A California judge has reportedly now decided to allow a man, Trevor Lee Colombano, to avoid jail time despite his guilty plea for severely attacking a woman.
Colombano, 38, faced serious charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and sexual battery, after he groped the victim and violently struck her in the face with a rock.
The attack, which took place in October 2023, left the victim permanently disfigured.
During the court proceedings, the judge, Dana Simonds, opted to sentence Colombano to just four years of probation, citing his mental health issues and marijuana use at the time of the assault as mitigating factors.
This lenient sentence disregarded a recommendation from the Sonoma County Probation Department, which had advocated for a prison term.
Prosecutors had noted the severity of the crime, emphasizing the lasting physical and emotional scars the victim would endure.
The victim, who was with her 13-year-old daughter and cousin during the attack, expressed her anguish in court. She described the trauma of being unable to protect herself or her loved ones during the violent encounter.
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez criticized the ruling, stating that justice was not served and labeling Colombano a threat to public safety.
This case is not an isolated incident; Judge Simonds has previously allowed other dangerous offenders to avoid prison. In a prior case, she sentenced a repeat DUI offender to probation despite multiple convictions.
The ongoing decisions by the judge have sparked concern regarding the handling of violent offenders and the perceived leniency in the judicial system.
[READ MORE: Trump Demands Iran Make a Nuclear Deal with U.S. to Prevent Military Action]
