THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411110324
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
SOURCE: BY HEIDI L. TATEM-JONES
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
On Aug. 15, I witnessed the ``living funeral'' of a friend. Like the stone-cold face of death, this tragedy serves as a grim reminder of life's uncertainty. Today, Joseph Bonneville went to prison.
Eighteen years ago, in 1976, Mr. Bonneville made a grave mistake. He was 29 years old and was suffering the effects of a broken marriage. He testified under oath that he was battling a lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem, and his self-respect was nearly non-existent. He began dating a woman who had three teenage daughters. The youngest was 13, and she was very fond of him.
They spent many hours together and unfortunately their relationship escalated from friendship to love. Although it seems absurd, even to Joe, he did love her, and he assumed she loved him. Now his immature and distorted perception of love, 18 years ago, is the ungodly crime that has robbed him of his life.
The rising of the sun in the morning is a dim ray of light peering into gray walls. Joe, now 47 years old, is sorely reminded that he will spend the next 40 years in prison. A man who once celebrated life now hangs on the wings of memories, due to a lack of judgment and immorality and in the crooked eyes of the law - rape.
Acting on the advice of his attorney, Joe pled guilty to the charges brought against him. This included rape, on the premise that the victim's age was 12 years old. However, upon doing so, he stressed to the court that she was actually 13.
According to the law, the age difference would result in a lesser penalty. Unfortunately, he was unable to debate her age. However, the testimony indicated that the victim was indeed 13 and not 12 years old, as the law demands for a conviction of rape. Nevertheless, Joe had pled guilty in a previous hearing that lasted approximately five minutes and the ears of the court were deaf to everything but that. As the judge declared, ``You've pled guilty, and so be it.'' Never mind that he may have pled guilty to a crime for which he did not commit. Apparently, the court did not have the time for justice this day.
I presume the fight is over. On Aug. 15, Joe was escorted from the courtroom and into hell for the next 40 years. He was charged with multiple counts of rape and carnal knowledge, stemming from the 18-month-long affair. He was sentenced to 25 years in Chesapeake and 15 more in Virginia Beach. The terms are to be served consecutively.
Joe's story may seem like a long-overdue lesson to society. Sexual abuse and child molestation are committed at astounding, frightening rates. But this lesson is being taught at the expense of a man's life. Joe was a wonderful teacher and a devoted coach for 25 years. He was wrong and he admitted that. But he is not a predator, molester or rapist. He is human.
He made a critical, monumental mistake. When he pled guilty to having the affair, he was guilty of simply that. He has taught school and coached for 25 years, and no other victims have come forward. There aren't any. Unfortunately, he fell into the hands of a welcoming lawyer, a determined prosecutor and an unmerciful judge.
I do not debate the issue that Joe deserved punishment for his crime. But I argue strongly that Joe has been abused by our justice system. It does not seem reasonable that he spend the next 40 years in prison. In comparison to cases similar to his, Joe was deserving of suspended sentence and probation. I do not believe that there is one citizen in Chesapeake (including the victim) who feels any safer, happier or more satisfied knowing that Joe Bonneville is in prison.
In reality, Joe was punished before Aug. 2. His sentence began the day he packed up his lesson plans. Joe Bonneville was a dead man the day he left his classroom for the final time. He was a dead man when he testified in court. He was a dead man when he awaited sentencing on Aug. 2 and again on Aug. 15. Indeed, I believe Joe died for what he did. Consequences can be cruel, but it seems the bitter hand of justice can be maliciously evil.
I suppose in the eyes of justice, two wrongs do make a right. They, too, have made a mistake.
But, unlike Joe's mistake, the wound that they have inflicted will not be so easily mended. They chose not to acknowledge Joe's painful death and instead chose to callously dig his grave. The scars will never heal or fade, and the pain will never subside. Yet, although they tried, I will never be convinced that justice killed Joe's heart. He may be dead in mind and spirit, but the heart of Joe Bonneville beats true and strong. MEMO: ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heidi L. Tatem-Jones, who lives on Marian Drive in Chesapeake, is a
student at Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach. by CNB