Paul Armand Rater, 53, is facing two counts of felony child abuse and one count of felony child endangerment after he gave a loaded and cocked .45-calibre handgun to his 5-year-old granddaughter and left her in the desert. I told her to “shoot any bad guys.”
The incident happened near their home in Buckeye (about 30 miles west of Phoenix). The little girl was later found by her mother and a volunteer firefighter wandering for hours in the desert with the still cocked and loaded .45 handgun.
As for Rater, he was located in a store and said that his vehicle broke down. He said that he left the girl under a tree in the desert because she was complaining she could not walk any more. He admitted leaving her with the gun “while he went for a few drinks and a cheeseburger.”
That should do it for a sentence and jail time.
Fortunately a felony conviction will likely bar Rater for owning weapons in the future.
What do you think the appropriate sentence should be?
BFM wrote, “‘He said that he left the girl under a tree in the desert because she was complaining she could not walk any more.’ What ever happened to grand pas that put 5 year olds on their shoulders and give them a ride home?”
Best answer so far. Darren’s argument for following the sentencing guideline comes in a close second. And, Bettykath’s “Alcoholism is an insidious disease that can rob one of judgement, as it did in this case” gets the honorable mention.
Pretty bad behavior by a middle-aged man who should have better judgment than an elementary school child – it’s certainly not deserving of a plea reduction to a misdemeanor. Then again he shouldn’t go directly to jail. He should be given the option for long-term rehab and probation on promise of good behavior.
Rattlesnakes usually do not bother humans. But do not step on one. Maybe the kid cocked the gun– like when the rattler reared up its head to bite. The kid needs to go on Saturday Night Live this weekend and be interviewed by The Donald.
Leave him in the desert with a beanie baby and a rattle
http://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/southwest-valley/2015/11/03/75121232/
this is his initial appearance
bam, I gotta disagree w/ you. I think the guy looks his age and good looking as well. I’m secure enough to comment on the looks of a man, and I am covered since I also commented about the beautiful Iranian actress.
IMO this does constitute felony endangerment and whatever the sentencing guidelines indicate should be the sentence. Now, guidelines almost always have ranges and I would have the sentence between toward the upper parameter. I agree w/ bettykath, and would add alcoholism is also a progressive disease. So, it doesn’t bode well for this family.
Alcoholism is an insidious disease that can rob one of judgement, as it did in this case.
Ninian
America at its inception left some things to be clarified over time as, as was known then and now, things change. What is particularly telling is that the majority of Americans still see some of these things in the same perspective of a time which no longer exists. No army is coming down from Canada or up from Mexico. Only an idiot would think that the US government desires to invade Texas or any other backward state. Perhaps that is the problem, the idiotic interpretation of things that were meant to be clarified and not perverted. Every country has its baggage. Most more advanced countries work to get rid of that baggage. Regard those countries that chain themselves to that baggage.
Who is ninian?
What I find most interesting is that as observers of (I guess) just this single photo that some see him as a 75 year old man, and others (at least myself) see a man who appears to be in his mid 50s. What also makes me curious is that the five year old girl was wandering for hours and still carrying a cocked and loaded firearm; with a typical child I would have anticipated at least an accidental discharge (assuming that it was in her hands for the entire time).
” What also makes me curious is that the five year old girl was wandering for hours and still carrying a cocked and loaded firearm; with a typical child I would have anticipated at least an accidental discharge (assuming that it was in her hands for the entire time)”
Most any .45 cal pistol will weigh in at better than 2 pounds. An unloaded M1911 in .45ACP at approximately 40 ounces. Various Ruger revolvers in .45 Long Colt at 40 to 44 ounces. I know plenty of adults who would rapidly tire of carrying 40 ounces of steel in their hand in the desert – let alone a 5 year old.
This is a very tenacious or a very strong 5 year old.
bfm – during his court hearing he said he left the gun because it was heavy and he didn’t want to carry it back with him. Plus, it gave her protection.
If the kid had shot the firefighter it would be one thing. If the kid shot the mother it would be another. But the kid shot no one. There is no age limit on the Second Amendment is there? There is no age limit on rattlesnakes having venom is there?
Could she have legally shot a rattlesnake?
What if the snake did not shake?
The guy does look to be about 75. He looks a bit demented. Perhaps a mental exam would be in order. If he was put into a deep water well and did not drown after five hours I would say that he could tread water and hold up alone without the gun in any prison. But then why put him in prison at all? To protect rattlesnakes? I think that is the clear intent of those who want to prosecute.
The guy has very poor judgment. What’s the difference between extremely poor judgment and mental illness? As far as that goes, what’s the difference between a good guy and a bad guy? Obviously the perpetrator did not consider himself a bad guy, but if the 5 year old had not recognized him upon return, would have considered him, and anyone else who approached, a bad guy. Good guy and bad guy are entirely in the eyes of the beholder. When anyone talks about “bad guys”, my first inclination is to say to them, “look in the mirror and you will see one.”
“Apart from leaving the British Empire…” good one, Ninian. I’m still laughing.
“What do you think the appropriate sentence should be? “
~+~
What ever the sentencing guidelines indicate would be valid for this crime. We cannot allow emotion to dictate sentencing. Just because someone is a pariah in the eyes of the public, they should be treated equally under the law.
It is intetesting that the charges are Child Abuse and Endangerment.
Presumably giving the child a loaded gun is not an offence of endangerment because under the second amendment she has a right to bear arms and to defend herself not really by “shooting bad guys” but in self defence. I note that Grandpappy did not explain that King George was no longer any viable threat. But she could have made a stand against the mechanised armed forces of an oppressive government.
And this right must be protected at all Costs and against all Reason in the name of Freedom given to the American People by the Founding Fathers (as long as they were “Freed Men” and not Women, Native Indians or Slaves) until someone can prise it from her “cold dead hand”.
So it would appear that the charges apply to deserting the child? (No pun intended). I note that the child did not feature in the beer nor cheeseburger.
Could someone please confirm that it was legal for this man to give the child a cocked and loaded gun? If not why not? Are her constitutional rights not infringed if she is prevented from bearing arms? There is no age limit on this in the constitution I think…. could an obtuse lawyer make a case about the second amendment and that she was in greater danger being left in the desert without a gun?
I presume the little girl was found by her mother rather than the firefighter as there are no reports of him being shot?
This story illustrates issues and culture of “normality” around firearms and the irratiional fear in society, that gun ownership has created. Apart from leaving the British Empire, this is the single greatest error in the Constitution and is something some Americans are still completely unable to grasp.
This case illustrates the stupidity of the issue of the second amendment par excellence and it is astonishing that giving a minor a loaded gun is not an offence but that child endangerment is…..
If Gramps has any other .45-calibres sitting around, I sure hope that he passes one of them along to the Iranian version of Thelma and Louise from the other thread. I have a feeling that they’re gonna need it.
“He said that he left the girl under a tree in the desert because she was complaining she could not walk any more.”
What ever happened to grand pas that put 5 year olds on their shoulders and give them a ride home?
I suspect grandpa of more than just going for a walk with his granddaughter because both mother and grandmother were looking for them. There’s more to this story than has been discovered. Why would you need a gun on an outing with your 5 yr old granddaughter.
Lisa – it is not a good idea to walk in the desert unarmed. The baseball team is not named the Diamondbacks for nothing. I still am at a loss as to why he left her there armed or not. At least he cocked the .45 for her.
53? Gramps looks more like he’s about 73. I have a feeling that this isn’t the first time he needed a wet one. Shoot any bad guys? He’s lucky she didn’t shoot him.
bam bam – Buckeye is out in the middle of nowhere to begin with so you do not have to drive far to be in the desert. Thanksgiving is going to be awkward this year.
He admitted to drinking alcohol and being dehydrated. The judge finally had to tell him to shut up, he was just making things worse for himself.