Skip to main content  30-day rape sentence may be illegal, says
Montana judge at center of controversy  By Dana Ford, CNN
September 4, 2013 -- Updated 0133 GMT (0933 HKT)   • District
Judge G. Todd Baugh schedules a new hearing for Friday   • He
says it appears the mandatory minimum is two years, not 30 days
• Cherice Moralez, 14 when she was raped, committed suicide
before her 17th birthday  (CNN) -- A 30-day rape sentence given
to a teacher who admitted to raping his 14-year-old student may
be illegal, according to the Montana judge who imposed it.  The
judge scheduled a new hearing for Friday.  "The Defendant shall
be present at argument as the Court, if necessary and
appropriate, will amend the mandatory minimum portion of the
sentence," read a court order filed Tuesday.  It appears the
mandatory minimum is two years, not 30 days, the order said.
"In this Court's opinion, imposing a sentence which suspends
more than the mandatory minimum would be an illegal sentence,"
it continued.  The case drew wides