Edward Cashman
Judge Edward J. Cashman, born in 1943, is a former state district court judge in the State of Vermont. Judge Cashman, a Vietnam veteran and Catholic of Irish descent (Cashman 1997), was appointed to the bench in 1982 by Republican Governor Richard A. Snelling (Graff 2006). "Cashman worked for the attorney general's office, the Chittenden County clerk, served on the state Public Service Board and worked in private practice before becoming state's attorney in Grand Isle County in 1978." (Graff 2006). In September 2006, Judge Cashman announced his pending retirement upon completion of his term in March 2007. (Gram 2006). Judge Cashman did retain his part-time employment with Johnson State College (JSC 2008a), teaching a course on constitutional law.(JSC 2008b, p. 15) In addition, Judge Cashman is an adjunct professor at Champlain College (CC 2012a) in Burlington, VT, where he teaches two criminal law courses. (CC 2012b)
Sentencing controversy
Judge Cashman was criticized in January 2006 for suspending all but 60-days of a 10-years-to-life sentence to Mark Hulett, who pleaded guilty to child molestation. The victim, a girl who was six years old at the time the assaults began, was repeatedly molested for four years. Her parents were friends with Hulett, a frequent houseguest. Hulett often shared a bed with the victim. The sentence would have been re-enforced if Hulett did not successfully complete treatment.(Ring 2006)
The State of Vermont would not provide sex offender treatment while he was in prison because they considered him as a low risk re-offender.
WCAX news opened the story on January 4: "There was outrage today when a Vermont judge handed out a 60-day jail sentence to a child rapist. The judge said he no longer believes in punishment and is more concerned about rehabilitation. Brian Joyce was at the sentencing hearing. He's live in the newsroom with more. Kristin, Prosecutors argued that confessed child-rapist Mark Hulett deserved at least eight years behind bars for repeatedly raping a little girl countless times starting when she was seven. But Judge Edward Cashman disagreed -- saying he has learned that punishment just does not work" (WCAX 2006).
Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly kept the issue on the national stage on his television show and in his column (O'Reilly 2006). He accused national and regional media of ignoring the story (O'Reilly 2006). The case is also discussed in O'Reilly's book Culture Warrior.
The state Department of Corrections then offered to treat Hulett in prison, and Judge Cashman changed his sentence to 3–10 years.
Mark Hulett was released from prison on the morning of January 26, 2011. Hulett will remain under electronic monitoring by a GPS-tracking bracelet until June 2012 and have his computer usage tracked by the Department of Corrections. (Thurston 2011). Hulett will be required to be registered with the state as a sex offender. (WCAX 2006).
References
- Cashman, Edward (1997-09-28). "Message posted to Irishlaw.org". Retrieved 2008-10-12.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - CC [Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont] (2012a). "Champlain College Division of Education & Human Studies Faculty List". Retrieved 2012-04-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - CC [Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont] (2012b). "Champlain College Criminal Law CRJ 120-01 & 120-02". Retrieved 2012-04-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Graff, Christopher (2006-01-11). "Judge Edward Cashman is best known for his pro-law stands". AP. Archived from the original on January 15, 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Replaced 11-6-15 - Gram, David (2006-09-02). "Judge Cashman says he'll retire from bench". AP. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Illuzzi, Vincent (2006-01-20). "A rush to judge the judge". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - JSC [Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont] (2008a). "Johnson State College Humanities Department Faculty List". Retrieved 2008-10-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - JSC (2008b). "Johnson State College Course Bulletin Spring 2008" (PDF). p. 15. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - O'Reilly, Bill (2006-02-02). "Darfur vs. Vermont". Retrieved 2007-08-24.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Ring, Wilson (2006-01-10). "Judge Cashman defends his decision to impose 60 day sentence". AP. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - WCAX (2006-01-04). "Rapist's Prison Sentence Triggers Outrage". WCAX-TV. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - "Deciding Cashman's Fate". The O'Reilly Factor. 2006-01-11.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|serieslink=(help); Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Thurston, Jack (2011-01-26). "Notorious Vt. Sex Offender Mark Hulett Released". WCAX-TV. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - 13 V.S.A. § 5407 [Vermont Statutes Annotated] (1996-09-01). "Sex offender's responsibility to report". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
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