Colorado rape victim’s letter goes viral after attacker is sentenced to work release, probation

A victim impact statement that was read by a rape victim at a sentencing hearing in Boulder Wednesday is making national headlines.

The full text of the letter was published by The Huffington Post on Thursday, one day after Austin Wilkerson was sentenced to two years of work release and 20 years to life on probation.

KMGH-TV reports that Wilkerson was convicted of raping the woman after offering to take care of her after she had to much to drink at a St. Patrick’s Day party in March of 2014.

The victim asked for the judge to sentence Wilkerson to prison in her victim’s impact letter.

A criminal defense attorney who was not involved in this case told KMGH that the judge’s decision not to sentence Wilkerson to prison was based on the recommendation of the probation department.