39 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 5: times I had seen him in a very long time, 40 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 5: and seeing him chained like an animal was really tough. 41 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 5: For me, and I don't know why, because I feel 42 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 5: like I should have felt some kind of joy in 43 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 5: that and I didn't. So it was really hard, you know, 44 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 5: just to see him for the first time. 45 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: Michaela's husband Tommy was focused on the outcome of the proceedings. 46 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 6: I was worried that justice system was going to let 47 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 6: us down. He was a doctor and all that they 48 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 6: were going to take that into account and be like, oh, well, 49 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 6: he's not that bad of a person. We'll just give 50 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 6: him a slap on the wrist. 51 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 2: We were able to obtain transcripts of the court proceedings, 52 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: and what you're about to hear is a reenactment of 53 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 2: what happened that day. 54 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 7: Good morning, your honor, Miss McCallum, representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 55 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 2: There was no jury. There would be no trial for 56 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: all of Justin's posturing and proclamations of innocence. He made 57 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,119 Speaker 2: a plea deal with the prosecutor in the case. Justin 58 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 2: Rutherford pled guilty to rape of a child, rape of 59 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 2: an unconscious victim, filming sexual acts with the knowledge that 60 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: the subject as a minor, and he pled no contests 61 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: to six counts of invasion of privacy for viewing and 62 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: photographing people without their consent. Justin was also charged with 63 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: criminal solicitation to commit murder in the first degree, but 64 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: he would not be tried or sentenced for that on 65 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: this day. He would answer for that charge nine months 66 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: after this one. 67 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 7: Your honor, The defendant pled guilty to a charge agreement 68 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 7: open plea on October seventeenth, twenty twenty two. 69 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: An open plea is when the defense and prosecution agree 70 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: ahead of the sentencing on what the charges are, but 71 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 2: not on what the sentence will be. The judge has 72 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: full discretion. She would ultimately decide Justin's fate. 73 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 8: State your name for the record. Justin Rutherford, Thank you 74 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 8: all right. 75 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 7: Miss McCollum, thank you, your honor. Count one is fourteen. 76 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 7: The standard range is six to forty years. 77 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: What you're hearing is the prosecutor, Meg macallum, reading the 78 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 2: prison sentence ranges for each count. The judge would have 79 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 2: great latitude in sentencing Justin. 80 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 7: Count fourteen, rape of an unconscious person, the standard range, 81 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 7: which is forty eight to sixty six years. 82 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 3: She was reading them fairly quickly. I'm sitting there, like 83 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 3: you know, counting on my fingers. But I couldn't keep track. 84 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: Before sentencing, victims would have their opportunity to make a statement, 85 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: and then Justin would have. 86 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 7: His Your honor At this time, I would call forward 87 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 7: Stacy Rutherford. 88 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 2: Equipped with a victim impact statement she had written and 89 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 2: rewritten countless times. She now faced the man she once 90 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: shared a life with. 91 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 5: I had to walk through where the district attorney in 92 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 5: his attorney was sitting past him to a podium right 93 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 5: in front of the judge, and I asked if I 94 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 5: could turn the podium to him because I wanted to 95 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 5: look at him. I wanted him to see my face 96 00:05:52,320 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 5: when I was reading what I said to him. When 97 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 5: we got up to read, it was a different emotion. 98 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 5: It was fear, you know, of finally confronting him and 99 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 5: getting to say what we wanted to say, because I 100 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 5: felt like for the first couple years we didn't really 101 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 5: have a voice. 102 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 2: We asked Stacy to reread her victim impact statement for 103 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: this episode. 104 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 5: The last two years of our lives have been a 105 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 5: complete nightmare because of you. When I met you, I 106 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 5: never imagined how disgusting or destructive you would be. Our 107 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 5: home was supposed to be a place where our children 108 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 5: felt safe from monsters like you. You are pure evil. 109 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 5: I'm so thankful the truth about who you are was 110 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 5: discovered so that I am able to protect my children 111 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 5: from you and the further damage you could have caused. 112 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 5: The abuse you subjected Tyler to for six years has 113 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:54,799 Speaker 5: been described as scarier than Jeffrey Dahmer. Your evil schemes 114 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 5: were an attempt to take peace out of our home, 115 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 5: but we refused to stay. 116 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: Scared, Stacy looked at her ex husband, hoping for some 117 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: kind of reaction. 118 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 5: I did feel in control for once, but then I 119 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 5: realized that it wasn't phazing him. At one point, he 120 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 5: leaned over to say something to his lawyer, and everything 121 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 5: in me wanted to just say, listen to me, give 122 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 5: me five minutes. You can't give me five minutes to 123 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 5: tell you what you've done to me and your children's lives. 124 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 2: Despite Justin's indifference, Stacy continued, You. 125 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 5: Once held honorable names husband, father, doctor, and friend. Now 126 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 5: the words to define you are pedophile, murder monster, narcissist, sociopath, 127 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 5: and coward. You robbed my children of growing up in 128 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 5: a home with both of their parents. You stole from 129 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 5: them having their father at birthdays, proms, graduations, weddings, births 130 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 5: of their babies. Our daughter will not have her father 131 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 5: walk her down the aisle. Our son will not have 132 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 5: his father take him to sports or teach him to 133 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 5: drive a car. You foolishly chose to miss the most 134 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 5: important moments in their lives, and I am confident you 135 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 5: will spend the rest of your miserable life longing to 136 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 5: be a part of these moments. 137 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: What Stacy yearned for was a flicker of empathy, of recognition, 138 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: and true remorse for the damage he inflicted. 139 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 5: I wanted him to understand what he took from them. 140 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: There was more. 141 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 5: Instead of taking responsibility for your heinous actions, you have 142 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 5: repeatedly blamed my child and the other victims, and in 143 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 5: your pitiful, last ditch efforts to save yourself, you tried 144 00:08:55,559 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 5: to take my son's life twice. You chose to give 145 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 5: my child a life sentence when you put your hands 146 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 5: on him. Why do you deserve any less than spending 147 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 5: the rest of your miserable life in jail. You wanted 148 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 5: mercy shown to you, but how many times did you 149 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 5: show him mercy? When plotting his death? Did you extend 150 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 5: mercy to him? You will have to live the rest 151 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 5: of your life tortured by the choice of who you are. 152 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 8: We will not. 153 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 5: There are things you have taken from us, but you 154 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 5: will not take the lives we still have left to live, 155 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 5: or the plan that God has for our lives. You 156 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 5: will not take another thing from Tyler. You have created 157 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 5: a lot of damage, but we refuse to let it 158 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 5: be carried over to our future. You don't get the 159 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 5: privilege to know your children or see them grow up 160 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 5: to be the beautiful adults they will become, because you 161 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 5: get The. 162 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 2: Only thing Justin did seem to care about were the 163 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: two children he and Stacey had together. 164 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 5: I thought that maybe even bringing that part up about 165 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 5: them would have triggered something in him, but it didn't. 166 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 5: Your honor, From the bottom of our hearts, we say 167 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 5: thank you. Thank you to the DA's office, Meg McCallum 168 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 5: and District Attorney John Adams. We are forever grateful for 169 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 5: your hard work and dedication. 170 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: As Dasey walked back to her seat, the judge asked, is. 171 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 9: There any other victim who wishes to speak at this time? 172 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 4: My mom, for the longest time wanted me to write 173 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 4: a victim's statement, and like the court sent me something 174 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 4: if I wanted to write one, and I was completely 175 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 4: against it, had no desire to do so, to talk 176 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 4: to him or give him my word at all. 177 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 3: He wasn't going to say anything, he didn't prepare anything, 178 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 3: he didn't want to talk, and then out of nowhere 179 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 3: he said yes. And MY first immediate reaction is, oh shit, 180 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 3: Tyler's going to jail. 181 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 5: I think MICHAELA and I kind of both had the 182 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 5: same thought for a second. We kind of looked at 183 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 5: each other and it was one of those oh shit moments, 184 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 5: like this could be bad, this could be really bad. 185 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 3: I'm like, but we got bail money in savings, so 186 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 3: I guess we'll go get him. 187 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 4: Once my mom had gotten done reading her statement and 188 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 4: anyone else who had when they were like, does anybody 189 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 4: else want to talk? 190 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 8: And I was like, well, if. 191 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 4: I guess I'm freestyling it. 192 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 7: Your honor Commonwealth calls Tyler. Your honor Commonwealth calls Tyler. 193 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 4: I was definitely nervous, like my heart was racing walking 194 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 4: up to there. 195 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 2: We also asked Tyler if he was open to reading 196 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: what he said in court that day using the transcript 197 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 2: from the proceedings. 198 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 4: You had me At my lowest, I had nightmares, but 199 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 4: not anymore because I worked on myself. But at one 200 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 4: point I had nightmares so scary I would wake up, 201 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 4: I would hear and see things that weren't there. I 202 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 4: tried to kill myself and I had to stay in 203 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 4: the hospital for a week and a half with therapists 204 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 4: evaluating me NonStop. I've struggled with mental health problems, and 205 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 4: I'm finally getting better. I have anxiety so bad I 206 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 4: wake up every morning and I puke because of it. 207 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 4: Every morning before I go to school. I puke any 208 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 4: sort of thing that worries me, whatsoever. It makes me 209 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 4: physically sick. Now I've learned how to deal with all 210 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 4: these problems. I was a little boy. Then you could 211 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 4: manipulate me. Now I'm a grown man. I'm just as 212 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 4: big as you, and I'm not scared. You're the weak one. 213 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,199 Speaker 4: You're the one in chains. I'm graduating early because I'm 214 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 4: making something of my life. I'm going to have a 215 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 4: house here in a few years, a car, family. While 216 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 4: you're sitting behind bars. You lost all that. That's all 217 00:12:58,600 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 4: I have to say. 218 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 3: I was not expecting that what he said, not even 219 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 3: being prepared and on the fly was beautiful and took 220 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 3: a lot of strength. 221 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 4: I was really proud of myself and I felt like 222 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 4: a badass to be honest, and reading the transcripts back, 223 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 4: I'm like, damn, I can't believe I just came up 224 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 4: with all that on the spot. 225 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 5: I think it was perfect. 226 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 2: The victims had spoken, the prosecutor was ready to make 227 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 2: her case for the maximum sentence. 228 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 7: Your Honor. At the plea, the defendant admitted to his 229 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 7: sexual abuse of Tyler for six years and it continued 230 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 7: until July of the year that he was caught. And 231 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 7: he was caught only because there was a brave young 232 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 7: man who happened to see a hidden camera in the 233 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 7: bathroom of the defendant's home that he shared with his family. 234 00:13:56,160 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 7: Your Honor received a sentencing memorandum from the Defense Council. 235 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:01,559 Speaker 8: What stuck out to. 236 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 7: Me most is the leniency that they are requesting on 237 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 7: the fact that the defendant was a doctor. The fact 238 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,719 Speaker 7: that he was a doctor is not something that this 239 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 7: court should indicate as a mitigator for any sentence your 240 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 7: Honor chooses to impose. 241 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 2: Asking for leniency because he was a doctor. If anything, 242 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 2: that would be an aggravating factor a doctor should know 243 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 2: just how damaging his actions were. 244 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 7: Like the court did when she first became a lawyer, 245 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 7: and when you took the oath to become a judge. 246 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 7: The defendant took the hippocratic oath when he stood up 247 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 7: to be a doctor, and part of that oath says, 248 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 7: may I always act to preserve the finest traditions of 249 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 7: my colleague, and may I long experience the joy of 250 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 7: healing those who seek my help. If I ever break 251 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 7: this oath, let my gods take away my knowledge of 252 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 7: this art and my own health. May I be destroyed 253 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 7: if I betray these words. The defendant betrayed those words 254 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 7: in the worst way possible. He's wore an oath to 255 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 7: protect people, violated that in secret in hopes that he 256 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 7: would never be caught. The defendant, who I will describe 257 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 7: as a narcissist, is only worried about the repercussions to himself. 258 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 7: He went to great lengths because he doesn't like how 259 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 7: hard the bed is, and that he's depressed because he's jailed, 260 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 7: and all of these things that affect him, and went 261 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 7: through the lengths of trying to convince his godmother to 262 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 7: hire someone to kill Tyler, Your honor, the defendant deserves 263 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 7: to remain in jail for the rest of his life. 264 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 2: And how much time was the state specifically asking for. 265 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 7: I ask your honor to impose a sentence of twenty 266 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 7: six to seventy years, followed by twelve years of probation. Additionally, 267 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 7: your honor, I would ask for special conditions that the 268 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 7: defendant have no contact with any miner, including his biological children. 269 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 2: You heard that right. The state was asking for up 270 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: to seventy years in prison and absolutely no contact with 271 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 2: any minor. Before the judge would hand down her sentence, 272 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 2: the defendant has the right to address the court one 273 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 2: last time, so Justin Rutherford made one last attempt to 274 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 2: explain why he deserved mercy. He first addressed the judge today. 275 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 8: I stand before you a broken man. Over the course 276 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 8: of these charges, there's been a lot of pain and hurt. 277 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 8: I lost my family, my friends, my career, my home, 278 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 8: and the DAS preventing me from seeing my kids rock Bottom. 279 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 8: I know I'm not the only one hurting. I would 280 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 8: like to say that as a physician, though I served 281 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 8: my community well, I never had any patients complain on me. 282 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 8: I treated them all with respect. None of the invasion 283 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 8: of privacy charges stem from my patients or the office. 284 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 8: I never violated their hippo or their privacy. I put 285 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 8: all of my energy into being the best I could 286 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 8: professionally and taking care of my patients. Unfortunately, I forgot 287 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 8: to take care of myself. The strange thing is, I 288 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 8: don't know how to explain it, except to say that 289 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 8: I was hiding from myself my sexual orientation. Not everyone's 290 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 8: mind agrees with their body. After participating fully in the 291 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 8: treatment at the jail, I figured out a lot about myself. 292 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 8: I straightened myself out, as well as coming to terms 293 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 8: with some of the traumas I experienced in my past 294 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 8: as well. I wish I had the wisdom to have 295 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 8: gotten help before, but I was scared and worried about 296 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 8: what it would do to my family and my career, 297 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 8: your honor in every other area of my life. I 298 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 8: am a law abiding citizen. I'm just a boring, old 299 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 8: family man who made some poor errors in judgment due 300 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 8: to a condition I suffer from. I love my step 301 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 8: son with all my heart. I've never physically assaulted my wife, kids, 302 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 8: step kids, or anyone. I rarely ever even raised my 303 00:18:58,359 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 8: voice at them. 304 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 2: He didn't seem to make the connection between pleading guilty 305 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 2: to raping a child in physical assault, Your honor. 306 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 8: I'm asking you, pleading with you, and begging with you 307 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 8: to ignore the DA's recommendation for sentencing. I'm asking you 308 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 8: for mercy this one time, my first ever charge. God 309 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 8: sent me here to correct my temptation and force me 310 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 8: to repent. As I ask for God's mercy, I ask 311 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 8: for yours. Thank you, your honor. 312 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 2: It's like he's talking about a speeding ticket. Justin still 313 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 2: thought he was entitled to some kind of pass. 314 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 8: Can I turn to address my family? 315 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 9: No, you can direct it at me if there's something 316 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 9: you want to say. 317 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 8: Tyler, I have prayed for an opportunity to face you, 318 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 8: to look you in the eyes and work this out. 319 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 8: This might sound strange to you, but just like when 320 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 8: your mom and I argue, I can't stand there being 321 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 8: tension between us for several years. You are my best friend, 322 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 8: my shadow. 323 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 9: I'm going to stop you. 324 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 4: They stopped him about like a few words into a 325 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 4: statement and was like, whoa, whoa. 326 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 9: This is not about you directing your comments to the court. 327 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:37,199 Speaker 9: Are the victims comfortable with him? Addressing you. If you 328 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 9: are not, I will stop it. 329 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 4: I like rose my hand in the middle of the court, 330 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 4: and I was like, nope, I wanted to hear what 331 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 4: he had to say, even. 332 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 8: If it was all bullshit. 333 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 4: He'd already written it, so I was like, fine, say 334 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 4: what you want to say. 335 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 2: The judge allowed Justin to continue. 336 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 8: I have become aware through all of this that you 337 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 8: experienced bad times as well. I'm totally sorry that I 338 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 8: have caused you pain. It was never my intention to 339 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 8: cause you harm. You know it's not me. I will 340 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 8: fully admit I had fear expressing my sexual orientation for 341 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 8: a long time. I don't know what you heard about 342 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 8: me since all of this came out, but I swear 343 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 8: to you that you know you were the only one 344 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 8: that I was like that with in that way. You 345 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 8: were the only one I ever planned to be with 346 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 8: in that degree. To be honest, it might sound crazy, 347 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 8: but it had nothing to do with your age. It 348 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 8: had only to do about who you were who you are. 349 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 4: I didn't take my eyes off of him, he didn't 350 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,200 Speaker 4: take his eyes off me. I just kept my billy, badass, 351 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 4: mean face. I was mean dogging him and just kept 352 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 4: staring at It wasn't bothering me at the start, but 353 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 4: as he kept going, it just got creepier and creepier. 354 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 2: Then Justin revealed something. Everyone froze in their seats. 355 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 8: I mean, love can strike you at any point, you know. 356 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 8: Look at Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. There's fifteen years 357 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 8: of an age difference to counteract any negative feelings you've 358 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 8: ever had about me or feel towards me. I hope 359 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 8: you think of all the times I tried to steer 360 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 8: you down the right path, how I rewarded you for 361 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 8: good grades that led you to being a straight A student. 362 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 8: I was there when you cried about a bully on 363 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 8: the bus. 364 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 5: He said some pretty odd things to Tyler. I think 365 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:14,640 Speaker 5: that it turned from an abusive situation to ultimately the end. 366 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 5: He believed he was in a relationship with Tyler, that 367 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 5: he was Tyler's lover. 368 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 8: Every day for the past twenty one months, I've been 369 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 8: apart from you. I'm very sorry. I gave you every 370 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 8: piece of my heart and soul, and I'm sorry if 371 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 8: I failed you. 372 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 2: Even in his elocution, Justin still tried to manipulate Tyler. 373 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 8: I hope for your success and I hope you still 374 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 8: consider going into sports medicine. I'm proud of you. I 375 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 8: pray for your healing, love, forgiveness and mercy, and I'll 376 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 8: love you always, buddy. 377 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,360 Speaker 2: Justin was looking at Tyler, and Tyler was staring back 378 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 2: at him. Stacy, on the other hand, had her eyes 379 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 2: squarely fixed on the decision maker in the room, the judge. 380 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 5: As he read his letter. You could see the disgust 381 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 5: on her face. At one point, she took her glasses 382 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 5: off and she put her face in her hands, And 383 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 5: all I could think of was, are you not looking 384 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 5: at this? 385 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 2: Are you not watching her? 386 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 5: She was going to throw the book at him. 387 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 4: Once he was done talking to me, I kind of 388 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 4: just shook it off and I was good. 389 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 2: After that. Justin turned his attention to Stacy. 390 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 8: Stacy, I'm not even sure what to say to you, 391 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 8: because there are no words to tell you how sorry 392 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 8: I am for what I put you through. Every part 393 00:24:56,359 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 8: of my personality was genuine when it came caring, hoping, 394 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 8: loving or helping, laughter, etc. All of that was my 395 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 8: true me. But I did deceive you about my sexual orientation, 396 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 8: and for that, I'm sorry. 397 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 2: I must stop here for just a moment, Justin is 398 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 2: implying that he was deceptive about being gay. Maybe he 399 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 2: is gay, maybe he isn't. It's irrelevant. Justin is a 400 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 2: sexually violent predator. It's important not to conflate his supposed 401 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 2: sexuality with acting on his impulse to sexually abuse children, 402 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 2: as well as observing non consenting people in their private 403 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 2: time voyeurism. 404 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 8: I failed you, I failed our marriage, and I wish 405 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 8: I could have been everything you wanted. I still believe 406 00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 8: we were made to be soulmates. You were an amazing 407 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 8: spouse and didn't deserve any of this. At least out 408 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 8: of all of this, we have our two wonderful kids. 409 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 2: Finally, just In turn to Stacy's. 410 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 8: Daughter Mikhayla, I'm sorry for any pain or suffering I've 411 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 8: caused you as well. I'm sorry for the worstening of 412 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 8: your mental health. I'm sorry I couldn't be the father 413 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 8: you wanted and deserve. I love you so much. Do 414 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 8: you know why I always supported your relationships and sexuality. 415 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 8: I was happy you were expressing your true self, which 416 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,400 Speaker 8: is something I always wanted. 417 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 3: So the first part of his letter to me started 418 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 3: out basically saying, like you're the only one in this courtroom. 419 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 3: Who understands me because you dated a woman before. 420 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 8: Just like you, I was searching for my true perfect match. Sometimes, though, 421 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 8: who you are and what you want clash. Just like you, 422 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 8: I made the decision you are making because of the 423 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 8: desire for kids. Another way we are alike. 424 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 3: I'm ready to flip my lid right like, do not 425 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 3: compare me dating two girls in my lifetime to you 426 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 3: being a predator. 427 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 8: I wish you the best of life, and I'm happy 428 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 8: I played a part in getting you there. I hope 429 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 8: you will maintain contact. Just know I'll always consider you 430 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 8: my daughter, and I pray for your success, love and healing. 431 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 8: Thank you, your honor. 432 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 3: So I'm sitting there like fuck you. To me, that 433 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 3: was like you're literally showing no remorse, which we already 434 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 3: knew that from his letters to Mom and Tyler, But 435 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 3: that was just more AMMO to be like you don't care. 436 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 2: The judge would consider everything she had just heard. She 437 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:14,640 Speaker 2: would take the prosecutor's recommendation, victim impact statements, and letters 438 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:18,400 Speaker 2: that supporters had submitted into her chambers. When she returned, 439 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:23,640 Speaker 2: she would deliver the sentence. Ada McCallum had one last request. 440 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 7: Your honor if I just may, I know I asked 441 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 7: for no contact with minors, but I would also ask 442 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 7: for no contact with any of the victims. 443 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 9: Thank you, counsel. I'll be back. 444 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 2: Thirteen minutes. That's all the time the judge needed to 445 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 2: decide on Justin's sentence and emerge from chambers. 446 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 9: First, I'd like to say to the victims and their family, 447 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 9: I hope that today brings you some type of closure. 448 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 9: I can't undo what was done. It sounds to me 449 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 9: like you guys are sticking together, taking care of each other, 450 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 9: and getting yourselves the services that you need to begin 451 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 9: to heal from all of this. But I'll do my part. 452 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 9: I think the difficult thing about these is the insidiousness 453 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 9: that comes with this type of abuse, especially within a family, 454 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 9: because the abuser is in fact someone in a place 455 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 9: of trust and maybe even love. It is very confusing 456 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 9: for a young person to decipher all of those feelings. 457 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 9: And that's squarely on you, mister Rutherford. I don't know 458 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 9: if it was you or your defense counsel who said 459 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:47,520 Speaker 9: about this being difficult for me to render a sentence. 460 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 9: I can assure you I don't find this difficult. You 461 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 9: and your choices have removed that difficulty from me. Your 462 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 9: own biological children, said, are collateral victims of all this 463 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 9: because of your choices. You're right, they will grow up 464 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 9: without a father. I'm of the mind that at this 465 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 9: point that could be a really good thing for them. 466 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 4: As soon as the judge started laying out everything, I immediately 467 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 4: was like, Oh, he's fucked. 468 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 9: When I read your letter and your desire that somehow, 469 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 9: if I could mitigate or be in the bottom of 470 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 9: the standard range, that you would be able to get 471 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 9: out and be a family man. That ship has sailed, 472 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 9: my friend, long ago. Long ago. You stopped being a 473 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 9: family man the second you laid your hands on those boys. 474 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 2: The judge sentenced Justin Rutherford to twenty six years and 475 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 2: ten months up to seventy years in prison, along with 476 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 2: twelve years of special probation. After his release. 477 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,440 Speaker 9: You will have no contact with the victims in this case. 478 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:08,640 Speaker 9: In addition, though you will have no contact with any miners, 479 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 9: including your own biological children. 480 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 2: You would also be required to register as a sexually 481 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 2: violent predator. But remember, this sentence didn't include the solicitation 482 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 2: to commit murder charge that was still to come. Although 483 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 2: the sentence had been handed down. The judge wanted to 484 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 2: be even more explicit about one part of her sentence. 485 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 9: I found your comments, specifically to Tyler to be extremely disturbing. 486 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 9: So no contact means no contact, including through third parties. 487 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 9: That means not by letter, not by text, not by phone, 488 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 9: not by carrier pitcheon, not through nannyde, not through any one. 489 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 9: You cannot say tell my children that I love them. 490 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 9: You cannot say tell the kids Daddy was thinking of them. Nothing. 491 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 9: No contact means no contact whatsoever with any miners, whatsoever. 492 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 9: Am I clear? 493 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 8: Yes, ma'am. Can I ask a question that applies until 494 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 8: they're eighteen? Right? 495 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 9: No, this order applies through the length of your sentence, 496 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 9: and well beyond the day either of your children turn eighteen. 497 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 9: You can have no contact with them for as long 498 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 9: as you are on supervision. For the length of your supervision, 499 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 9: you may have no contact with them, including their families. 500 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 4: As she said, nope, you'll never see him ever again. 501 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 4: And I was like, oh my god, like she's not 502 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 4: playing it around. 503 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 3: And she was like, really firm about it. Unless you 504 00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 3: love to be one hundred and ten years old, you 505 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 3: will never see or talk to your children ever again. 506 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 3: He kind of just dropped his head and said okay, 507 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 3: And you just heard like the defeat in his voice. 508 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 3: You almost want to look at him and be like, 509 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,680 Speaker 3: did you really think you were going to see your kids? 510 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 4: He like sealed his fate pretty much with the letter 511 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 4: he read to me. He kind of admitted to some 512 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 4: shit in it and like it, admitted to his fucked 513 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 4: up way of thinking and proved that he should not 514 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:30,080 Speaker 4: be allowed on the streets again. 515 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 2: As Justin was escorted from the courtroom, Stacy was finally 516 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 2: able to take a deep breath. 517 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 5: I think there was a huge part of me that 518 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 5: was relieved at how long it was, because I knew 519 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 5: there was a possibility that it could be less. Meg 520 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:50,960 Speaker 5: had been in constant contact with me as far as 521 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 5: what she was going for as the sentence. But you know, 522 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 5: ultimately at the end it was a judge's decision. 523 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:06,120 Speaker 4: My way of looking at that court hearing was after today, 524 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 4: I'm ready to move on with my new life. I 525 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 4: told everyone. I was like, all right, I'm ready to 526 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:18,760 Speaker 4: stop letting this shape our life. And we just got 527 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:21,799 Speaker 4: all the news we needed. Everything's done now. That was 528 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:25,280 Speaker 4: like my sense of completion, I guess, and it being over, 529 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:27,360 Speaker 4: even though it really wasn't. It was over for me. 530 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 2: I was done with it. Michaela's husband Tommy summarized the 531 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 2: overall feeling. 532 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:41,200 Speaker 6: Leaving the courthouse. Nobody was happy, but everybody was relieved 533 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 6: that this part is over. We're ready to move on 534 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:47,280 Speaker 6: as a family. 535 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:51,480 Speaker 2: Well, with one exception. Justin's godmother, Nanny d. 536 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 5: Her and I had a conversation afterwards, and she just 537 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 5: was so angry that nobody heard him. Nobody listened to him. 538 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:04,840 Speaker 5: Oh we listened, We listened. Everybody listened. I said, I 539 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 5: just don't think you heard the same thing we did. 540 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 5: She saw it as he was being sincere, and he 541 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 5: was pouring his heart out, and every one of you 542 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 5: just didn't care what he had to say. 543 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 2: It just it blew my mind that. 544 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:18,319 Speaker 8: She thought that. 545 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,000 Speaker 2: Justice had been served, the kids would never have to worry. 546 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,279 Speaker 2: Stacy could finally be alone with her grief for the 547 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:33,560 Speaker 2: first time. On the next episode of Betrayal, Stacy finally 548 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 2: confronts the feelings she's been too afraid and ashamed to explore. 549 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,319 Speaker 5: Was anything that I ever felt real? 550 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:44,400 Speaker 2: And she talks with a well known relationship expert to 551 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 2: confront the truth. The darkest of possibilities to face is 552 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:51,880 Speaker 2: actually nothing. 553 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:56,960 Speaker 5: About this person, nothing about the memories we shared together 554 00:35:57,800 --> 00:35:58,320 Speaker 5: are real. 555 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:08,239 Speaker 2: If you're a man who has experienced sexual abuse or assault, 556 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,319 Speaker 2: or you know someone who is seeking support, go to 557 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 2: one in six dot org. That's the number one I 558 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 2: n number six dot org. Find a path to a happier, 559 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,800 Speaker 2: healthier future. If you would like to reach out to 560 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 2: the Betrayal team, email us at betrayalpod at gmail dot com. 561 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:30,840 Speaker 2: That's Betrayal pod at gmail dot com. Also, please be 562 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:34,520 Speaker 2: sure to follow us at Glass Podcasts on Instagram for 563 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:38,759 Speaker 2: all Betrayal content, news and updates. We're grateful for your support. 564 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:41,719 Speaker 2: One way to show support is by subscribing to our 565 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:44,680 Speaker 2: show on Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to rate and 566 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 2: review Betrayal. Five star reviews go a long way. A 567 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,759 Speaker 2: big thank you to all of our listeners. Betrayal is 568 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:55,400 Speaker 2: a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group, 569 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 2: in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced 570 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 2: by Nancy and Jennifer Fason, hosted and produced by me 571 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:07,760 Speaker 2: Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Trey Morgan and Carrie Hartman. 572 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,760 Speaker 2: Also produced by Ben Fetterman. Associate producers are Christin Melcurie 573 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,680 Speaker 2: and Caitlin Golden. Our iHeart team is Ali Perry and 574 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 2: Jessica Crincheck. Voice acting by Andrew Dabby Rose Carr, st 575 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 2: Miller and Mason Klinder. Special thanks to Stacy Rutherford Tyler 576 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:29,000 Speaker 2: and the rest of Stacy and Tyler's friends and family, 577 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:33,120 Speaker 2: and to the Burkes County Courthouse and District Attorney's Office. 578 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 2: Audio editing and mixing by Matt talfechio editing support from 579 00:37:37,560 --> 00:37:42,400 Speaker 2: Nico Aruka. The Trayals theme composed by Oliver Bains. Music 580 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:46,640 Speaker 2: library provided by Mob Music. And For more podcasts from iHeart, 581 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:50,680 Speaker 2: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 582 00:37:50,719 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 2: your podcasts.