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Q&A: What went into judge’s sex assault sentence of swimmer

This June 27, 2011, photo shows Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who drew criticism for sentencing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The swimmer's father, Dan Turner, ignited more outrage by writing in a letter to the judge that his son already has paid a steep price for "20 minutes of action." Dan Turner wrote that his son's conviction on three felony sexual assault charges has shattered the 20-year-old, who has lost his appetite. The letter was made public over the weekend by a Stanford law professor who wants Persky removed from office because of the sentence. (Jason Doiy/The Recorder via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
This June 27, 2011, photo shows Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who drew criticism for sentencing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The swimmer's father, Dan Turner, ignited more outrage by writing in a letter to the judge that his son already has paid a steep price for "20 minutes of action." Dan Turner wrote that his son's conviction on three felony sexual assault charges has shattered the 20-year-old, who has lost his appetite. The letter was made public over the weekend by a Stanford law professor who wants Persky removed from office because of the sentence. (Jason Doiy/The Recorder via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press 4 min read

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A California judge is facing demands for his removal after sentencing a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious young woman behind a campus dumpster.

Some questions and answers about the furor:

Q. What’s the debate?

A. The main question is whether 20-year-old Brock Turner, a blue-eyed white Olympic-caliber swimmer from Dayton, Ohio, with a privileged upbringing, received lenient treatment from a white judge who also played sports at Stanford. Critics argue that a minority or others less fortunate than Turner would have received a stiffer sentence.

The suspicions of special treatment were further fueled when the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department released a booking photo Monday of a clean-shaven, neatly dressed Turner taken about two weeks after his arrest. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s department released without explanation a second booking photo from the night of Turner’s arrest that that shows him disheveled, shaggy-haired and red-eyed.