Thomas Ravenel from Southern Charm was sentenced after being charged for assault and battery, according to Live 5 News.
The former state treasurer and cast member pleaded guilty and received “a 30-day sentence suspended to a $500 fine.” Ravenel was charged with sexually assaulting his children’s nanny in 2015. She accused Ravenel of forcibly removing her clothes and trying to kiss her.
Ravenel’s nanny, “Nanny Dawn,” did not appear in court, but a judge read a letter she had prepared. After the charges came to light, Bravo parted ways with Ravenel. Now that Ravenel has been sentenced, will he eventually go to prison?
Will Ravenel serve time in prison?
According to the sentence, Ravenel will serve a 30-day sentence only if he does not comply with the terms. According to Ravenel’s terms, he must pay a $500 fine.
“Sometimes a defendant’s prison sentence is ‘suspended,’” according to legal resource, Nolo. “A suspended sentence is jail or prison time that is put on hold if the defendant complies with certain other obligations, for example, the conditions of probation or the completion of a drug treatment program.” But in this case, failure to pay the $500 fine could result in a 30-day sentence.
However, Nolo cites that when a fine is in lieu of prison, it is typically applied to “less serious crimes” or those who are first-time offenders. “Offenses that are typically punished by a fine include fish and game violations, shoplifting, and traffic violations. In more serious offenses or where the defendant has a criminal record, many judges combine a fine with other punishments, such as incarceration, community service, and probation.”
Fans are not happy with the sentence
Fans are already reacting to the sentence. Many feel that Ravenel was let off the hook, especially because the crime was sexual assault. One Twitter user pointed out the injustice. “He got more time for buying less than 100 grams of coke, 10 months, than for sexual assault. Just the good ole boys club proving how little they care about sexual assault, rape. Guarantee it wouldn’t be the same attitude if it was their wives, sisters, daughters..”
In the same thread, another Twitter user remarked how Ravenel definitely won’t see the inside of a prison. “Even worse it’s a suspended sentence. He won’t do any time unless he f ups. So many cases that should go to trial are pleaded away and deals are made. DA’s would rather get this level of win than see true justice for victims.”
Fans are upset because of the severity of the affidavit, issued by the Charleston Police Department. “After escaping the assault, the victim called her then ex-husband and sister and told them of the incident, fled the scene and notified several family members of the incident. Photographs were then taken immediately of the injuries to her neck and chest,” according to the affidavit, People reports “Detectives corroborated the incident date and location through employment records of the victim and defendant, and interviewed multiple witnesses, to be named at the court’s discretion, who substantiated the post-assault information. Detectives also retrieved the photographs taken by the victim, which are appropriately time-stamped in reference to the incident.”
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