years ago. I am not trying to excuse my behavior, but I was a different person then. I was an immature nineteen year old with a drinking problem I did not yet fully understand. Even then, however, I understood that I didn’t treat Ms. Seccuro with respect. As a person who injured or harmed another seeks atonement for his transgression, when I wrote the letter, I recognized it would be up to Ms. Seccuro to a large extent when she thought that I had achieved enough atonement for my wrong. In contacting her a year-and-a-half ago, I was trying to do the best I could, both broadly and specifically to employ principles which have worked well in the past with others, regardless of the offense, and this idea as my lawyer pointed out was contained in the letter—the original letter that I wrote her in which I invited dialogue on her time and on her terms. I did my best to meet Ms. Seccuro on the emotional level. I did my best to set things right and to demonstrate a willingness to accept whatever thoughts and feelings she had been experiencing. In contacting her, I never intended to cause hurt or harm to her. I’ve never tried to contact her directly in person, to go to her home, or to otherwise invade her personal space. In our communication, I have respected her wishes and I will always continue to do that. Twenty-two years ago I was not mature enough to accept and live by effective guiding principles for making amends to those I had harmed in some fashion. Then, there was no solution that I could or would see. It was not until thirteen years ago when I became willing to address all my mistakes in accountability using these tenants [sic] that I could even stay sober, let alone find the inner freedom that I have today. Since that time, in adopting a new way of life, I have a purpose and that gives life meaning. I didn’t have that then. I believe that more lessons will be revealed from all of this, not just for me, but for the many because it’s garnered so much attention. I believe that I’ve done everything I can to this point to right the wrong twenty-two years ago. Thank you for hearing me.
THE COURT: Any reason I shouldn’t impose sentence today?
BEEBE: No, sir.
It was time for the sentence.
THE COURT: All right. Well, this case is unique in many ways; unfortunately, the circumstances of the case are not unique for those of us who live in and practice law for years in a college town. And I think it’s an interesting case from the point of view of, one, it’s clearly not a minor assault. It’s not a minor thing. It is a horrific thing that this woman has been through, and it’s, clearly, from her impact statement, it has had a profound effect on her life without question, so, there are deep emotional wounds here that only time and counseling and good friends can help ameliorate. On the other side is that we look at someone like Mr. Beebe, whose life starting, I think in the early mid-nineties[,] has been one who’s been a leader in the recovery community in ways that I, very frankly, have never seen before. I think there needs to be a felony sanction, and I’m going to tell you what I think the fair sanction is. I think there should be a ten-year penitentiary sentence, but with all but one year and six months suspended and I know it’s parole eligible, and I’m saying that because I really feel like he is no—there’s no indication he hasn’t cooperated, and I think there ought to be some good faith benefit to this. At the same time, I think the suspension ought to be conditioned on his performing substantial community service and no one has mentioned that, but I think Mr. Beebe is in a unique position to help address what is—I see as almost a rampant issue of alcohol abuse on our college campuses. What we know here is that it’s not consensual, and this was not something that a young woman has agreed to do and her life is terribly altered as a result of what’s happened, so I think there has to be a consequence for that, and so what I’m going to recommend is that there be community service—five hundred hours of community service devoted