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May 8, 2009
"Ice cream man awaits sentencing"
The title of this post is the headline of this local articlethat I thought might provide the basis for a little friday tomfoolery. Here are the basics:
An ice cream truck driver that admitted to exposing himself in front of a toddler in Sugar Grove is expected to be sentenced later this month. Douglas R. Jones, 48, of Aurora, has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, a class four felony.
He faces between one and three years in prison, or could receive probation. He is expected to be sentenced May 21 by Circuit Judge Robert Spence, according to prosecutors.
Jones was arrested in June 2007 after police say a 3-year-old saw Jones exposing himself inside his ice cream truck.
At the time, Jones also was a substitute teacher in the Aurora East school district but was not allowed to continue his role following the arrest, according to district officials. Jones also had been elected to the Kane County Regional School Board.
I will get the silliness started by wondering if the new neighborhood chant is "You scream, I scream, we all scream, for the ice cream man to be lock up." Or, maybe we should talk about possible alternative sentences: e.g., perhaps the defendant here should be ordered to keep a popsicle in his shorts for the duration of his sentencing term.
May 8, 2009 at 08:04 AM | Permalink
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Comments
There is something missing here.
"Jones was arrested in June 2007 after police say a 3-year-old saw Jones exposing himself inside his ice cream truck."
Really, how??? Three years old are maybe two feet tall. Was said child in the arms of a parent? If so, was the parent arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor?
Posted by: Daniel | May 8, 2009 9:18:26 AM
Prof. Berman,
If we are to trust the news story, this person actually "expos[ed] himself in front of a toddler." Unlike a child-pornography possessor, this person actually committed a sexual act in front of a non-consenting person - an act that, depending on whether we believe certain psychologists, may involve some lasting emotional trauma to the child (and even if it doesn't, remains an unfair and exploitative act).
Am I mistaken in observing a disparity between your disapproving reaction to this case (1-3 year sentence) and your apparent neutrality or indifference to child-porn possessors receiving a 5 years or more? ("General deterrence is the strongest argument to support why seemingly law abiding persons who merely downloaded kiddie porn pictures should get such lengthy prison terms for their first offenses. I hope that, over time, this general deterrence is effective.").
Again, unlike a child-porn possessor, this person actually committed an offensive and exploitative act in front of a real child.
Posted by: Leon | May 8, 2009 4:45:49 PM
As with all sentencing issues in which we do not have adequate research on effectiveness (or the long-term harms to victims), I am an agnostic on what sorts of sentencing lengths are fitting in both the situations you describe. As is true for other commentors --- yes, I am talking to you, federalist --- you seem to be reading a bit too much of a normative judgment into my descriptive posts, Leon.
Posted by: Doug B. | May 9, 2009 7:24:30 AM
With the economy where it is today is it very important to purchase construction equipment and trucks that you can count on and won’t let you down. The slightest equipment set back right now could be the difference between in business or bankrupt.
Posted by: Boom Trucks | May 9, 2009 8:44:38 AM
Hi' im a 14 yr loss-prevention officer and owner of a great icecream truck business', i followed the storie of the icecream man' that was said exposed himself to a 3 yr old child' " SOMETHANG IS WRONG WITH THIS STORY" from what i heard the driver' gives himself insalin shots' in the waste area', is it possible that the child saw him finishing up his shot?. i know how the law system work's. is it possible that he pleaded guilty because it was his word against others and from all the news reported on it'. he felt that he would go to jail for somethang he didnt do' and took a plea'bargon?. does anyone know if he had equitment on the truck' that suports the shot storie? sense then alot of rules was made' regaurding icecream trucks' including banding them' if he did wrong he should do time!, but a band on icecream trucks is not right' i worked hard for years starting my business' and alot of employees count on the work' to feed their familys. if there is a band' i can name alot of other business' that deal with being around children.
Posted by: business proprietor | Sep 14, 2009 9:47:44 PM
Beware of the ice cream man! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Utility Equipment | Sep 29, 2009 5:08:09 PM
I don't, Think 3 Years is enough if he actually, has pleaded guilty, I think people like Him should face longer Time behind Bars.
Posted by: BUcket Truck | Sep 30, 2009 9:18:29 AM
Ice cream is good....but not this man!! Interesting article!
Posted by: Boom Truck | Sep 30, 2009 10:01:46 AM
It should be Life Sentence
Posted by: Wedding Photographer | Nov 15, 2009 11:06:26 PM
ugh...some people are just sick! When I was a teenager, my friend and I were walking home from school once and some guy pulled up in front of us. My friend, ignoring my pleads to just continue walking and not acknowledge the perv, walked up the the car and immediately screamed and started running. Thankfully, the police station was close by, so we ran to it and told an officer what had happened. The girl had to go to therapy after the whole ordeal. Told ya you should have just kept walking!!!!
Posted by: used bucket trucks | Jan 27, 2010 1:04:33 PM
put down the ice cream man
Posted by: Used Bucket Trucks | Jan 29, 2010 4:43:20 PM
Why would you do something like that to a child?? People like this need to be locked up behind bars for a very long time!
Posted by: Pole Trailers for Sale | Mar 10, 2010 2:04:31 PM
