Justice for All?

Is there no justice? Superior Court Judge Richard Haden has declined to reduce Theodore Fitzhenry’s felony assault conviction to a misdemeanor (“Beating Victim Irate Over Sailor’s Bid to Soften Conviction to Aid Job,” Sept. 13). However, he could change his mind when he reviews the case again in December. Hasn’t this fine, upstanding young man suffered enough?

He was “grounded” for a year when Haden ordered him restricted to the Naval Amphibious Base on Coronado. And all the poor boy did was punch Theresa Valenzuela in the face, knocking her to the ground. Then he kicked her in the face, tearing open her cheek.

She had refused to listen to his drunken fantasies about oral sex, and when he grabbed her buttocks she slapped him. I mean, what recourse was left this fine, upstanding young medical corpsman?

I guess we should all be gratified that Judge Haden has ordered these occasional review hearings because he’s interested to know how fine young Fitzhenry is doing. He obviously isn’t overly concerned about Theresa Valenzuela, who, having been brutally victimized by Fitzhenry, continues to be victimized by our pathetic excuse for a criminal justice system that allows our “good ole Navy Reserve boys” to take care of their own.

NANCY SACKHEIM

Carlsbad