[Vision2020] Andrew Appleton

[Rosemary Huskey]

I was not in the courtroom when Andrew Appleton was "welcomed" back to
Moscow by Judge John Stegner.  And, I certainly don't share the apparent
enthusiasm and optimism for his 'rehabilitation" that the article below
implies.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 12:00 am 

 
<http://lmtribune.com/content/tncms/live/lmtribune.com/northwest/article_87e
80165-8e10-5453-832f-96a803bb3111.html> Judge places former WSU professor on
probation

ELIZABETH RUDD of The Lewiston Tribune 

 A former Washington State University professor was released from custody
Monday after a judge determined he did well the past six months in a prison
treatment program.

Latah County 2nd District Judge John R. Stegner suspended his previous
sentence for Andrew M. Appleton, who pleaded guilty to felony injury to a
child as part of a plea agreement last year. Appleton, about 52, was accused
in 2012 of sexually assaulting a woman - starting when she was 16 - for more
than a year in Moscow. He was initially charged with felony rape, but
pleaded guilty to the injury to a child charge as part of a plea agreement.

Stegner placed Appleton on probation Monday for the next three years and
ordered that he seek sex offender and anger-stress management treatment as
conditions of his release. The judge previously sentenced Appleton to one to
five years in prison.

"You did a good job, welcome back," Stegner told Appleton. "I was glad to
see you did as well as you did."

The woman, who is now about 20, contacted police in September 2012,
according to court documents, and alleged Appleton had sexually assaulted
her. The Latah County case pertained to instances alleged to have occurred
in Moscow between February 2010 and September 2011.

Appleton was later arrested after police recorded phone calls between the
victim and Appleton during which he did not deny having sex with the girl,
according to court documents.

Latah County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Evans said she had no
objections to Appleton's release, but did request that 30 days of
administrative jail time be included as part of his probation. The condition
stipulates that if Appleton does not follow the terms of his release, then
he can be placed in jail for up to 30 days.

Appleton, who was represented by Moscow attorney Tim Gresback, told Stegner
he was positive he would not reoffend and his goal upon release is to be a
positively contributing member of society.

"I appreciate the chance that will afford me," he said of his release."

I am baffled and incredulous that a fifty-two year old, former WSU Political
Science professor (thankfully the WSU administration doesn't see him as a
community asset), incest committing jackass, and popular member of Moscow's
liberal intelligentsia, gained any insight, much less any meaningful remorse
for his monstrous behavior with a young relative. How could a six month
"treatment" program in an Idaho prison (other than initiating self-serving
regret for being caught out) transform a lecherous, emotionally deficit,
aging pedophile into a trustworthy, reliable man?  It can't.  It is almost
unimaginable that Appleton has significantly altered his pre-incarceration
worldview or has gained more than a superficial sense of responsibility for
the damage he has done.  I have not the slightest doubt that he successfully
gamed the system with teary breakdowns, bouts of pseudo grief-stricken
guilt, and a spurious commitment to man up.  

No doubt the welcome home parties have already begun for this feckless
miscreant.  As for his claim that he won't reoffend, what family member is
crazy or careless enough to place a child  under his care?  Of far greater
importance to our community than his empty promises is this: once again a
sexual predator will be given the monumentally undeserved gift of not having
to register as a sex offender.  (Hello, Jamin Wight.
<https://www.idcourts.us/repository/caseHistory.do?roaDetail=yes&schema=LATA
H&partySequence=15678&county=Latah&displayName=Wight%2C+Jamin+Christopher>
Wight shares much in common with Andrew Appleton, including a lenient
sentence for sexually predatory behavior.)  

I am deeply disappointed and offended by the get out of jail free card
handed to Andrew Appleton. This is a man who introduced his victim to his
WSU students as his daughter (that ups the creep factor, doesn't it?).  This
is a man who "rescued" his niece from a wretched home situation, brought her
to this country, groomed her, and molested her for over a year and a half.
This is a man who successfully garnered a plea agreement that he certainly
did not deserve. This is a man who is a nasty piece of work and six months
in jail didn't change that fact.

Rose Huskey

 

 

 

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