Fascinating proportionality opinion from Oregon court

A helpful reader alerted me to a fascinating opinion from the Oregon Court of Appeals in Oregon v. Rodriguez, No. A131050 (Or. Ct. App. Dec. 26, 2007) (available here).  Both the underlying facts and the legal discussion in this case are noteworthy, and these lengthy excerpts provide only a small flavor of an opinion worth reading in full:

In early 2004, defendant [Victoria Rodriguez] was employed by the Hillsboro Boys and Girls Club to work with at-risk youths….  The victim was a member of the club….  On February 14, 2005, a staff member … saw defendant and the victim in the game room at the club. There were approximately 30 to 50 youths and at least one other staff member in the room.  The victim, who had since turned 13, was sitting on a chair.  Defendant, who had since turned 25, was standing behind him, caressing his face and pulling his head back; the back of his head was pressed against her breasts…. The contact lasted approximately one minute….

Defendant was eventually charged with first-degree sexual abuse based on the incident.  A jury found defendant guilty….  At sentencing, the prosecutor asked the court to impose the 75-month sentence prescribed by ORS 137.700 (commonly referred to as “Measure 11”).  Defendant objected, arguing that the Measure 11 sentence would be unconstitutionally excessive.  Numerous family members, friends, and coworkers testified in support of defendant.  The court agreed with defendant that a 75-month sentence would be cruel and unusual.  The court observed that defendant had no prior criminal record and that she had “lived an exemplary life” and had “really made a very positive impact into the lives of apparently many children * * *.” It further noted that the touching occurred “in a crowded room, over clothing, [and was] not prolonged.”  The court concluded that a 75-month sentence “just cries out” as being shocking to any reasonable person.  It imposed a 16-month sentence.  This appeal followed….

The state contends, among other things, that, given the nature of the relationship between defendant and the victim, the 75-month sentence mandated by Measure 11 would not shock the moral sense of all reasonable people….  We agree with the state that, given the nature of the relationship between defendant and the victim, there can be no doubt that the Measure 11 sentence would not shock the moral sense of all reasonable people.  It is undisputed that the victim was young and vulnerable, a prototypical “at-risk” youth. Defendant was in a position of trust and responsibility, akin to that of a teacher or youth counselor, charged with helping children make appropriate behavioral choices.  By engaging in sexual conduct with the victim, defendant seriously abused that trust.

In short, we cannot say that the 75-month sentence required under Measure 11 would shock the moral sense of all reasonable people as to what is right and proper under the circumstances.  It follows that the trial court erred in refusing to impose that sentence.