Edward Cashman

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Judge Edward Cashman was a state district court judge in the State of Vermont. He was appointed to the bench in 1982 by Governor Richard A. Snelling "Cashman worked for the attorney general's office, the Chittenden County clerk, served on the state Public Service Board and worked in private practice before becoming state's attorney in Grand Isle County in 1978." (Graff 2006). He retired in September 2006.

[edit] Sentencing controversy

Judge Cashman was criticized in January 2006 for suspending all but 60-days of a 10-years-to-life sentence to Mark Hulett, who pled guilty to child molestation. The victim, a girl who was six years old at the time the assaults began, was repeatedly molested for four years. Her parents were friends with Hulett, a frequent houseguest. Hulett often shared a bed with the victim. The sentence would have been re-enforced if Hulett did not successfully complete treatment.(Ring 2006)

The State of Vermont would not provide sex offender treatment while he was in prison because they considered him as a low risk re-offender.

WCAX news opened the story provocatively on January 4: "There was outrage today when a Vermont judge handed out a 60-day jail sentence to a child rapist. The judge said he no longer believes in punishment and is more concerned about rehabilitation. Brian Joyce was at the sentencing hearing. He's live in the newsroom with more. Kristin, Prosecutors argued that confessed child-rapist Mark Hulett deserved at least eight years behind bars for repeatedly raping a littler girl countless times starting when she was seven. But Judge Edward Cashman disagreed -- saying he has learned that punishment just does not work" (WCAX 2006).

Bill O'Reilly kept the issue on the national stage on his television show and in his column (O'Reilly Factor 2006). He accused national and regional media of ignoring the story (O'Reilly 2006).

The state Department of Corrections then offered to treat Hulett in prison, and Judge Cashman changed his sentence to 3-10 years.

Vincent Illuzzi, a state senator, wrote that the controversy was caused by inaccurate and inflammatory reporting, not the facts of the case.