A Baltimore County, Md., police officer convicted of raping a woman and assaulting another was sentenced to home detention.
Anthony Westerman, 27, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree rape and second-degree assault but was convicted in August, The Daily Beast reports.
On Friday, Baltimore County Circuit Judge Keith Truffer suspended 11 years of Westerman’s 15-year prison term and ordered that the officer spend the remaining time under house arrest, according to NBC News.
Westerman was arrested in 2019 after two women accused him of rape. In one case, a 22-year-old woman said he offered to arrange an Uber ride home for her because she drank too much. She told authorities that she passed out. When she awoke, Westerman was raping her at his house.
Westerman was acquitted in a second rape case but was convicted of second-degree assault in another incident. In that case, the woman told police she was at a birthday party with Westerman when he grabbed her and tried to kiss her multiple times until she left, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Prosecutors wanted Westerman to serve up to 10 years in prison. However Judge Truffer gave a lighter sentence after he determined that there was “not evidence of any psychological injury to the victim,” despite the victim’s indication that she had sought therapy since the attack and the judge’s previous statements that the incident “may be the most traumatic moment” of her life.
“I’m disappointed in the outcome. I do not believe when you’re convicted of second-degree rape that home detention is appropriate and I certainly don’t believe only four years on this kind of crime is appropriate,” State Attorney Scott Shellenberger said.
“I fear this could cause rape victims to hesitate to report their crimes if they do not feel like they will get justice,” he added.
Westerman’s attorney Brian Thompson told NBC News in an email that his client was “relieved” that the judge had ordered home confinement.
Westerman was suspended without pay from the Baltimore County Police Department after the police department learned of his charges in December 2019. A department spokesperson on Monday said Westerman has been fired.
