[Larry381]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 23-year-old Memphis man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for hitting an 11-year-old girl with his vehicle, then raping her. But the girl's family is not at all satisfied with the sentence.
That 40 years is much less than what prosecutors pushed for 23-year-old Larry Ward to receive.
In 2016, Ward hit the 11-year-old while she was walking to Geeter Middle School with his SUV, forced her inside, threatened to kill her, then raped her. The child was found crying on the side of the road by a woman who called police. Ward pleaded guilty to the brutal crime, choosing a judge to decide his sentence.
Three witnesses testified at the sentencing hearing. The state believed overall, Ward should serve 71 years in prison, consecutively, for the various charges he was convicted of, while his attorney argued for 35. Ultimately, Judge Jennifer Johnson Mitchell decided on 40 years.
The 40 years was a number the victim's family did not want to hear. "They are not doing well," said Devon Dennis, attorney with the Shelby County District Attorney's Special Victims Unit. "They left in tears. They are very distraught."
"I'm really pleased with the outcome and that he didn't put the family through the heartache of a trial in a matter like this," defense attorney Claiborne Ferguson said. Following the judge's ruling, Dennis reiterated Ward's criminal history and said he's a danger to the community and also a liability in jail, where he has been written up 20 times. The judge responded that the court heard no proof there was no hesitation about committing the crime at which the risk to human life is high, saying she would not sentence him consecutively. "Given this man's age, he is going to be getting out at age 63 and could still present a huge danger to the community," Dennis said.
Ward will be back in court in January, when he will face another rape charge in a different case. On top of that, investigators discovered another potential victim of Ward's, but right now, she doesn't want to press charges because she is too afraid.

[Lurker]

Drag him into the town square and put a bullet in his head.

L

[Fai Mao]

Not nearly enough.

[Salvavida]

Genpop will take care of the remaining part of the sentence.

[fieldmarshaldj]

One of Steve Cohen’s best and brightest constituents.

[ladyjane]

Black judge gives black criminal with long record a very light sentence.

Who is worst? the rapist or the judge?

[Jeff Chandler]

Judge Jennifer

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The average life expectancy of black men in Tennessee is 73.6 years.

Typically, for every year in prison, a prisoner loses two years in life expectancy.

[kingu]

Should be noted that he was arrested three years ago in 2016 and aside from the initial arraignment, has pretty much waived everything with a guilty plea.

He was 20 when he was arrested.

His original bond was $50,000 when officers and prosecutors asked for no bail. I do not know if he did make bond (probably did for $5k) or how many crimes he may have committed while out on bail (probably a lot...)

[fella]

Violent rape should be a capitol offense with sentence swiftly carried out.

[Blood of Tyrants]

What an awful world. For those who do not believe in Jesus, this is the closest to heaven they will ever come. For believers, this is the closest to hell they will ever be.

[Nellie Wilkerson]

But-but-but-but Memphis took down its Confederate statues. Wasn’t that supposed to make everything all right?

[Rannug]

Simple and cheap. Hang or bang.

[Boomer]

Yeah; this is death penalty level crimes. This scum forfeited his right to life as far as I’m concerned.

[aquila48]

[Natty Bumppo@frontier.net]

There is no punishment cruel and unusual enough for Larry Ward.

Or, for Judge Jennifer for that matter.

[Chickensoup]

was the girl white or black?

are the other victims white or black?

[Ann Archy]

Di REALLY need a PICTURE?? NO....sadly NO. What has happened to the blacks??

[Albion Wilde]

I am in favor of the death penalty for any violent or stranger rape of a pre-pubescent child. Why should they have to grow up with the horror threat of their rapist going out on parole? Childhood rape maims a person’s soul.