Character witnesses for Brock Turner apologize after intense backlash

As Brock Turner's six-month sentence for rape continues to generate outrage, two women who had served as character witnesses for Turner have now apologized for their support.

Most prominent is Leslie Rasmussen of indie rock band Good English. Rasmussen, who attended the same high school as Turner in Ohio, indicated in her character witness letter that the blame for the crime should be placed on the environment at college campuses, not on young men, like Turner, who commit rape: 

It is because these universities market themselves as the biggest party schools in the country. They encourage drinking... This is completely different from a woman getting kidnapped and raped as she is walking to her car in a parking lot. That is a rapist. These are not rapists. These are idiot boys and girls having too much to drink and not being aware of their surroundings and having clouded judgement.

Rasmussen also said of the rape, "I think this is all a huge misunderstanding." She added, while insisting she was not blaming the victim, "I don’t think it’s fair to base the fate of the next ten + years of his life on the decision of a girl who doesn’t remember anything but the amount she drank to press charges against him."

Shortly after her letter came to light, several music venues in Brooklyn were hit with demands that the band's upcoming shows, part of the Northside Music Festival, be canceled. On Wednesday, reported Gothamist, all five of the band's Brooklyn shows were canceled and they were removed from the Northside lineup. 

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On Wednesday afternoon, Rasmussen posted a note on her Facebook page apologizing for her "assumptions about the situation," saying, "I did not acknowledge strongly enough the severity of Brock’s crime and the suffering and pain that his victim endured, and for that lack of acknowledgement, I am deeply sorry." 

In the aftermath of the controversy, the band, which Rasmussen plays in with her two sisters, has deleted its social media accounts and removed its music from both Soundcloud and YouTube. 

The other woman who apologized for her letter of support was Turner's high school guidance counselor from Ohio, Kelly Owens. Per the San Jose Mercury News, Owens said: 

"The verdict of Brock's trial broke my heart for him and his family ... In spite of what was said about him during that time, what I know to be true is that he is a young man of character, integrity, possesses great love and respect for his parents, honors his friends, seeks opportunities to help others, and is absolutely undeserving of the outcome."

On Wednesday, Owens, via Oakwood City Schools, issued an apology for her defense of Turner. 

“In the statement I submitted to the judge during the criminal proceedings and before sentencing referencing Brock’s character, I made a mistake. Of course he should be held accountable. I pray for the victim, her family and all those affected by this horrible event. I am truly sorry for the additional pain my statement has caused. I tell my students they have to be accountable, and Brock is no exception.”

According to reports, at least 39 people were asked to submit character witness letters in Turner's defense before his sentencing. 

Turner was sentenced to six months in prison, which caused an uproar across the country. He'll likely only serve about half of that sentence.

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