Thursday, May 25, 2023

Wisconsin attorney who spat at BLM protester rejects probation deal: ‘Rather go to jail’

 

A white Wisconsin lawyer who spat at a black teen during a Black Lives Matter protest rejected a sweetheart deal to walk free from court — saying she’d “rather go to jail right now.”

Stephanie Rapkin, 67, was told at her sentencing Tuesday that her 60-day sentence would be stayed if she agreed to a year of probation with 100 hours of community service.

“It’s not viable,” she said, interrupting Milwaukee County Judge Laura Crivello as she offered the deal as credit for her “working to rebuild your faith and your trust in the community.”

“Your Honor, I am outright refusing the probation,” said Rapkin, who’d initially been charged with a hate crime for spitting at the then-17-year-old teen protest leader.

“I’d rather go to jail right now and take care of it.”

Rapkin’s attorney, Anthony Cotton — who’d initially asked her to be sentenced to time served in the case — was left noting to the judge that his client had the right to reject her offer.

“She does,” the judge acknowledged. “Then at this point in time, the 60 days that I imposed in stay will be starting today.”


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