MUSKEGON, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – It is nothing short of outrageous that a man who brutally raped, beat and murdered his infant son is set to be released from prison in just a few years. Damon Andrew Jackson, now 44-years-old, who committed an unspeakably heinous crime in 1997, will soon walk free thanks to a Michigan appeals court’s decision to uphold a drastically reduced sentence. This turn of events is a sickening travesty of justice, revealing a system that has lost touch with the severity of crimes committed in our country.
Jackson’s crime was monstrous: he raped his 1-month-old son, David, then beat the baby out of anger when he regained consciousness. This barbaric assault left the infant with catastrophic injuries, including brain stem damage that rendered him blind and deaf. The helpless baby eventually died from his injuries. Jackson was initially sentenced to life without the possibility of parole – a sentence fitting the grotesque nature of his crime.
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However, according to WOOD-TV, due to legal technicalities, Jackson was given another chance at a lesser sentence. Just weeks shy of his 18th birthday at the time of his crimes, Jackson was granted a new sentencing hearing after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled mandatory life without parole for juveniles unconstitutional.
In 2018, then-Kent County Circuit Court Judge Donald Johnston upheld Jackson’s life sentence, rightly describing the crime as “horrendous” and “an unspeakable criminal act.” He did the right thing.
Enter Judge number two – Paul Denenfeld.
When Judge Paul Denenfeld took over Jackson’s appeal, he reduced the killer’s sentence to a mere 35 to 60 years after making excuses for him saying, “It is indisputable that the defendant’s shockingly dysfunctional and abusive home environment had a significant impact on him as a teenager and young adult. It is also clear that defendant’s prison records are stellar and that he has indeed been rehabilitated.”
This decision, vehemently opposed by Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, means Jackson could be released in just over four years, with time already served.
Becker rightly called the crime one of the most abhorrent ever seen in the county and argued that Jackson should never be released. Never.
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The Michigan Court of Appeals recently upheld this reduced sentence, with Justice Christopher M. Murray reluctantly concurring. In a regretful tone, Murray highlighted the troubling implications of case law that prevents juveniles from receiving life without parole, effectively shielding them from the full consequences of their actions.
It is beyond comprehension that a man who committed such a vile act against a defenseless infant could be deemed “rehabilitated” and set for release. The court’s ruling ignores the gravity of Jackson’s crime and the lifelong pain inflicted on the victim and his family. The crime’s details – sperm found in the baby’s mouth, severe physical injuries, and ultimate death – highlights the horror and depravity of Jackson’s actions.
This decision not only undermines the severity of Jackson’s crime but also sends a dangerous message that such atrocities can be eventually forgiven or overlooked – just because someone is a “juvenile” offender.
Victims don’t matter anymore in our “injustice” system where criminals reign supreme. Responsibility? Accountability? That’s out the window. How about just locking someone away forever because they committed such an evil act? That’s rarely done anymore – making the rest of us potential crime victims in the future.
Former Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth and his successor, Becker, both maintained that Jackson should remain in prison for life, reflecting a stance grounded in justice and the need to protect society from such irredeemable individuals.
Judge Johnston, who initially sentenced Jackson, expressed his continued belief that a life sentence was appropriate, highlighting that age should not be a shield for those who commit such brutal crimes. His perspective highlights the need for a judicial system that balances a youthful offense with the imperative to deliver justice for the most heinous acts.
In a system that is supposed to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, this case stands as a stark reminder of the flaws and misplaced leniency that can pervade judicial decisions.
The release of Damon Andrew Jackson not only betrays the memory of his innocent victim but also exposes a disturbing willingness to overlook the most egregious crimes. It is a perverse mockery of justice that such an individual could soon be free to walk among us once more.
