Comments about ‘Former coach gets prison for sex with student’

I thought the sentencing was scheduled for October . . . it is probably best that it was today so fewer people were available to make fools out of themselves by talking about how wonderful the guilty is and so forth in front of a camera or to a reporter. Thank goodness he is going to prison where he belongs and my prayers are with the victim - and yes she is a victim - and her family. If she or her family ever read these then I want her to know that her identity does not have to be "his victim" for life, there is much happiness to be found in the world and healing is a journey not a destination. Do the right thing for you and try not to get distracted by what others think or say. You know who your supporters are and stay away from those that aren't - your supporters decided long ago they were behind you - don't waste your breath trying to explain yourself to those that don't intend to support you. Live a great life. You deserve all the happiness the world has to offer.

"I don't respect he's been a bishop. I don't respect he was a mayor. He raped my daughter," the victim's father testified during an emotional sentencing hearing that lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours"
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Yes and the 17 year old daughter, being under 18 was too young to even think she could say no. Calling this a rape is a cheapens the definition and is a disservice to women who are raped.

We all know if this was a female abuser she would be on house arrest with a suspended sentence or some ridiculous slap on the wrist.

If you are a man? You're toast.

justice was served. How sad that a person could ruin their life and that of a young woman. Hope his family is able to cope with this.

First, I son't understand the comment about the 17 year old and the commenter saying "Calling this a rape is a cheapens the definition and is a disservice to women who are raped." ?????
I agree with the comment that had it been a female, the punishment would have been a slap on the wrist. I hate the double standard!! I am a wife, mother and grandmother. Rape and sexual abuse is a horrible, horrible thing, but the punishment should be the same for both male or female offenders

I'm sorry but he is not an attractive man, how could he have possibly pulled this off?

Anyway, have fun in jail, the law is the law, I don't care if she is almost 18. Doesn't matter.

The only way we'll get fair sentencing is if a separate sentencing judge reads the facts of the case with all the "he" and "his" and "she" and "her" pronouns and all names redacted. That won't ever happen. It's not that male abusers should get lesser sentences; it's that female abusers should get equal punishment. After all, they have just as much knowledge of what they are doing is wrong. I think the sentences should be doubled for people in positions of authority, such as teacher, bishop, psychologist, cop, etc. The age of the victim should be taken into account. Having consensual sex with a 17-year-old is a lot less serious in my eyes than raping a 10-year-old. Allowing the senences to run concurrently is a crock. The guy should get 10 years or more, so he should get at least three consecutive three years to life sentences.

She had to agree......

It doesn't matter how old the girl is, rape is rape when it is FORCED, just because she didn't know she couldn't say no, if that is the case. Who knows? My sister was raped at 12. Does that mean it was not rape, and did the idea cheapen "real rape"? Gee, after what she went thru, should you actually quibble about it? She is a child by law, a woman by gender and a human by nature. He should have respected her on all levels. He deserves the same in return. The jerk.

Whether this man was a Bishop or a Mayor he was in a position of authority and had no right having any sexual contact with a minor. He deserves the sentence that he received. He should serve the full sentence, have a large sign put in his yard saying that he is a sexual predator and have no office of authority in the future.

A teacher should have known better.
A public servant should have known better.
A bishop should have known better.

All of those things should get him more time, not less.

If inappropriate conduct was suspected in late 2008, why would the school district allow Gillens to teach until the end of the school year?

He is a predator that will now get what he deserves in jail.

There was a female teacher that did basically the same thing, and pled to the same. She taught up in Davis County, and was sentenced to prison last July. Both Judges did the right thing. It wasn't any different because she was female.

I wonder if this man`s immorality problems began with looking at porn. Seems that many so called "respectable" people are viewing this harmful material. Haven`t the Brethren repeatedly warned us of this? When Brother Smith was on his mission, one of his companions had been deeply involved in viewing pornography. That man is now serving a life sentence for various crimes of a sexual nature. At our house, we believe in keeping our thoughts pure, and not pandering to man`s baser instincts.
He should immediately cofess his sins to his bishop, and after his excommunication, he should begin the cleansing process of repentance.

If the victim is a girl, the abuser should never see the light of day. If the victim is a boy, high fives are given to the victim and the abuser is out on the streets to prey on more victims rather quickly.

The double standard is sickening.

Calling voluntary sexual intercourse involving a 17 year old rape is a stretch, and it does cheapen the definition.

Nevertheless it is against the law. I don't understand why people would do it given that the penalities are so harsh. Why don't they just find someone of legal age?

If prostitution were legal, there would be less excuse or reason for illegal intercourse of any kind, rape or so called. If we as a society want to diminish illegal intercourse, we ought to consider this option.

His good reputation ruined is punishment enough? How does this lawyer sleep at night? What a selfish statement added to an already grossly selfish act. Amazingly selfish! To top it off, this shows absolutely NO understanding of a pedophiles true nature. HE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND THIS WAS NOT HIS FIRST VICTIM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, there has been far too little research on rehabbing pedophiles and all sexual pedophiles. They need help. They are not happy with what they do. But until we find a way to truly rehab these people then they need to stay behind bars until we do for the sake of their future victims.....and no straight jail time will cure a pedophile!

Do you realize that 90% all crimes against woman and children in Utah are committed by repeat offenders? 20 years ago, it was 65%. It's quite obvious what is happening. So, next time you find yourself being the victim, take all the lawyers, judges, parole officers, and all those that release these people to court as well. They are just as much to blame.

Where he messed up is he didn't do it when she was 13, he didn't drug her, he wasn't an Oscar winning director, he didn't have millions, he hasn't ran away to France for 30+ years, and he didn't do it in Hollywood.

That's the key.

Follow that formula and some will think you're a hero and fight your extradition.

(I'm glad I live in this state)

Think about it, if Gillen would have waited a few months, he wouldn't have been any different than President Bill Clinton. Those few months would have made the relationship "OK."

Another thought is if Gillen were a famous film director (i.e. Polanski, who gave alcohol to a 13 year old and forced himself on her) who attacked the young woman, he would have the famous and the powerful, even heads of state, coming to his defense.