An Oregon teacher at a Seventh Day Adventist school was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years’ probation on misdemeanor sex abuse charges involving a student. His sentence could be reduced after two years if he complies with his probation stipulations.
Donald Mansell was a private school teacher and athletics coach. His sentence requires that he must stay away from children and places where they gather, like schools or athletic events.
Mansell’s misdemeanor charges and his light sentence have sex abuse victim advocates crying foul. They believe Mansell’s criminal behavior rose to the level of felony charges and that Mansell’s relationship with Marion County Judge Vance Day contributed to the lesser charges and the light sentence. Mansell is Judge Day’s son-in-law.
An attorney representing the victims in the criminal case told the media that he thinks this case is an example of the “worse miscarriage of justice that occurs in our system. This is a tragedy. It’s horrible.” He said, “I don’t think it’s a good thing for our society when a teacher can do that kind of thing and get a light sentence.”
A warrant was issued for Mansell’s arrest in November 2015, but he was never taken into custody. Instead, Mansell was allowed to turn himself in four months later. A sheriff’s office spokesman said the situation amounted to a mix-up when deputies failed to follow up with the prosecutor and didn’t know a warrant had been issued.
Mansell was charged after a 16-year-old female student at the private Seventh Day Adventist school accused him of touching her inappropriately and soliciting sex from her. The incident was secretly audio recorded on the victim’s phone, and that recording was used as evidence against Mansell, according to court records.