Stacey Rambold at his Aug. 26, 2013, sentencing in Billings, Mont.(Photo: Paul Ruhter, The Billings Gazette/AP)
A former Montana high-school teacher convicted of raping a 14-year-old student was resentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after outcry over his initial 31-day jail term and a judge's comments blaming the girl for their illegal sexual relationship.
Prosecutors wanted 54-year-old Stacey Dean Rambold, of Billings to spend 10 years in prison, while the defense sought two years, the minimum.
Judge Randal Spaulding suspended five years of the 15-year term and credited Rambold with time served.
Cherice Moralez killed herself in February 2010 when she was 16 while charges were pending against Rambold. The two had sex for three months in late 2007.
During the original sentencing in 2010, another judge said the teen was "older than her chronological age" and said she was "as much in control of the situation" as Rambold. The sentence and remarks sparked outrage that led to Friday's resentencing.
Addressing Spaulding before leaning his new fate, Rambold said he was "sorry for what I've done."
"Not a day goes by that I don't think of Cherice's family and pray that they can find peace. The same goes for my family. I only hope that they can find the end of this as well — and heal," he said, sobbing, The Billings Gazette reported.
"I've worked hard trying to do everything I can to become a better person. I've gone through counseling. I go to church, and working, but I'm not perfect."
Montana District Judge G. Todd Baugh , who pronounced the original 31-day sentence on Stacey Rambold for raping a 14-year-old student. He said the girl, who killed herself, shared responsibility for the sexual relationship.(Photo: Larry Mayer, The Billings Gazette, Larry MayerAP)
Earlier, a state probation officer testified that Rambold, who completed sex-offender treatment in July, had uninstalled mandatory computer-monitoring software Friday morning and twice violated Internet use by apparently seeking out massage parlors.
She called Rambold "a boundary pusher" who should resume treatment.
In brief remarks, Cherice's father, John Moralez, said, "I can't stand up here and hate the man. I just don't think 30 days is enough. I just want justice to be done."
Her mother wept as she read a statement after her husband.
"Stacey Rambold's actions were definitely a factor in her decision to take her life," Auliea Hanlon said. "If you have a daughter, go home and hug her because I can't hug my daughter no more."
In a July 2010 plea bargain that deferred prosecution for three years, Rambold pleaded guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent and registered as a sex offender. He violated terms of the deal in 2012 and later again pleaded guilty.
In August 2013, Yellowstone County District Court Judge G. Todd Baugh sentenced him to 15 years in jail with all but 31 days suspended.
After public outrage, Baugh apologized for his remarks but not the punishment, then later said he had erred and ordered a new sentencing hearing. Prosecutors objected, a judicial ethics investigation was launched and Baugh was removed from the case.
In April, the Montana Supreme Court overturned the original sentence. The justices also censured the 72-year-old Baugh and suspended him for one month.
He plans to retire at the end of the year.
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