Bernalillo County District Court Christina Argyres shocked the courtroom when sentencing Isaiah Gay, who was convicted of burglarizing homes when he was 18 years old. Though she ended up giving him five years probation, she had threatened him with a lengthy prison term.
In a long statement to the court, Gay plead for leniency by explaining that he was just an “impulsive teen” and "being young and dumb."
Then things took a turn for the worst.
Judge Argyres: “Do you know what would happen—and I’m going to use your words, Mr. Gay—if you go to prison, to a ‘young and dumb’ person in prison? Do you have any idea what would happen to you?”
Isaiah Gay: “I would probably get beat up, I guess. I probably—”
Judge Argyres: “You would probably be raped every day, number one. You probably would be beat up every day. And I hate to sound like that, you know, rude, but that’s exactly what would happen to you. You’re a young guy, and the trauma that would cause you, you’ll never get that out of your head.
The judge didn’t stop there, either.
“To me, the issue with residential burglary, again, it’s almost like a rape, because it is such an invasion and such an intrusion of somebody’s life and their property.
“Do we send him to prison?”Judge Argyres asked the prosecution. “I hate to use the word ‘bitch,’ but that’s exactly what he’s going to be, and I don’t want to destroy Mr. Gay’s life. He’s already a convicted felon. So I am willing to put him on probation.”
Though she went easy with Gay’s sentence this time, she was sure to remind him that if he slips up, he will go to prison to be raped.
Judge Argyres: “This time is still hanging over your head. I have up to 15 years to incarcerate you. The only way you are going to prison, Mr. Gay, is if you pick up a new charge or do something stupid like this again.”
