"I agonized. I'm not ashamed that to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case because there was great pain. There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case," Judge Murphy said, according to CNN affiliate WKBW. "It seems to me that a sentence that involves incarceration or partial incarceration isn't appropriate, so I am going to sentence you to probation."

I see the problem now. He asked god and god told him to turn the other cheek on behalf of the victims

Judge Murphy is set to retire next month at the state's mandatory retirement age of 70, according to WKBW.

The more realistic reason here lol

Actually no. I just read more about the case. He’s wealthy, his parents and stepfather are lawyers and a businessman, respectively. The probation officer testified and admitted that he broke all his probation conditions (conditions which the victims agreed were appropriate because they knew he would violate them) but didn’t recommend prison. A psychologist admitted that he believed that the kid will 100% reoffend again, but didn’t recommend prison time. His parents were also charged with providing the kids with drugs and alcohol but the trials keep magically getting delayed or redone.

The judge apparently bent over backwards to try to protect this kid’s name - Christopher Belter - from being released. This piece of shit is 100% compromised

According to the Niagara Gazette, M.M., one of Belter’s victims, said in a civil lawsuit that Vacanti had started a relationship with her to “with the intention of grooming” her “to be prey for her predator son.” According to court documents obtained by the newspaper, “M.M. was made to feel comfortable drinking and partying at the house, made to feel close to and safe with defendants Vacanti and Sullo, and, like other girls lured for the use of Belter, Jr., to feel safe with Belter, Jr. himself.”