Showing the backward nature of the US justice system, a wealthy business owner was spared time behind bars after pleading no contest to the rape of a child
by Matt Agorist
A wealthy California businessman found out that he will escape jail this week for the rape of a five-year-old girl. What’s more, the 79-year-old convicted rapist will not have to register as a sex offender. Consequently, a father in Pennsylvania was sentenced to years behind bars for selling a plant that helps people.
Lyle Burgess, the rapist from California received a sweet deal from prosecutors this week after pleading no contest to felony statutory raped of a girl who is now 7-years-old.
According to the family’s attorney, the victim was only five when she was raped by Burgess after he invited the little girl and her family out to his Calaveras County cabin back in 2016.
According to investigators, the girl’s father had known Burgess for decades. Sadly, going after family and friends is a common tactic of many child molesters.
“They trusted this man, he was a family friend, and he took advantage of them,” Meleyco said.
Burgess’ defense attorney Gregory Davenport said that in spite of the plea deal, his client still maintains his innocence. He told the Stockton Record he believes the allegations against Burgess “are motivated by greed.”
Burgess is the owner of the auto parts manufacturing and distribution company, Rare Parts. The defense is claiming that the parents of the girl are attempting to use their daughter as a pawn to seek money. However, the family’s attorney says it’s the other way around.
“He’s obviously very wealthy and it’s just an example of how the wealthy people, time and time again, escape the penalty for what they did,” Meleyco said.
According to KMOV, the girl’s family recently filed a civil suit against Burgess seeking unspecified damages for sexual abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“The girl is not doing good,” Meleyco said. “She’s showing all the symptoms of somebody who’s been molested. She’s in counseling, and she’s gonna be in counseling all her life.”
