SIGN: He got away with rape thanks to this judge

Judge McClusky let the man who raped a teenager go with just a slap on the wrist. This is not justice. He must be recalled.

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

A New York judge just let a child rapist off with no jail time and—unbelievably—justified it by saying he "only" raped one girl. "Only" one—these are the words of Judge James McClusky.¹

Last week, Judge McClusky sentenced Shane Piche, a school bus driver, to probation and $365 in fines for raping a 14-year-old child he met on his bus route.

Add your voice and demand Judge McClusky be removed from the bench.

Judge McClusky cannot be trusted to protect survivors of sexual assault, and he needs to be removed from the bench. This case is getting a ton of attention on social media and in the news, and calls are coming from across the country for the commission on judicial conduct to remove McClusky from his position permanently.

Tell the New York Commission of Judicial Conduct: "Judge James McClusky just let a child rapist off with a slap on the wrist. Remove him from his position immediately for his blatant disregard for survivors of sexual assault."

According to court records, Piche lured her and other minors to his house, gave them alcohol — and then raped her. It's horrifying that this even needs to be said, but one child raped is too many.

Piche was the bus driver responsible for getting his victim to school. He was entrusted with children and instead used his position to rape a young girl. But Judge McClusky didn't even put Piche on the level 2 sex offender registry, because there were not multiple victims.²

The victim's mother has stated, "I wish Shane Piche would have received time in jail for the harm he caused to my child. He took something from my daughter she will never get back and has caused her to struggle with depression and anxiety."³

One victim is one too many, and Judge McClusky had a responsibility to hold Piche accountable. Judge McClusky is failing as a justice, and he should be removed from his position immediately.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thank you.

–Shaunna Thomas, UltraViolet

Sources:

1. "Former Watertown City School District bus driver sentenced to probation for rape," Watertown Daily Times, April 26, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/65169?t=10&akid=233095%2E10220574%2E9qscZ1

2. Ibid.

3. "A school bus driver raped a 14-year-old. He won't spend a day in prison." The Washington Post, April 30, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/65172?t=12&akid=233095%2E10220574%2E9qscZ1

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